I had never thought to ask this question and I always trusted my friend, the internet, for my facts and figures when researching. But then again, that’s just my way to research.
We all have different methods when researching. Back in high-school, I would go on Google and immediately click on the Wikipedia link. I know I am not the only one who would regularly do this just to get a decent grade on a project. It’s hard to get yourself out of the cycle of easily obtainable knowledge that Wikipedia provides.
Another research method I used in high school was just to ask questions. Basically, I would ask Google a question. I just type a question that I need to know the answer for, and that answer will probably lead to more questions. My favorite resources were Yahoo Answers and ask.com. It’s so easy to type questions into a search field knowing someone has probably answered it perfectly for you.
Even with the vast amount of resources I never thought of exploring further into such topics I would research and because of this laziness I never earned the grade I wanted. But now, in college, I discovered I had the processes all along: I just needed to facts with ideas.
In my Critical Thinking and Writing class I read an article titled, BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research-Based Writing, which has changed my method of research for the better.
BEAM stands for:
Background – Facts
Exhibits – Analysis or interpretation formed into examples
Arguments – Conversation where the author affirms, disputes, refines, or extends ideas
Methods – Manner of working
Essentially we are provided with examples or an argument, or possibly both. But when we only have one or the other, we must seek out the example/argument that is missing.
“If you start with an exhibit, look for argument sources to engage; if you start with argument sources, look for exhibits to interpret.”
Basically, when we have both examples and an argument working in conjunction with each other, while also tending to a clean presentation style, we form the best interpretation we can from the knowledge we possess. So now, our audience receives the best perspective we can offer.
Nowadays, I still use Wikipedia, but just for the facts (even then I cross check Wikipedia with another trusted source) and work those facts hand-in-hand with an argument to help shape my own opinion. Still, this is not enough, I still need an exhibit. By including BEAM, I now know that, with given facts, I must form my own argument using a given example and seek an example that fits my argument.
My research could be improved by finding those exhibits and those arguments through facts. So I guess I wasn’t necessarily doing anything wrong by just using Wikipedia and just using Yahoo Answers. I just needed to dive further into those resources to find examples and/or arguments. Wikipedia does cite all of its sources so maybe there are some great arguments or more in-depth examples that would help me. Maybe that’s a good place to start looking…