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Research Skills: What They Are and How They Benefit You

• Published May 23, 2024

Research skills give you the ability to gather relevant information from different sources and analyse it critically in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of a subject. Thus, research skills are fundamental to academic success.

Developing these skills will improve your studies, helping you understand subjects better and positioning you for academic success.

That said, how can you develop important research skills? This will explore what research skills are, identify the core ones, and explain how you can develop them.

What Are Research Skills?

Research skills are a set of abilities that allow individuals to find and gather reliable information and then evaluate the information to find answers to questions.

Good research skills are important in academic settings, as finding and critically evaluating relevant information can help you gain a deeper understanding of a subject.

These skills are also important in professional and personal settings. When you graduate and are working in a professional capacity, you’ll often need to analyse sets of data to identify issues and determine how to solve them.

In personal contexts, you’ll always need to assess relevant information to make an informed decision. Whether you’re deciding on a major purchase, choosing a healthcare provider, or planning to make an investment, you’ll need to evaluate options to ensure better decision outcomes.

Different Types of Research Skills

Research skills are categorised into different sub-skills. The most common types are:

Quantitative Skills

Quantitative skills refer to the ability to work with numerical data and perform mathematical and statistical analyses to extract meaningful insights and draw conclusions. 

When you have quantitative skills, you’ll be able to apply mathematical concepts and operations in research design and data analysis. 

You’ll also be proficient in using statistical methods to analyse data and interpreting numerical data to draw meaningful conclusions. 

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills refer to the ability to gather data, evaluate it, and draw sound conclusions. When you have analytical skills, you’ll be able to systematically analyse information to reach a reasonable conclusion. 

Analytical skills are important in problem-solving. They help you to break down complex problems into more manageable components, think critically about the information at hand, analyse root causes, and develop effective solutions.

Qualitative Skills

Qualitative skills refer to the ability to collect, analyse, and interpret non-numerical data. When you have qualitative skills, you’ll be proficient in observation, interviewing, and other methods for collecting qualitative research data. 

You’ll also be able to analyse non-numerical data, such as documents and images, to identify themes, patterns, and meanings.

Research Skills Examples

The core research skills you need for success in academic, professional, and personal contexts include:

Data Collection

Data is at the centre of every research, as data is what you assess to find the answers you seek. Thus, research starts with collecting relevant data.

Depending on the research, there are two broad categories of data you can collect: primary and secondary.

Primary data is generated by the researcher, like data from interviews, observations, or experiments. Secondary data is pre-existing data obtained from different existing databases, like published literature, government reports, etc. 

Thus, data collection is more than gathering information from the Internet. Depending on the research, it can require more advanced skills for conducting experiments to generate your own data.

Source Evaluation

When doing research on any subject (especially when using the Internet), you’ll be amazed at the volume of information you’ll find. And a lot is pure garbage that can compromise your research work.

Thus, an important research skill is being able to dig through the garbage to get to the real facts. This is where source evaluation comes in!

Good research skills call for being able to identify biases, assess the authority of the author, and determine the accuracy of information before using it.

Time Management Skills

Have you ever felt that there is not enough time in a day for all that you need to do? When you already have so much to do, adding research can be overwhelming.

Good time management skills can help you find the time to do all you need to do, including relevant research work, making it an essential research skill.

Time management allows you to plan and manage your research project effectively. It includes breaking down research tasks into more manageable parts, setting priorities, and allocating time to the different stages of the research.

Communication Skills

Communication is an important aspect of every research, as it aids in data collection and sharing research findings. 

Important communication skills needed in research include active listening, active speaking, interviewing, report writing, data visualisation, and presentation, etc.

For example, when research involves collecting primary data via interviews, you must have sound speaking and listening skills. 

When you conclude the research and need to share findings, you’ll need to write a research report and present key findings in easy-to-understand formats like charts. 

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is the ability to achieve thoroughness and accuracy when doing something. It requires focusing on every aspect of the tasks, even small ones. 

Anything you miss during your research will affect the quality of your research findings. Thus, the ability to pay close attention to details is an important research skill.

You need attention to detail at every stage of the research process. During data collection, it helps you ensure reliable data. 

During analysis, it reduces the risk of error to ensure your results are trustworthy. It also helps you express findings precisely to minimise ambiguity and facilitate understanding.

Note-Taking

Note-taking is exactly what it sounds like—writing down key information during the research process.

Remember that research involves sifting through and taking in a lot of information. It’s impossible to take in all the information and recall it from memory. This is where note-taking comes in!

Note-taking helps you capture key information, making it easier to remember and utilise for the research later. It also involves writing down where to look for important information.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and synthesise information in a thoughtful way. It is an important skill needed in virtually all stages of the research process.

For example, when collecting data, you need critical thinking to assess the quality and relevance of data. It can help you identify gaps in data to formulate your research question and hypothesis. 

It can also help you to identify patterns and make reasonable connections when interpreting research findings.

Data Analysis

Data may not mean anything until you analyse it qualitatively or quantitatively (using techniques like Excel or SPSS). For this reason, data analysis analysis is an important research skill.

Researchers need to be able to build hypotheses and test these using appropriate research techniques. This helps to draw meaningful conclusions and gain a comprehensive understanding of research data.

Problem-Solving Skills

Research often involves addressing specific questions and solving problems. For this reason, problem-solving skills are important skills when conducting research. 

Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to identify, analyse, and solve problems effectively. 

With problem-solving skills, you’ll be able to assess a situation, consider various solutions, and choose the most appropriate course of action toward finding a solution.

Benefits of Research Skills

Research skills have many benefits, including:

Enhances Critical Thinking

Research skills and critical thinking are intertwined such that developing one enhances the other.

Research requires people to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, analyse information, and draw conclusions. These activities require you to think critically about the information at hand. Hence, engaging in research enhances critical thinking.

Develops Problem-Solving Skills

Research helps you acquire a set of critical skills that are directly transferable to problem-solving. 

For example, research fosters creative thinking, as it often requires synthesising data from different sources and connecting different concepts. After developing creative thinking via research, you can apply the skill to generate innovative solutions in problem-solving situations. 

Helps in Knowledge Acquisition

Engaging in research is a powerful way to acquire knowledge. Research involves exploring new ideas, and this helps you expand your breadth of knowledge.

It also involves applying research methods and methodologies. So, you’ll acquire knowledge about research methods, enhancing your ability to design and conduct studies in your higher education or professional life.

Why Are Research Skills Important?

Strong research skills offer numerous benefits, especially for students’ academic learning and development. 

