“Now More Effective!” sounds like an advertising line for an improved deep cleaning spray. What we’re talking about here, though, is an improved research process we can influence through teaching and modeling smarter strategies.
Here’s the Problem in Modern Research…
Faced with the temptation of taking an easier route to source gathering, students are going directly to the internet or AI without sound methods of searching or evaluating what they find. In the process, they are bypassing valuable artifacts in databases and compromising their results. Infused with info from questionable outlets or at least of suspect validity, these products fail to impress and reveal to some extent how we have failed to instruct. It’s time to re-direct students to a set of proven research steps producing final projects they will be proud to put their name on and we can say represent best practices.
Library and Internet Resources for Research
Begin by coaching students in the process of formulating a research question. Too often, students go into a fact-finding mission with a conclusion already made. If they find sources that say what they currently know, there’s little growth and little to communicate to an audience afterwards. By starting with a question, students go looking for answers and end up generating a body of information that easily transforms into a new conclusion. It’s the a-ha of that process that fuels their outgoing message.
In many ways, research is like shopping. Learning how to navigate library databases will eventually become as familiar as a well-frequented store. A patron can be in and out within just a few minutes because they know exactly what they’re looking for and where it’s commonly located. Gathering reliable sources needs to involve that level of confidence. Databases – whether they are offered by a school, district, or local library – are warehouses of curated information through which students can filter searches, evaluate results, and download the complete citation.
Database Shopping
To avoid feeling overwhelmed, here’s how to shop in a database:
- Use the “Advanced Search” feature typing in as few words as possible into each search bar.
- Before you even look at the results (which may be a very large number), limit them by first selecting the preferred media. Review only scholarly journals, for example, or only newspaper articles.
- Next limit the date range using the filter option to reduce the span of results to only the years desired. Last five years? You can also change the default sorted view from “by relevance” to “newest or most recent” first.
- Now begin your tour of the filtered search results. When an artifact seems promising, consider additional help from a key word search (ctrl + f). Identify two things: How frequently is this key word mentioned and where in the conversation might they be the most concentrated? Read there first!
- If this artifact offers what closely aligns with the initial search, print or save it. If it doesn’t, just like a clothing store dressing room item that isn’t a good fit, put it back and continue browsing.
The research database interplay with the wider internet begins here. Did the artifact just mention the name of an expert? Open a new tab and track down the expert. Did the artifact refer to a recently published report? Open a new tab and find the actual report. Follow the trail to find additional information; use your sources to find sources. Model this so students can observe the process, troubleshooting, and rewards.
Using Other Library and Internet Resources
Once the databases have been mined extensively, it’s time to partner with what’s found online. Intentional strategies should be employed for this process as well, though.
If the topic is geographic in nature, use Google Maps to search for potential sources in that region. For the student’s passion project about outreach opportunities in Manila, use Maps as a business directory to locate what and who is already there. Similar to how someone would use a local map to find a restaurant when they’re out of town, find experts and organizations as sources.
Consult international newspapers by searching for “major newspapers in ________” and click on the website’s magnifying glass icon to search their news. The topic “Women’s rights in India” doesn’t yield many results in the Chicago Tribune, but on The Times of India newspaper website, there are over 60,000 results! Go to where the news is happening and search there. Like what you’re finding? Consider contacting the reporter to ask if they have any more information or contacts.
Search online for annual conferences where experts in the field of interest gather to share their latest research. Those sponsoring websites often include the names, contact information, and links to artifacts from their featured speakers. Invest in a thorough lateral search on a separate tab about these people and organizations, however, to help identify any areas of bias or misinformation.
Three Additional Elements of an Impressive Research Process
- Diversify source types. Just like TV detectives who skillfully corroborate a story across several witnesses, ensuring the information remains consistent across media helps validate the results.
- Don’t just gather sources until the right number is reached. “I only need one more to have ten.” Think also about their power and eventual placement in the final product. Use the volleyball method as a guide.
- The higher the source’s credibility, the higher the student’s credibility. This is especially true if they establish the speaker’s authority before quoting them. Help readers know why these sourced words matter. When quoting sources in your research, go beyond a name drop of, “According to Dr. Reynolds”, to provide more context about the person.
More effective “new and improved” research strategies will yield impressive and specific results. Audiences are going to notice any compromises to a solid and thorough source-gathering process and that can negatively impact one’s reputation and final product. Teach and model how these tips work and as you discover additional insights, share them with your wider school community. Preparing students for a successful future involves equipping them with more effective research methods, and these definitely work.
Want more from this author?
Join us at the 2025 Librarian Conference, hosted fully online this June 24-26, and catch John Hayward’s session “Smarter Strategies for Online Research” during the event!
