Getting Started with Research Skills

Research is becoming an essential skill for all professions looking to innovate, solve complex problems, and make data-driven decisions. As you embrace research in your role, building a foundation of effective research skills will enable you to answer critical questions, generate insights, and contribute meaningfully to your field. This guide provides a practical framework for those new to research, covering everything from defining your research questions to synthesising information, communicating findings effectively, and applying ethical principles.

Research can involve everything from exploring market trends or evaluating technology solutions, to conducting in-depth investigations. A good set of research skills will allow you to approach problems methodically and think critically about the data and resources you encounter. As a data nerd it often worries me when folks set off on their own research journey unguided and without any structure - a pretty presentation with no quantitive data is one of my worst nightmares. So here goes.

1. Define Your Research Questions Clearly

A strong research project starts with well-defined questions. Before diving into articles and databases, consider the core questions you want to answer. What are the main problems or areas of inquiry? What are the unknowns you hope to clarify? When you’re clear on these questions, your research becomes much more targeted, and you’re less likely to get lost in unnecessary information. Write down your questions and revisit them frequently to keep your focus sharp.

2. Desktop Research: Finding and Evaluating Sources

With your questions defined, begin by gathering relevant information from reputable sources. Desktop research—done entirely online—can be incredibly effective if approached systematically:

• Use Citation Databases: Resources like Google Scholar, JSTOR, and IEEE Xplore allow you to search for research papers, articles, and credible sources within your topic. Focus on recent studies to stay current.

  • Keep track of all citations in your own database or spreadsheet

• Master Backward Searching and Citation Chaining: If you find an article that is closely related to your topic you can look through its reference list to uncover other studies or works, then follow the “cited by” links to discover more recent ones etc etc. This citation chaining allows you to see how knowledge on a topic has evolved over time.

• Skimming for Relevance: Don’t feel pressured to read everything in full. Practice skimming abstracts, conclusions, and headings to assess whether a source is relevant to your questions. If it’s useful, read in detail; if not, move on quickly.

3. Synthesising Information: Connecting the Dots

As you gather research, it’s crucial to synthesise rather than just summarise:

• Group Findings by Themes: Organise information under themes or patterns you notice, which will help you see connections across different sources.

• Identify Gaps: Look for areas where information is inconsistent or absent, which can help refine your research questions or point you toward further areas of investigation.

• Develop Frameworks: Build your own simple frameworks or charts to organise your information. This could be a timeline, comparison table, or concept map that makes complex ideas easier to navigate.

4. Critical Thinking: Asking "Why?" and "How?"

Strong research requires not only finding information but evaluating it critically. Practice asking probing questions as you read:

• Why was this study conducted? Understanding the purpose helps you gauge its relevance.

• How was the research carried out? Consider methodology to determine if the findings are reliable.

• What are the limitations? No study is perfect; knowing limitations helps you interpret results wisely.

5. Get Visual to Communicate Your Research

Presenting complex ideas in a way that others can quickly understand is a key skill in research:

• Choose Effective Visuals: Use graphs, tables, and charts where applicable. For example, flowcharts are excellent for showing processes, while comparison tables help highlight differences.

• Be Mindful of Accessibility: Ensure visuals are clear, labeled, and accessible for diverse audiences. If using colours, make sure they’re distinguishable for those with colour blindness.

• Practice Clear Communication: Write concise summaries of your findings alongside visuals. Avoid jargon; instead, aim for language that anyone in your intended audience can understand.

6. Writing Efficiently: Summarise and Communicate Your Research

To share your research effectively:

• Write a Summary of Key Findings: Start with a brief overview of the main insights from your research, focusing on what’s most relevant to your questions.

• Structure Your Work Clearly: Use headings and subheadings to break down your findings, which helps readers follow your narrative. Keep your points brief and to the point.

• Edit for Clarity and Precision: Go through your work to simplify complex sentences, remove unnecessary words, and ensure that each sentence adds value.

7. Use AI Ethically and Effectively

AI tools can be helpful research aids, but they’re best used as assistants, not replacements. Tools like ChatGPT and other AI research assistants can help summarise articles, answer preliminary questions, and offer organisation tips. However, be cautious of AI’s limitations:

• Cross-verify Facts: AI can sometimes present outdated or inaccurate information. Use AI to generate ideas or summaries but rely on academic sources for factual accuracy (citations).

• Maintain Your Voice: Let AI assist but do your write up in your own words. This ensures that your work is authentic and reflects your own insights.

8. Practical Exercises to Build Your Research Skills

Not sure how to get started? To strengthen your core skills, you can practice the following:

• Find Patterns: Look for connections between variables or concepts within different studies.

• Summarise Arguments Quickly: After reading a paper, practice summarising it in three sentences, capturing the key findings, purpose, and limitations.

• Evaluate Solutions: If the research proposes a solution, think about alternative approaches and potential downsides.

• Build Hypotheses: Based on your reading, try forming hypotheses or research questions for future study.

9. Applying the Community Research Code of Practice

When conducting research that involves people or communities it’s important to ensure you are respectful, ethical and keep everyone safe. To help guide you I love the Community Research Code of Practice which offers guiding principles. This code emphasises the importance of whanaungatanga (relationship-building), manaakitanga (reciprocity and accountability), and kotahitanga (sustainability and shared benefits). Following these principles creates a research environment where community members are informed, involved, and respected throughout the research process. Here are some specific practices inspired by this code:

• Establish Trust: Take time to build genuine relationships with participants, acknowledging that research is not a one-time event but part of an ongoing relationship.

• Seek Informed Consent: Ensure that participants fully understand the purpose of your research, their rights, and how their information will be used before agreeing to take part.

• Embrace Reciprocity: Think of ways to give back to the community, whether through shared findings, insights, or practical support.

• Respect Governance: Involve community members in decision-making and be mindful of their authority over how their knowledge is used.

Wrapping it all up

Hopefully this gives you a starting framing for undertaking research. Technology will continue to evolve but these skills will always remain valid.