When you develop good research skills, you’ll reap great academic rewards that include:

In-Depth Understanding

Conducting research allows you to delve deep into specific topics, helping you gain a thorough understanding of the subject matter beyond what is covered in standard coursework.

Critical Thinking Development

Research involves critical evaluation of information and making informed decisions. This builds your ability to think critically.

This skill will not only help you solve academic problems better, but it’s also crucial to your personal and professional growth.

Encouragement of Independent Learning

Research encourages independent learning. When you engage in research, you seek answers independently. You take the initiative to find, retrieve, and evaluate information relevant to your research.

That helps you develop self-directed study habits. You’ll be able to take ownership of your education and actively seek out information for a better understanding of the subject matter.

Intellectual Curiosity Development

Research skills encourage intellectual curiosity and a love of learning, as they’ll make you explore topics you find intriguing or important. Thus, you’ll be more motivated to explore topics beyond the scope of your coursework.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Research helps you build better interpersonal skills as well as report-writing skills.

Research helps you sharpen your communication skills when you interact with research subjects during data collection. Communicating research findings to an audience also helps sharpen your presentation skills or report writing skills.

Assistance in Career Preparation 

Many professions find people with good research skills. Whether you’ll pursue a career in academia, business, healthcare, or IT, being able to conduct research will make you a valuable asset.

So, researching skills for students prepares you for a successful career when you graduate.

Contribution to Personal Growth

Research also contributes to your personal growth. Know that research projects often come with setbacks, unexpected challenges, and moments of uncertainty. Navigating these difficulties helps you build resilience and confidence.

Acquisition of Time Management Skills

Research projects often come with deadlines. Such research projects force you to set goals, prioritise tasks, and manage your time effectively.

That helps you acquire important time management skills that you can use in other areas of academic life and your professional life when you graduate.

Ways to Improve Research Skills

The ways to improve your research skills involve a combination of learning and practice. 

You should consider enrolling in research-related programmes, learning to use data analysis tools, practising summarising and synthesising information from multiple sources, collaborating with more experienced researchers, and more. 

Looking to improve your research skills? Read our 11 ways to improve research skills article.

How Can I Learn Research Skills?

You can learn research skills using these simple three-point framework:

Clarifying the Objective

Start by articulating the purpose of your research. Identify the specific question you are trying to answer or the problem you are aiming to solve.

Then, determine the scope of your research to help you stay focused and avoid going after irrelevant information.

Cross-Referencing Sources

The next step is to search for existing research on the topic. Use academic databases, journals, books, and reputable online sources.

It’s important to compare information from multiple sources, taking note of consensus among studies and any conflicting findings. 

Also, check the credibility of each source by looking at the author’s expertise, information recency, and reputation of the publication’s outlet.

Organise the Research

Develop a note-taking system to document key findings as you search for existing research. Create a research outline, then arrange your ideas logically, ensuring that each section aligns with your research objective.

As you progress, be adaptable. Be open to refining your research plan as new understanding evolves.

Enrolling in online research programmes can also help you build strong research skills. These programmes combine subject study with academic research project development to help you hone the skills you need to succeed in higher education.

Immerse Education is a foremost provider of online research programmes.

Acquire Research Skills with Immerse Education 

Research skills are essential to academic success. They help you gain an in-depth understanding of subjects, enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improve your time management skills, and more. 

In addition to boosting you academically, they contribute to your personal growth and prepare you for a successful professional career.

Thankfully, you can learn research skills and reap these benefits. There are different ways to improve research skills, including enrolling in research-based programmes. This is why you need Immerse Education!

Immerse Education provides participants aged 13-18 with unparalleled educational experience. All our programmes are designed by tutors from top global universities and help prepare participants for future success.

Our online research programme expertly combines subject study with academic research projects to help you gain subject matter knowledge and the important research skills you need to succeed in higher education.  With one-on-one tutoring or group sessions from an expert academic from Oxford or Cambridge University and a flexible delivery mode, the programme is designed for you to succeed. Subsequently, enrolling in our accredited Online Research Programme will award students with 8 UCAS points upon completion.

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Expert Commentary

Advanced Internet research techniques: Five key lessons from Google

Overview of search lessons and techniques from Google, with a focus on how to locate scholarly and research-related resources.

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by John Wihbey, The Journalist's Resource June 20, 2012

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/home/advanced-research-techniques-google/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

In the age of digital journalism, developing advanced online search skills is crucial to professional success. They can open vast worlds of relevant data and information that can make reporters both more efficient and more knowledgeable.

There are many search engines to choose from and all have different ways of prioritizing search results. Google is one of the leaders in this area, and provides a variety of tools that can be helpful for instructors teaching students advanced techniques, or just the basics.

Below are five advanced lessons on search techniques, including best practices for academic research and using Google Scholar. These materials are also handy for journalists wanting to improve their Internet skills. The lessons are all in PDF format and can also be found on Google’s Search Education page .

• Picking the right search terms
• Understanding search results
• Narrowing a search to get the best results
• Searching for evidence for research tasks (Google Scholar)
• Evaluating credibility of sources

Here is a 40-minute overview video with Google search expert Dan Russell:

For more training materials relating to research and scholarship, see Journalist’s Resource’s library of related articles and tip sheets ; this area also includes conversations with professionals about best practices.

Tags: training

About The Author

John Wihbey

Google expands learning paths to help researchers get on the cloud

Ray fleming.

Asia Pacific Program Manager for Higher Education

Academic researchers live in a world of constant change, as research processes and tools continue to get more powerful, but also more complex. With research tools advancing on a daily basis, academic and nonprofit research teams face an ongoing need for learning and re-training. But researchers tell us that with their heavy workloads they don’t have time to keep up with new technologies: they want to focus on moving their research forward.

In response, we have created new training pathways and resources that help researchers get up to speed quickly on Google Cloud. Whether you are a researcher wanting to build a genomics pipeline, run a Monte Carlo simulation, create an auto-scaling HPC cluster with Slurm, or host Jupyter Notebooks, we’ve curated training resources that will get you straight to the solution without wasting time or resources. We know that many of you want to apply the latest cloud-based artificial intelligence tools--like building a custom service to classify images from camera traps or video footage, or make better data predictions using the latest hardware acceleration--without a long learning path.

