There are a whole host of reasons why you may need to be doing research, whether it’s for studies or in a more professional capacity – and it’s something that can pose a host of challenges for those with a deadline.
It can often be a long and laborious process to get everything together and form a cohesive piece at the end of it. So, what methods can you use to make the task easier on yourself? Here are 3 of our top tips
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1. Just start writing
While it may seem like a weird thing to suggest, studies show that turning on your laptop and starting writing is the best way to beat issues like writer’s block and procrastination, no matter the research types you need to fulfill. When researching, simply getting all of the info you need to be collected in one place can mean you’re looking at something other than a blank document – and making a start can help you to feel productive and should encourage you to keep on going.
After all, actively writing will give your brain the ability to think and produce, even if you have to go back over your work and make adjustments. And don’t forget about making smart notes, it helps you to see the whole picture.
A quick tip: set a timer and write. Cite your sources, make a list of headings for topics you want to cover, anything. Just take the opportunity to get things out, mistakes and all. The point is to simply make a start.
2. Make use of research tools
There are a host of tools out there that have been designed to make the research process easier, so it may be a good idea to utilise them where you can. We recommend:
- io – this is a great tool when you need to get a research paper written fast. With the ability to input references for citation, as well as proofread your work and do plagiarism checks, you can’t go wrong. It will also allow you to share your work, which can be especially helpful for group projects
- AI – when you need to quickly collaborate with a team, Bit.AI is the tool for you. It functions in much the same way as Google Docs, but with research in mind. It supports a host of formats, such as videos, PDFs, white papers, and more, and everything can be edited in a shareable workspace
- io – this bookmarking tool has been designed to allow you to better manage your references. You can share these if you need to collaborate with your team and there are browser extensions for Chrome if you need to quickly save websites and files
All of the above have free and pro versions depending on your needs.
3. Learn what works for you
If you know you have more research papers to write in the future, test out a few apps and hone the skills that help you to be more productive.
You may find that having a hub for citations to refer to benefits you while writing the paper in a separate document, or you may even find a pen and paper comes in handy to jot down notes while you’re away from your computer.
Being prepared is always going to be better than going in blind, so be sure to define your needs and work to your strengths.
