Principles for Effective Research
- Elizabeth Clemons
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 18
Tip Sheet
We know the questions we want to answer. Now, let's talk about some principles for effectively finding the information.
Write and rewrite as you work.
Continuously write and rewrite in a draft throughout your research. Continuous writing will force you to stay focused on identifying information about a candidate that voters need to know. It will also force you to continuously distill what you know and don't based on available information at any given moment. Often, gaps in knowledge or leads for additional investigation only become apparent when you write what you know.
Transparency is critical.
Open, ethical methods produce trustworthy research. Be prepared to explain how you gathered each piece of information and data. Tracking and explaining each step of your work will make you a more effective, dependable reporter.
Welcome questions.
Remain open to contradictions of your findings. Just as peer review is fundamental in science, the best investigations are strengthened by questions and contributions from others.
Prize accuracy above all else.
Value accuracy above all else. Reporting about facts of which we don't have direct personal knowledge requires attribution. For example, you may have read that a candidate was married on a certain date, but it's unlikely you attended the wedding. You need to report that the subject was married on a certain date, according to the document that you've read.
Trust primary sources, such as property records and regulatory filings, over secondary sources, such as news articles or posts on social media.
Be skeptical, even of yourself.
Accept nothing as fact until you've verified and confirmed it. Question your own assumptions, being aware of how your own emotions and opinions could cloud your judgment. Be willing to change your mind if new facts arise.
Work "upstream" from secondary sources to primary sources.
Secondary sources such as news articles or analyst reports can be invaluable. They often summarize complex issues that would otherwise require hours of research and analysis. They also often include quotes that wouldn't otherwise be available.
However, you often need information that is either broader or more specific. Another reporter may have overlooked details that are critical for your reporting.
Use secondary sources as a starting point and then move “upstream” to primary sources to verify and expand your knowledge. Primary sources include court filings, campaign finance filings, or any other records not filtered through someone else's lens.
Organize information chronologically.
In complex investigations, always organize information chronologically. Chronology has the power to reveal potential motivations for a person's actions. For example, did a person change his name shortly after a personal bankruptcy? Chronology can alert you to the timing of key events.
Don't miss anything.
When searching databases and public records, be careful not to miss relevant documents. Use the broadest feasible search terms. For example, if the subject has an uncommon last name, search by last name only. If the subject has used multiple names, such as a married name and a maiden name, run searches using each name.
Review a database's search function and ensure that there are no limitations applied to your search by default. For example, the FEC contributions database defaults to searching records from only the current electoral cycle. Be sure to expand the timeframe to run the most comprehensive searches possible.
When a search returns no results, run another search with a common name, such as John Smith, to ensure that the database is working properly.
Think creatively.
As you research candidates, think about creative applications of research tools. For example, if a candidate appears to have a close relationship with a government contractor, are they members of the same country club? If they golf, you may be able to find out using the Golf Handicap Information Network.
Always be aware of, and adhere to, ethical rules and standards.
Be fair to everyone you research. Fairness requires more than accuracy. It also requires the inclusion of relevant context and the acknowledgement of possible explanations for conduct that could appear problematic.
If ever you are in doubt, consult the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
Questions or comments about Sunlight's workshops and resources? Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@sunlightresearch.net.