If this sounds familiar, here’s how we can help: 

Researcher-focused learning labs

Organized by research discipline, learning labs guide you through the cloud skills you’ll need for Engineering, Physical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, and Life Sciences. We also offer a downloadable guide which contains resources to help you with related cloud-computing solutions, like High Performance Computing, networking security, and data analytics. In addition, there are thousands of tutorials on Google’s Codelabs which are freely available for researchers looking to learn about related topics, such as mobile app development for Android and iOS.

Credits for training labs

Google Cloud Skills Boost allows you to get hands-on experience with a live Google Cloud tenant, which is setup temporarily for your training. It’s a safe sandbox environment that allows you to learn from doing, rather than simply observing somebody else. Explore your options and apply for credits .

Cloud grants for academic research

Researchers and PhD students from eligible institutions in selected countries can apply for up to US$5,000 of Google Cloud credits to access state-of-the-art research tools and skip the queue for computing resources. 

Research partnerships

We also work with regional partners on cloud skills programs for researchers, and are eager to collaborate with new partners.

In the US, we worked with the National Science Foundation to provide cloud credit grants and instructor-led training as part of the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering’s  program to support research capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions (CISE-MSI).

In Australia, we partnered with AeRO and QCIF to provide 20 cloud credit grants and instructor-led training, specifically aimed at supporting Early Career Researchers and PhD students to accelerate their research projects.

If you’re a national or regional research organization, and are interested in partnering on a cloud skills program for your researchers, contact us at:  [email protected] . 

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Research Skills Tutorial

• Turning A Topic Into A Research Question
• Getting Background Information About Your Topic
• Portfolio Activity 1
• Types of Information Sources
• Scholarly, Popular and Trade Information Sources
• Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Information Sources
• Current and Retrospective Information Sources
• Information Sources for Different Audiences and Purposes
• Portfolio Activity 2
• Library Databases vs. the Web
• Creating a Concept Chart
• Boolean Operators
• Refining Results by Date, Peer Review and Document Type
• Advanced Searching
• Advanced Searching with Descriptors
• Descriptor Chaining
• Citation Chaining (or Reference Mining)
• Searching Outside the SUNY Empire Library

Searching Google

• Portfolio Activity 3
• Understanding Search Results
• Saving Search Results
• Portfolio Activity 4
• Credible Sources
• What Does the Information Source Tell You About Itself?
• Reliability
• Some More About Validity
• Portfolio Activity 5
• What Is Citing?
• What Is a Citation?
• Citation Styles
• Citing Tools and Tips
• Practice Activity 6
• Practice Activity 7 - Final Project

Sometimes you need to search the Web because it is the best place to find certain kinds of information sources, especially gray literature and primary sources. Some examples include:

• government documents
• digitized primary sources from museums, historical societies, and other cultural institutions
• reports and white papers from non-profit organizations and NGOs

Beyond what you can find using general search engines, like Google, there is Google Scholar, which searches:

• scholarly articles
• conference papers
• U.S. patents (if you choose to include them)

If you access Google Scholar through the library's Article Databases page, you will be able to sign in and find links to full-text articles found in your Google Scholar search results via library databases.

Because the Web is vast and unmonitored in terms of quality, it is important to learn how to use Web search engines to their fullest potential.

This video from Suffolk County Community College's library explains how to use Google's (and Google Scholar's) Advanced Search. It was made in 2013, so the Google interface has changed slightly.

Screenshot 1 : In Google, to locate Advanced Search, you must first  sign into Google . Then click the gear icon, and select Advanced Search (highlighted in red below): 

Screenshot 2 : In Google Scholar, to locate Advanced Search, first  sign into Google  and then  look for the unlabeled pull-down menu on the right side of the page, near the top (highlighted in red below):

Accessibility Note

Please note: If you need to request accommodations with content linked to on this guide, on the basis of a disability, please contact Accessibility Resources and Services by emailing them .  Requests for accommodations should be submitted as early as possible to allow for sufficient planning. If you have questions, please visit the Accessibility Resources and Services website .

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Research Skills

• Articles and Journals
• Google Scholar
• Finding Data
• Finding Images
• Literature Reviews This link opens in a new window
• Research Papers This link opens in a new window
• Citation Managers This link opens in a new window
• Citation Style Guides This link opens in a new window
• Using the Web Smartly

Getting the Most Out of Google Scholar

Google Scholar indexes a wide range of scholarly material (articles, books, etc.), but it's no panacea to your research-gathering problems. Here are some tips to help you navigate the quirks of this search tool.

• Google Scholar does not circumvent subscriptions. You cannot access an article if the library isn't subscribed to its journal. Scholar will display search results regardless of whether you can read the linked book or article. Pay attention to the right-hand side of the screen, which will show links to full-text versions of the article or entries for the book or article in your library's catalogue.
• Google Scholar does not index everything. Scholar does not encompass every single academic resource you may be interested in. If you wanted to thoroughly research a topic, you will want to search in multiple databases, especially subject-specific ones. You can find a list of databases the library subscribed to here .
• No access through Scholar isn't the end of the search. If you cannot access an article through Google Scholar, there may still be hope. You can put in an interlibrary loan request for the item through your university library.
• Google search strategies still apply in Scholar Use your repertoire of search tricks in Scholar just as you would in regular Google. You can also make use of Scholar's filters and advanced search features to target specific authors or journals or limit your results to a particular time span.
• Follow the citations. Underneath each search result will be a link reading "Cited by [#number]". Following this link will take you to a list of other research papers that included the article in their bibliographies. Use this feature to discover other papers with a similar goal or method as a particularly interesting article.
• Select the menu (three horizontal bars in the upper-left corner) and choose "Settings".
• Select "Library links" from the list of options on the left side of the page.
• You will see a checklist of libraries whose access links are visible to you. If you do not see your library in this list, you can manually search for it and add it through the search bar.
• Make use of the citation generator. Google Scholar will generate citations for indexed items. Beneath each search result, you will see a quotation mark icon. Click this to receive a list of citations for the paper in five commonly used styles. Then copy whatever citation style you prefer nd pate it into your target document.
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Mastering Research Skills: A Cornerstone For Success In Science

Explore the importance of research skills in science. Learn critical thinking, reliable sources, search engine tips, and time management.

Research Skills are a cornerstone of success in science, encompassing the abilities necessary to navigate knowledge acquisition and extensive research. These skills not only facilitate the discovery of new information but also contribute to them being thoroughly analyzed and implemented. Let’s delve into critical research skills and see how they form the backbone of a thriving scientific career.

Understanding The Essence Of Research Skills

Research skills encompass the methodologies and competencies employed to gather, assess, and synthesize information effectively. These skills go beyond mere data collection; they involve critical thinking, reliable source identification, active listening, and proficient time management.

