RESEARCH SKILLS

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH SKILLS

Research skills allow you to find information and use it effectively. It includes creating a strategy to gather facts and reach conclusions so that you can answer a question.

Defined of Research skills

Research skills refer to an individual’s ability to find and evaluate useful information related to a specific topic.

These skills include performing investigations, using critical analysis, and forming hypotheses or solutions to a particular issue. Research skills are valued by employers in various industries and are beneficial to employees in all types of positions. Having these skills is imperative to advancing your career as they directly relate to your ability to gain insight and inspire action in both yourself and others.

How to start your research

Ø    Think about your topic – don’t be too vague or too specific (try mind mapping or keyword searching).

Ø    Read broadly around your subject (don’t just use Google and Wikipedia). Think about a research question that is clearly structured and builds on literature already produced.

Ø    Find information using the subject databases. View the Database Orientation Program to learn about databases and using search strategies to refine your search and limit results. View our library tutorial on planning your literature search and look at our library subject guides for resources on your specific topic.

Ø    Another good starting point for finding information is our library catalogue WebCat and our discovery tool Delphis which allows you to search across the library's electronic resources as well as major subject databases and indexes.

Ø    Carry out a literature review. You may want to include journals, books, websites, grey literature or data and statistics for example. 

Ø    Keep a record and organise your references and sources. If you are intending to carry out a systematic review then take a look at the systematic review page on our Research Support library guide.

Ø     Evaluate your resources – use the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose - watch the video, top right). 

Ø    Reach considered conclusions and make recommendations where necessary.

Why do I need research skills?

Ø     they enable you to locate appropriate information and evaluate it for quality and relevance

Ø     they allow you to make good use of information to resolve a problem

Ø    they give you the ability to synthesize and communicate your ideas in written and spoken formats

Ø    they foster critical thinking

Ø    they are highly transferable and can be adapted to many settings including the workplace

1.               Books

2.     Journals

3.     Newspapers

4.     Websites

5.     Conference proceedings

6.     Data & statistics

7.     Grey literature

8.     Official publications

9.     Patents

Books are good for exploring new subject areas. They help define a topic and provide an in-depth account of a subject.

Scholarly books contain authoritative information including comprehensive accounts of research or scholarship and experts' views on themes and topics. Their bibliographies can lead readers to related books, articles and other sources. 

Details on the electronic books held by the University of Southampton can be found using Webcat the library catalogue.

What Are Research Skills and Why They're Important

Research skills in the workplace

Many employers value research skills in their employees, especially when it comes to research-oriented positions such as those in analysis and data management. Common research skills necessary for a variety of jobs include attention to detail, time management, and problem solving. Here we explore what research skills are, examples of in-demand research skills, how you can improve and use research skills at work, and how to highlight your research skills during the job search process.

Why are research skills important?

Research skills are necessary for the workplace for several reasons, including that they allow individuals and companies to:

Identify problems that are hindering performance or the ability to complete tasks

Come up with viable solutions to those problems

Evaluate resources and the best way to utilize those resources to promote increased efficiency

Come up with new services or products

Identify the needs of a company’s target customer to better meet those needs through products and services

Stay up-to-date with industry trends and market demands

Learn new ways of doing things to adapt and evolve to meet workplace demands

Research skills examples

Research skills encompass several different skill sets that work together to allow individuals to identify and interpret information and come to viable solutions.

The most in-demand research skills in the workplace include:

Time management

Time management skills are essential when researching because they allow you to break down tasks into more manageable parts and effectively tackle each piece. Good time management skills include planning, setting goals, organizing tasks, delegating assignments, and prioritizing work duties.

Examples of time management skills include:

Stress management

Communication

Decision-making

Multitasking

Managing appointments

Meeting deadlines

Organization

Self-awareness

Resource management

Critical thinking

Critical thinking refers to a person’s ability to think rationally and analyze and interpret information and make connections. This skill is important in research because it allows individuals to better gather and evaluate data and establish significance.

Common critical thinking skills include:

Open-mindedness

Inference

Analysis

Evaluation

Interpretation

Observation

Problem-solving skills

Being an effective problem solver will increase your research skills by allowing you to successfully identify issues and come up with solutions to these problems.

Good problem-solving skills to have include:

Creativity

Active listening

Analysis

Team-building

Communication

Communication skills

Communication is an important aspect of success researching because it allows individuals to share their findings with others in an easy-to-understand way. Common types of communication required when researching include report writing, data summarization, presentations, and interviewing.

Detail orientation

Being detail-oriented is vital during the research process. Detail orientation is important in nearly any position, as most jobs require employees to follow specific rules or procedures set forth by the company. When researching, detail orientation ensures that you don’t miss important details and can make connections between things that would otherwise appear unrelated.

