Category Archives: research

Research Skills 101: Reality versus Perception

Recently, I had a conversation with someone, and I came away puzzled. She made a few politically motivated remarks, and I’m certain that my face expressed my confusion as I have no poker face whatsoever. My confusion stemmed from the fact that she was absolutely convinced of the accuracy of her statements. However, during theContinueContinue reading “Research Skills 101: Reality versus Perception”

Research Skills 101: Where Do You Get Your News?

Have you ever thought about where you get most of your news? Are you watching local or national news programs? Do you watch major news networks? Do you read local, state, or national newspapers? Are you skimming headlines that pop up in your social media feeds? Do you read business, political, or technology magazines toContinueContinue reading “Research Skills 101: Where Do You Get Your News?”

Research Skills 101: What Good Are Libraries?

When I was a college student, I remember the first time I realized that some people have no clue what purpose libraries serve. A college professor found out I worked at a library, and he asked me…no, I’m not kidding…if I just read all the time and played solitaire on the computer. Yes, ladies andContinueContinue reading “Research Skills 101: What Good Are Libraries?”

Research Skills 101: Critical Thinking

When I was a sophomore in college, I was required to take a course called “Critical Thinking,” and while I was taking it, I absolutely loathed it. I remember having a discussion on doctor assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, and I remember writing a paper defending the whale in the story of Jonah inContinueContinue reading “Research Skills 101: Critical Thinking”

Research Skills 101: Don’t Get Captured by the Algorithm

Ah, the word haunting all of us: algorithm. What exactly is it? How does it work? When does it help? When does it become a problem? I’m going to do a “flyover” explanation of these ideas, but I’ll put links below so you can study them in more detail. What is an algorithm? A simpleContinueContinue reading “Research Skills 101: Don’t Get Captured by the Algorithm”