Related article: Mastering Critical Reading: Uncover The Art Of Analyzing Texts

Research skills constitute the backbone of any successful inquiry process, serving as a comprehensive toolkit that extends beyond the superficial gathering of information. Beyond the initial data accumulation phase, these skills embody a multidimensional approach. 

Research skills further encompass active listening — an often underestimated yet pivotal aspect — enabling researchers to glean valuable insights from conversations, lectures, or expert discussions. This skill ensures a holistic understanding of the subject matter, enriching the depth of information gathered and enhancing the overall research process.

The Merits Of Proficient Research Skills

The benefits of cultivating strong research skills extend beyond the individual researcher; they reverberate throughout academic and professional realms. One of the primary advantages is the empowerment to make informed decisions based on a thorough understanding of the available data. Researchers with honed skills can navigate through vast datasets with efficiency, identifying patterns and correlations that might elude those with less developed research acumen.

Moreover, these skills are instrumental in fostering innovation. The ability to synthesize information from various sources, coupled with critical thinking, allows researchers to envision new possibilities and alternative approaches to longstanding problems. This capacity for creative thinking is a hallmark of individuals with advanced research skills and is often the driving force behind groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in scientific knowledge.

In the professional sphere, individuals with strong research skills are valuable assets to organizations. Their ability to gather, evaluate, and apply information contributes to effective problem-solving and decision-making. In industries driven by technological advancements and data-driven insights, research skills are increasingly becoming a sought-after and indispensable trait in employees.

Cultivating Critical Thinking In Research Endeavors

Critical thinking is the cornerstone upon which the edifice of scientific inquiry stands. Beyond merely gathering information, it involves a systematic approach to analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting data. This skill equips researchers with the ability to discern patterns, spot anomalies, and derive meaningful conclusions from complex datasets. Moreover, critical thinking in research facilitates the identification of potential biases, ensuring objectivity and rigor in the investigative process. It enables scientists to challenge established theories, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and continual exploration.

Also read: How To Avoid Bias In Research: Navigating Scientific Objectivity

Furthermore, honing critical thinking skills is essential in adapting to the rapidly evolving scientific landscape. As new information emerges and paradigms shift, researchers equipped with strong critical thinking abilities are better poised to adapt to changes, integrate new knowledge, and refine their approaches.

Why Critical Thinking Is Paramount In Research

In the realm of scientific inquiry, critical thinking serves as the linchpin for discerning between reliable and fallacious information. It is the foundation for formulating hypotheses, design experiments and draw conclusions. By employing critical thinking skills, researchers can evaluate the validity of claims, weigh evidence objectively, and arrive at conclusions rooted in evidence-based reasoning. This approach safeguards against premature conclusions and ensures that scientific findings are based on robust analysis and thorough scrutiny.

Moreover, critical thinking promotes intellectual humility, encouraging researchers to remain open to alternative viewpoints and possibilities. It fosters a culture of constructive skepticism, wherein scientific claims are subject to continuous scrutiny and refinement. This aspect of critical thinking is pivotal in mitigating the influence of personal biases and fostering a collective pursuit of objective truth within the scientific community.

Related article: Thesis Conclusion: Making Your Research Paper Outstanding

Sharpening Critical Thinking Abilities

Improving critical thinking skills is an ongoing endeavor that involves deliberate practice and exposure to diverse perspectives. Engaging in activities that challenge assumptions, such as analyzing conflicting viewpoints or participating in debates, can sharpen critical thinking abilities. Additionally, fostering a habit of continuous learning and staying abreast of developments in various scientific domains can broaden perspectives, enhancing the ability to approach problems from different angles.

Moreover, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and engaging in discussions with peers from varied scientific backgrounds can stimulate critical thinking. Exposure to alternative methodologies and problem-solving approaches cultivates adaptability and a more nuanced understanding of complex scientific issues.

Navigating Reliable Sources In Scientific Inquiry

The art of identifying reliable sources is a skill that requires meticulous evaluation and discrimination. Apart from traditional peer-reviewed journals and reputable publications, researchers must discern the authenticity of online sources, considering factors like author expertise, publication credibility, and potential biases. Furthermore, acknowledging the significance of preprint articles while discerning their limitations is pivotal in staying updated with the latest scientific developments.

Criteria For Reliable Sources

Developing a keen eye for distinguishing credible sources from unreliable ones is crucial. Encouragingly, initiatives promoting media literacy and critical evaluation of sources are gaining traction, empowering individuals to navigate the digital landscape more discerningly.

Reliable sources in scientific research adhere to stringent criteria, embodying credibility, accuracy, objectivity, and relevance. Peer-reviewed journals, known for their rigorous editorial and review processes, serve as gold standards in academic research. Additionally, reputable institutions and recognized experts within specific scientific fields contribute to the authenticity of information.

Understanding the underlying criteria for determining source reliability allows researchers to make informed decisions about the veracity and applicability of the information they encounter. This discernment, crucial in an era flooded with information, is fundamental to upholding the integrity of scientific inquiry.

Discerning And Assessing Reliable Sources

Developing the ability to discern credible sources involves a multifaceted approach. Understanding the context in which the information is and cross-referencing it with multiple reliable sources adds layers of validation, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the information gathered.

Furthermore, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources aids in the assessment process. While primary sources offer firsthand information or original research findings, secondary sources interpret and analyze primary data. Recognizing the nuances between these sources is pivotal in grasping the depth and breadth of scientific information.

Harnessing The Power Of Search Engines In Research

In the digital age, search engines serve as gateways to an expansive pool of information. Leveraging these tools efficiently necessitates familiarity with advanced search techniques. Utilizing specific search operators, employing filters, and refining search queries enable researchers to access targeted and relevant information swiftly. Moreover, being mindful of the credibility of the websites accessed via search engines ensures the reliability of the gathered data.

Despite the convenience offered by search engines, researchers must approach the results with a critical lens. Verifying the sources’ credibility and cross-referencing information from various reputable sources remains imperative. Search engines, while valuable, are tools that require adept navigation to extract credible and pertinent information effectively.

Maximizing Search Engine Efficiency

Understanding the nuances of different search engines tailored for scientific research, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, can significantly enhance the efficiency of the research process. Each search engine has unique functionalities and focuses, catering to specific scientific disciplines or types of information. Familiarizing oneself with these platforms and their features empowers researchers to optimize their search strategies and access specialized resources pertinent to their field of study.

