Research Methodology Guide

Search Strategy

Phase 1: Broad Discovery

• Start with general queries to understand the landscape
• Use different phrasings for the same concept
• Note key terminology, authors, and organizations

Phase 2: Focused Deep-Dive

• Search for specific claims, statistics, or technical details
• Target authoritative sources identified in Phase 1
• Use exact phrases in quotes for precision

Phase 3: Verification

• Cross-reference key claims across multiple sources
• Search for counter-arguments or contradictions
• Check publication dates for recency

Source Evaluation

Reliability Hierarchy

1. Academic papers (peer-reviewed journals, arXiv preprints)
2. Official documentation (government, organization, project docs)
3. Reputable news (established outlets with editorial standards)
4. Expert blog posts (known authors with credentials)
5. Community forums (Stack Overflow, Reddit — use cautiously)

Evaluation Checklist

• Authority: Who wrote it? What are their credentials?
• Currency: When was it published? Is it still relevant?
• Coverage: Does it address the topic comprehensively?
• Accuracy: Can claims be verified elsewhere?
• Objectivity: Is there obvious bias or commercial interest?

Note-Taking Best Practices

Structure Each Note File

# [Sub-topic Title]

## Key Findings
- Finding 1 [SOURCE: url, accessed YYYY-MM-DD] [HIGH confidence]
- Finding 2 [SOURCE: url, accessed YYYY-MM-DD] [MEDIUM confidence]

## Contradictions
- Source A says X, but Source B says Y

## Gaps
- Could not find reliable data on Z

Confidence Levels

• [HIGH]: Multiple authoritative sources agree
• [MEDIUM]: Single authoritative source, or multiple less-reliable sources agree
• [LOW]: Single non-authoritative source, or conflicting information

Common Pitfalls

• Don't rely on a single source for important claims
• Check if "recent" articles cite outdated data
• Be wary of sources that don't cite their own sources
• Distinguish between correlation and causation
• Note when sample sizes are small or studies are preliminary