How you can improve your research skills

There are several things you can do to improve your research skills, including:

Identify your objective. 

Before you start researching something, it’s important to clearly define your purpose for performing the research.

For example, if you’re researching market trends, are you doing so to analyze the competition or to find out what types of trends your target audience is most drawn to?

While you’re still researching market trends, these two objectives are very different and will dictate how you go about your research.

Learn how to identify quality sources

Not all sources are created equal, and knowing how to recognize quality sources will support your research efforts and ensure your findings are reliable. Ensuring that the author of the source is an expert in that field and that the source agrees with other similar sources is a good way to verify validity.

Practice good organization 

When researching, you’ll likely come across various pieces of information. Practicing good organization techniques, such as using bookmarks on your Internet browser or printing out information and using a filing system, ensures you don’t lose important pieces necessary to draw viable conclusions.

Using research skills at work

Here are a few ways you can incorporate your research skills in the workplace:

Prepare. Before you start a new project, take time to set goals and ensure you have everything you need to complete the research.

Use various sources. Utilizing several different sources when performing research at work is a good way to ensure you find the information you’re looking for and that the data is accurate and agrees with other sources.

Consult with coworkers

Comparing your findings with colleagues is an important part of the research process and ensures that the same information is being found and utilized across departments.

Communicate. Practicing good communication is an essential component of the research process. Make it a point to regularly incorporate some form of communication into your daily duties, whether it be writing a progress report or sending an email with relevant research-related information included.

How to highlight your research skills during the job search process

You can highlight your research in the following areas when applying and interviewing for jobs:

On your resume and cover letter

Many employers look for candidates with strong research skills. You can highlight these skills in both your cover letter and resume. On your resume, including any research skills you possess that are directly related to the job in the skills section and in your work history descriptions. In your cover letter, choose one or two research skills, such as communication or project management skills, and mention them in the body of the letter.

In an interview

You can portray your research skills before you get to the interview by researching the company and the job position and coming to the interview prepared with insightful questions. During the interview, you can reference this research by offering answers that show you spend time delving into the organization and job title.

How to develop research skills

Everyone is a natural researcher. Whether you’re looking for the best price on a product or researching a topic for a school project, you’re using research skills.

Follow these steps to expand upon those skills:

1. Make an outline

The first thing you should do when starting any research project is to make an outline to help guide your research. Your outline should include a plan for the questions you need to research and the information you need to arrive at a decision. It should also include a plan for how you will divide your research project into manageable parts and a schedule detailing when each piece of your project should be complete.

2. Know your sources

The internet has made locating information more accessible, but not every source is credible. It is important to know how to find reliable sources and analyze information to determine whether or not it is credible. To ensure you are gathering accurate information, try to verify information from one source by using another. Locate the original information source to verify its reliability.

3. Learn to use advanced search techniques

When you are using the internet for research, most search engines allow you to use advanced search preferences to customize your search results. These search techniques will help you find the information you are looking for from credible sources more efficiently.

4. Practice

One of the best ways to develop any new or existing skill is to practice. You can practice developing research skills by creating small research projects for yourself to work on that can help you with a current life event. For example, if you are planning a vacation, you can practice researching different activities and prices of hotels and transportation. If you are looking for a job, you can practice researching information about different positions and companies.

Tips for highlighting research skills

Because research skills are so crucial to employers, it is also important to properly highlight these skills throughout your job search. You can display these skills on your resume, in your cover letter and during the job interview. Here are a few tips for how to highlight your researching skills throughout each part of your job search:

Research skills for your resume and cover letter

Many research-related skills are also critical keywords employers look for in your resume and cover letter. For example, many employers are looking for candidates who have skills like attention to detail, time management, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and project management. You can display these skills throughout your resume and cover letter by using these keywords in your summary statement and when describing your relevant experience.

Research skills for the job interview

Before your next job interview, research both the position and the company you are interviewing for. Being adequately prepared for your interview is the first step to showing your interviewer you can gather and analyze relevant information. During your interview, you can display your research skills by using the information you gathered during your preparation to answer questions the interviewer asks. This shows the interviewer you can locate and analyze important information and communicate it effectively when presenting your research.

How can students improve their research skills?

Students can improve their research skills by being comfortable asking questions, understanding how to organize information, learning how to find credible sources, and more.

What are the 7 steps of the research process?

The Seven Steps of the Research Process

Identification of a research problem.

Formulation of Hypothesis.

Review of Related Literature.

Preparation of Research Design.

Actual experimentation.

Results and Discussion.

Formulation of Conclusions and Recommendations.