Related article: The Importance of Scholarly Sources: How to Find and Evaluate

Moreover, utilizing advanced search parameters, such as Boolean operators or specific filters, allows researchers to refine their searches and access highly targeted information. Learning and applying these techniques enhance the precision and relevance of the obtained results, streamlining the research process and saving valuable time.

Active Listening: A Crucial Research Skill

Active listening extends beyond the conventional perception of listening; it involves a focused and deliberate effort to comprehend and assimilate information effectively. During the research process, active listening plays a pivotal role, particularly when gathering insights from expert discussions, interviews, or academic lectures. It demands undivided attention, keen observation, and an open-minded approach to absorb the nuances and key concepts communicated by the speaker.

Furthermore, active listening isn’t solely about hearing words; it encompasses deciphering underlying meanings, interpreting tone and context, and probing for additional information. This skill enhances the depth and quality of information garnered, ensuring a more holistic understanding of the subject matter.

Engaging In Active Listening During Research

Researchers can refine active listening skills by actively engaging in discussions, seeking clarification when necessary, and taking comprehensive notes. Encouraging dialogue and posing pertinent questions fosters a deeper engagement in the information communicated. Additionally, employing techniques such as summarizing key points or paraphrasing to confirm understanding promotes effective communication and comprehension.

Moreover, employing active listening skills aids researchers in identifying underlying implications and nuances in conversations. It contributes to the extraction of invaluable insights and perspectives, enriching the research process and broadening the scope of information gathered.

Time Management: A Prerequisite For Effective Research

Time management skills are indispensable for researchers seeking to optimize their productivity and efficiency. Successful research requires careful planning and allocation of time for various research phases, including data collection, analysis, experimentation, and documentation.

Efficient time management involves setting realistic goals, establishing priorities, and adhering to structured timelines. Breaking down larger research tasks into manageable segments not only prevents overwhelm but also ensures a systematic approach towards achieving milestones.

Also read: Time Management for Researchers: A Comprehensive Toolkit

Efficient Time Management Strategies

Adopting strategies like creating timelines, setting deadlines for specific research milestones, and maintaining a structured schedule helps researchers stay focused and organized. Furthermore, allocating dedicated time slots for research activities prevents procrastination and promotes consistent progress.

Moreover, embracing tools and techniques that aid in time management, such as calendar applications, task management software, or productivity frameworks like the Pomodoro Technique , can significantly enhance efficiency in research endeavors.

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How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students in 5 Steps (Free Posters)

Please note, this post was updated in 2020 and I no longer update this website.

How often does this scenario play out in your classroom?

You want your students to go online and do some research for some sort of project, essay, story or presentation. Time ticks away, students are busy searching and clicking, but are they finding the useful and accurate information they need for their project?

We’re very fortunate that many classrooms are now well equipped with devices and the internet, so accessing the wealth of information online should be easier than ever, however, there are many obstacles.

Students (and teachers) need to navigate:

• What search terms to put into Google or other search engines
• What search results to click on and read through (while avoiding inappropriate or irrelevant sites or advertisements)
• How to determine what information is credible, relevant and student friendly 
• How to process, synthesize, evaluate , and present the information
• How to compare a range of sources to evaluate their reliability and relevancy
• How to cite sources correctly

Phew! No wonder things often don’t turn out as expected when you tell your students to just “google” their topic. On top of these difficulties some students face other obstacles including: low literacy skills, limited internet access, language barriers, learning difficulties and disabilities.

All of the skills involved in online research can be said to come under the term of information literacy, which tends to fall under a broader umbrella term of digital literacy.

Being literate in this way is an essential life skill.

This post offers tips and suggestions on how to approach this big topic. You’ll learn a 5 step method to break down the research process into manageable chunks in the classroom. Scroll down to find a handy poster for your classroom too.

How to Teach Information Literacy and Online Research Skills

The topic of researching and filtering information can be broken down in so many ways but I believe the best approach involves:

• Starting young and building on skills
• Embedding explicit teaching and mini-lessons regularly (check out my 50 mini-lesson ideas here !)
• Providing lots of opportunity for practice and feedback
• Teachers seeking to improve their own skills — these free courses from Google might help
• Working with your librarian if you have one

💡 While teaching research skills is something that should be worked on throughout the year, I also like the idea of starting the year off strongly with a “Research Day” which is something 7th grade teacher Dan Gallagher wrote about . Dan and his colleagues had their students spend a day rotating around different activities to learn more about researching online. Something to think about!

Google or a Kid-friendly Search Engine?

If you teach young students you might be wondering what the best starting place is.

I’ve only ever used Google with students but I know many teachers like to start with search engines designed for children. If you’ve tried these search engines, I’d love you to add your thoughts in a comment.

💡 If you’re not using a kid-friendly search engine, definitely make sure SafeSearch is activated on Google or Bing. It’s not foolproof but it helps.

Two search engines designed for children that look particularly useful include:

These sites are powered by Google SafeSearch with some extra filtering/moderating.

KidzSearch contains additional features like videos and image sections to browse. While not necessarily a bad thing, I prefer the simple interface of Kiddle for beginners.

Read more about child-friendly search engines

This article from Naked Security provides a helpful overview of using child-friendly search engines like Kiddle.

To summarise their findings, search-engines like Kiddle can be useful but are not perfect.

For younger children who need to be online but are far too young to be left to their own devices, and for parents and educators that want little ones to easily avoid age-inappropriate content, these search engines are quite a handy tool. For older children, however, the results in these search engines may be too restrictive to be useful, and will likely only frustrate children to use other means.

Remember, these sorts of tools are not a replacement for education and supervision.

Maybe start with no search engine?

Another possible starting point for researching with young students is avoiding a search engine altogether.

Students could head straight to a site they’ve used before (or choose from a small number of teacher suggested sites). There’s a lot to be learned just from finding, filtering, and using information found on various websites.

Five Steps to Teaching Students How to Research Online and Filter Information

This five-step model might be a useful starting point for your students to consider every time they embark on some research.

Let’s break down each step. You can find a summary poster at the end.

Students first need to take a moment to consider what information they’re actually looking for in their searches.

It can be a worthwhile exercise to add this extra step in between giving a student a task (or choice of tasks) and sending them off to research.

You could have a class discussion or small group conferences on brainstorming keywords , considering synonyms or alternative phrases , generating questions etc. Mindmapping might help too.

2016 research by Morrison showed that 80% of students rarely or never made a list of possible search words. This may be a fairly easy habit to start with.

Time spent defining the task can lead to a more effective and streamlined research process.

It sounds simple but students need to know that the quality of the search terms they put in the Google search box will determine the quality of their results.

There are a LOT of tips and tricks for Googling but I think it’s best to have students first master the basics of doing a proper Google search.

I recommend consolidating these basics:

• Type in some simple search terms using only the important keywords
• If the initial results aren’t what you want, alter the search terms and get more specific  (get clues from the initial search results e.g. you might see synonyms that would work or get ideas from the “People Also Ask” section)
• Use quotation marks if you want your keywords in an exact order, e.g. “raining cats and dogs”
• use your best guess with spelling (Google will often understand)
• don’t worry about punctuation
• understand that everyone’s results will be different , even if they use the same search terms (depending on browser history, location etc.)

📌 Get a free PDF of this poster here. 

Links to learn more about Google searches

There’s lots you can learn about Google searches.

I highly recommend you take a look at  20 Instant Google Searches your Students Need to Know by Eric Curts to learn about “instant searches”.

Med Kharbach has also shared a simple visual with 12 search tips which would be really handy once students master the basics too.

The Google Search Education website is an amazing resource with lessons for beginner/intermediate/advanced plus slideshows and videos. It’s also home to the  A Google A Day classroom challenges. The questions help older students learn about choosing keywords, deconstructing questions, and altering keywords.

Useful videos about Google searches

How search works.

This easy to understand video  from Code.org to explains more about how search works.

How Does Google Know Everything About Me?

You might like to share this video with older students that explains how Google knows what you’re typing or thinking. Despite this algorithm, Google can’t necessarily know what you’re looking for if you’re not clear with your search terms.

What about when the answer comes up in Google instantly?

If you’ve been using Google for a while, you know they are tweaking the search formula so that more and more, an answer will show up within the Google search result itself. You won’t even need to click through to any websites.

For example, here I’ve asked when the Titanic sunk. I don’t need to go to any websites to find out. The answer is right there in front of me.

While instant searches and featured snippets are great and mean you can “get an answer” without leaving Google, students often don’t have the background knowledge to know if a result is incorrect or not. So double checking is always a good idea.

As students get older, they’ll be able to know when they can trust an answer and when double checking is needed.

Type in a subject like cats and you’ll be presented with information about the animals, sports teams, the musical along with a lot of advertising. There are a lot of topics where some background knowledge helps. And that can only be developed with time and age.

Entering quality search terms is one thing but knowing what to click on is another.

You might like to encourage students to look beyond the first few results. Let students know that Google’s PageRank algorithm is complex (as per the video above), and many websites use Search Engine Optimisation to improve the visibility of their pages in search results. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most useful or relevant sites for you.

As pointed out in this article by Scientific American ,

Skilled searchers know that the ranking of results from a search engine is not a statement about objective truth, but about the best matching of the search query, term frequency, and the connectedness of web pages. Whether or not those results answer the searchers’ questions is still up for them to determine.

Point out the anatomy of a Google search result and ensure students know what all the components mean. This could be as part of a whole class discussion, or students could create their own annotations.

An important habit to get into is looking at the green URL and specifically the domain . Use some intuition to decide whether it seems reliable. Does the URL look like a well-known site? Is it a forum or opinion site? Is it an educational or government institution? Domains that include .gov or .edu might be more reliable sources.

When looking through possible results, you may want to teach students to open sites in new tabs, leaving their search results in a tab for easy access later (e.g. right-click on the title and click “Open link in new tab” or press Control/Command and click the link).

Searchers are often not skilled at identifying advertising within search results. A famous 2016 Stanford University study revealed that 82% of middle-schoolers couldn’t distinguish between an ad labelled “sponsored content” and a real news story.

Time spent identifying advertising within search results could help students become much more savvy searchers. Looking for the words “ad” and “sponsored” is a great place to start.

4) Evaluate

Once you click on a link and land on a site, how do you know if it offers the information you need?

Students need to know how to search for the specific information they’re after on a website. Teach students how to look for the search box on a webpage or use Control F (Command F on Mac) to bring up a search box that can scan the page.

Ensure students understand that you cannot believe everything you read . This might involve checking multiple sources. You might set up class guidelines that ask students to cross check their information on two or three different sites before assuming it’s accurate.

I’ve written a post all about teaching students how to evaluate websites . It includes this flowchart which you’re welcome to download and use in your classroom.

So your students navigated the obstacles of searching and finding information on quality websites. They’ve found what they need! Hooray.

Many students will instinctively want to copy and paste the information they find for their own work.

We need to inform students about plagiarism  and copyright infringement while giving them the skills they need to avoid this.

• Students need to know that plagiarism is taking someone’s work and presenting it as your own. You could have a class discussion about the ethics and legalities of this.
• Students also need to be assured that they can use information from other sources and they should. They just need to say who wrote it, where it was from and so on.

All students can benefit from learning about plagiarism, copyright, how to write information in their own words, and how to acknowledge the source. However, the formality of this process will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum guidelines.

Give students lots of practice writing information in their own words. Younger students can benefit from simply putting stories or recounts in their own words. Older students could investigate the difference between paraphrasing and summarising .

There are some free online tools that summarise information for you. These aren’t perfect and aren’t a replacement from learning the skill but they could be handy for students to try out and evaluate. For example, students could try writing their own summary and then comparing it to a computer summary. I like the tool SMMRY as you can enter text or a URL of an article. Eric Curts shares a list of 7 summary tools in this blog post .

Students also need a lot of practice using quotation marks and citing sources .

The internet can offer a confusing web of information at times. Students need to be shown how to look for the primary source of information. For example, if they find information on Wikipedia, they need to cite from the bibliography at the bottom of the Wikipedia article, not Wikipedia itself.

There are many ways you can teach citation:

• I like Kathy Schrock’s PDF document which demonstrates how you can progressively teach citation from grades 1 to 6 (and beyond). It gives some clear examples that you could adapt for your own classroom use.

Staying organised!

You might also like to set up a system for students to organise their information while they’re searching. There are many apps and online tools to curate, annotate, and bookmark information, however, you could just set up a simple system like a Google Doc or Spreadsheet.

The format and function is simple and clear. This means students don’t have to put much thought into using and designing their collections. Instead, they can focus on the important curation process.

Bring These Ideas to Life With Mini-Lessons!

We know how important it is for students to have solid research skills. But how can you fit teaching research skills into a jam-packed curriculum? The answer may be … mini-lessons !

Whether you teach primary or secondary students, I’ve compiled 50 ideas for mini-lessons.

Try one a day or one a week and by the end of the school year, you might just be amazed at how independent your students are becoming with researching.

Become an Internet Search Master with This Google Slides Presentation

In early 2019, I was contacted by Noah King who is a teacher in Northern California.

Noah was teaching his students about my 5 step process outlined in this post and put together a Google Slides Presentation with elaboration and examples.

You’re welcome to use and adapt the Google Slides Presentation yourself. Find out exactly how to do this in this post.

The Presentation was designed for students around 10-11 years old but I think it could easily be adapted for different age groups.

Recap: How To Do Online Research

Despite many students being confident users of technology, they need to be taught how to find information online that’s relevant, factual, student-friendly, and safe.

Keep these six steps in mind whenever you need to do some online research:

• Clarify : What information are you looking for? Consider keywords, questions, synonyms, alternative phrases etc.
• Search : What are the best words you can type into the search engine to get the highest quality results?
• Delve : What search results should you click on and explore further?
• Evaluate : Once you click on a link and land on a site, how do you know if it offers the information you need?
• Cite : How can you write information in your own words (paraphrase or summarise), use direct quotes, and cite sources?
• Staying organised : How can you keep the valuable information you find online organised as you go through the research process?

Don’t forget to ask for help!

Lastly, remember to get help when you need it. If you’re lucky enough to have a teacher-librarian at your school, use them! They’re a wonderful resource.

If not, consult with other staff members, librarians at your local library, or members of your professional learning network. There are lots of people out there who are willing and able to help with research. You just need to ask!

Being able to research effectively is an essential skill for everyone . It’s only becoming more important as our world becomes increasingly information-saturated. Therefore, it’s definitely worth investing some classroom time in this topic.

Developing research skills doesn’t necessarily require a large chunk of time either. Integration is key and remember to fit in your mini-lessons . Model your own searches explicitly and talk out loud as you look things up.

When you’re modelling your research, go to some weak or fake websites and ask students to justify whether they think the site would be useful and reliable. Eric Curts has an excellent article where he shares four fake sites to help teach students about website evaluation. This would be a great place to start!

Introduce students to librarians ; they are a wonderful resource and often underutilised. It pays for students to know how they can collaborate with librarians for personalised help.

Finally, consider investing a little time in brushing up on research skills yourself . Everyone thinks they can “google” but many don’t realise they could do it even better (myself included!).

You Might Also Enjoy

Teaching Digital Citizenship: 10 Internet Safety Tips for Students

Free Images, Copyright, And Creative Commons:  A Guide For Teachers And Students

8 Ways Teachers And Schools Can Communicate With Parents

How To Evaluate Websites: A Guide For Teachers And Students

14 Replies to “How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students in 5 Steps (Free Posters)”

Kathleen, I like your point about opening up sites in new tabs. You might be interested in Mike Caulfield’s ‘four moves’ .

What a fabulous resource, Aaron. Thanks so much for sharing. This is definitely one that others should check out too. Even if teachers don’t use it with students (or are teaching young students), it could be a great source of learning for educators too.

This is great information and I found the safe search sites you provided a benefit for my children. I searched for other safe search sites and you may want to know about them. http://www.kids-search.com and http://www.safesearch.tips .

Hi Alice, great finds! Thanks so much for sharing. I like the simple interface. It’s probably a good thing there are ads at the top of the listing too. It’s an important skill for students to learn how to distinguish these. 🙂

Great website! Really useful info 🙂

I really appreciate this blog post! Teaching digital literacy can be a struggle. This topic is great for teachers, like me, who need guidance in effectively scaffolding for scholars who to use the internet to gain information.

So glad to hear it was helpful, Shasta! Good luck teaching digital literacy!

Why teachers stopped investing in themselves! Thanks a lot for the article, but this is the question I’m asking myself after all teachers referring to google as if it has everything you need ! Why it has to come from you and not the whole education system! Why it’s an option? As you said smaller children don’t need search engine in the first place! I totally agree, and I’m soo disappointed how schooling system is careless toward digital harms , the very least it’s waste of the time of my child and the most being exposed to all rubbish on the websites. I’m really disappointed that most teachers are not thinking taking care of their reputation when it comes to digital learning. Ok using you tube at school as material it’s ok , but why can’t you pay little extra to avoid adverts while teaching your children! Saving paper created mountains of electronic-toxic waste all over the world! What a degradation of education.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Shohida. I disagree that all schooling systems are careless towards ‘digital harms’, however, I do feel like more digital citizenship education is always important!

Hi Kathleen, I love your How to Evaluate Websites Flow Chart! I was wondering if I could have permission to have it translated into Spanish. I would like to add it to a Digital Research Toolkit that I have created for students.

Thank you! Kristen

Hi Kristen, You’re welcome to translate it! Please just leave the original attribution to my site on there. 🙂 Thanks so much for asking. I really hope it’s useful to your students! Kathleen

[…] matter how old your child is, there are many ways for them to do research into their question. For very young children, you’ll need to do the online research work. Take your time with […]

[…] digs deep into how teachers can guide students through responsible research practices on her blog (2019). She suggests a 5 step model for elementary students on how to do online […]

Writing lesson plans on the fly outside of my usual knowledge base (COVID taken down so many teachers!) and this info is precisely what I needed! Thanks!!!

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Improving Your Research Skills

Introduction, where to get help with your research.

• Ask a Librarian
• Keyword Searching
• Citation Chasing
• Advanced Searching Tools
• Google Scholar
• Other Google Tools
• Evaluate Sources

Improving your research skills takes time and practice. Whether you are searching a library database or exploring Google, it is important to make a plan for your research and understand what kinds of sources you will find. This guide will show you how to search in library databases, search Google using advanced search tools, and evaluate your sources.

• Ask A Librarian The Ask a Librarian chat box is open whenever the library is open. A librarian on chat can walk you through developing your research question, finding and evaluating sources, and creating useful database and Google searches.
• Research Consultations Research consultations are free, 45 minute meetings with a librarian. Librarians can help at any stage of the research process, from coming up with a research question to writing your last citation (or anywhere in between!).
• Office of Undergraduate Research The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) holds a variety of workshops throughout the year on research-related topics, including developing research skills, presenting your research, and the value of undergraduate research.
• Savvy Researcher Workshops More than 60 Savvy Researcher workshops happen at the library throughout the year. Sign up for a workshop to learn more about Google for academic research, citation management, healthy research habits, and more!
• Next: Searching Library Databases >>
• Last Updated: Jan 4, 2023 2:21 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/ourresearchskills

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Norwalk mastering the art of library research: developing essential skills.

• Developing Research Skills
• Explore Topic Ideas
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• Boolean Searching
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• Evaluate Resources
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About developing research skills.

Welcome to the Library Guide for Developing Essential Research Skills! Whether you're a student embarking on an academic journey or a curious individual seeking reliable information, this guide is designed to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to navigate the vast world of research effectively. From locating credible sources to honing your critical thinking abilities, we will explore various techniques and resources that will empower you to delve deeper into your subjects of interest. Get ready to unlock the secrets of successful research and embark on a transformative quest for knowledge. Let's embark on this enriching journey together!

Make a Plan

Crafting a successful research paper demands both organization and effective time management. It is essential to recognize that research is a comprehensive process that necessitates sufficient time for the following stages:  

Brainstorming: 

Explore and generate ideas related to your topic

consider different perspectives and potential research questions

Researching and taking notes:

use reliable sources such as books, scholarly articles, and reputable websites

take notes, highlighting key information and source details

Making an outline:

create a logical flow and hierarchy of idea

structure your paper by organizing main points and supporting details

Revising and polishing

By following this research planning guide, it would help you to  effectively organize your time, approach your research systematically, and increase your chances of producing successful research papers. 

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Our team in Pittsburgh conducts research in natural language processing, machine learning, image and video understanding, and optimization, and our impacts range from academic paper publications to software systems used throughout Google. We collaborate closely with research and applied groups in many areas, and also work closely with Carnegie Mellon University and other organizations in the extremely strong computer science community in Pittsburgh.

As our company headquarters, Mountain View and the surrounding offices in Sunnyvale, San Francisco, and San Bruno are home to many of our world-class research teams and the innovative projects they work on.

Our research teams in Seattle and Kirkland work on a wide range of disciplines — from quantum computing to applied science to federated learning and health. In doing the above, and more, a large focus of our work also focuses on advancing the state of the art in machine learning.

Nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Bay, with San Jose to the south, San Francisco to the north, and NASA right next door, you’ll find one of Google’s largest and newest global campuses in Sunnyvale. Here in the heart of the original Silicon Valley innovation is happening everywhere—from our Cloud team developing exciting new products and services, to moving into our latest office spaces which include interconnected building projects, the creation of green spaces connecting campuses with the community, and the creative restoration of local habitats. We love growing in Sunnyvale—and you will too.

We develop novel neural network architectures and learning algorithms, with applications to computer vision, natural language and speech processing, medical image analysis, and computer architecture and software.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Google Research teams in Accra collaborate with global research teams to lead many sustainability initiatives of particular interest to Africa. We implement theoretical and applied artificial intelligence with a strong focus on machine learning and algorithmic foundations to tackle some global challenges, such as food security, disaster management, remote sensing, among others.

Researchers in our Amsterdam office push the boundaries of what is possible in many domains, including natural language understanding, computer vision and audio, reinforcement learning and machine learning for the natural sciences.

In Berlin, our teams work on a range of topics from foundational to more applied and involve data comprised of text, images, video, audio and more. We are engaging and collaborating closely with Berlin’s vibrant academic and startup communities.

We work on machine learning, natural language understanding and machine perception, from foundational research to AI innovations, in search, healthcare, and crisis response.

We work on natural language understanding and conversational dialog, text-to-speech, (on-device) machine learning, human-centered AI research and user research as well as healthcare.

We work on problems in quantum computing as well as speech and language processing, and collaborate closely with Google’s product teams across the world.

The Nairobi Research Center is dedicated to advancing research in Food Security and Agriculture. Located in the vibrant capital of Kenya, the center brings together a diverse team of experts that address global food challenges through the development of cutting-edge solutions that shape a brighter future for generations to come.

We tackle big challenges across several fields at the intersection of computer science, statistics and applied mathematics while collaborating closely with a strong academic community.

We solve big challenges in computer science, with a focus on machine learning, natural language understanding, machine perception, algorithms and data compression.

Asia-Pacific

Google Research Australia aims to advance the state-of-the-art in machine learning, in areas such as Fundamental Machine Learning, Natural Language Understanding, and Systems Programming. We aim to apply our research in ways that benefit Australia, Google and global society.

We are interested in advancing the state of the art and applications in areas like Machine Learning, Natural Language Understanding, Computer Vision, Software Engineering and Multi-agent Systems.

We are interested in advancing the state of the art and applications in areas like machine learning, speech, and natural language processing.

Meet the teams driving innovation

Our teams advance the state of the art through research, systems engineering, and collaboration across Google.

Our impact reaches billions

Google Research tackles challenges that define the technology of today and tomorrow.

Watch the film

Link to Youtube Video

Find your research career at Google

Our researchers are embedded in teams across computer science, to discover, invent, and build at the largest scale.

Our research-focused software engineers are embedded throughout the company, allowing them to setup large-scale tests and deploy promising ideas quickly and broadly.

Work across data mining, natural language processing, hardware and software performance analysis, improving compilation techniques for mobile platforms, core search, and much more.

Internships take place throughout the year, and we encourage students from a range of disciplines, including CS, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics to apply to work with us.

Collaboration is essential for progress

We’re proud to work with academic and research institutions that push the boundaries of AI and computer science.

Measuring and improving the accuracy, safety, speed, and efficiency of AI technologies.

Working to advance fire modeling tools and fire spread prediction algorithms.

Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI are launching the Frontier Model Forum, an industry body focused on ensuring safe and responsible development of frontier AI models.

Embedding Research, Artistic, and Scholarly Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide for Classroom Success

Elevate classroom success with this guide on embedding research, artistic, and scholarly skills. Gain practical steps to enhance student learning and engagement.

Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just beginning, this blogpost aims to empower you to align your course outcomes with research, artistic, and scholarly work (RSAW). Let’s explore a self-guided journey of instructional alignment using the 7-level research skills framework and the experiential learning cycle.

Step 1: A Day in the Life…

Grab a sheet of paper and markers, and draw a ‘day in the life’ for you as a researcher, scholar, or artist. What tasks do you take on? How well can you say you do them? What skills do you use to complete them? How did research, scholarly, or artistic skills manifest? Get creative! Use markers, stickers, any supplies you have on hand.

Step 2: Understanding the 7-Level Framework

Now, look at the   7-level Research Skill Development (RSD) framework . What skills do you use in your research life that aren’t captured on the chart? Conversely, what skills from the chart are missing in your day-to-day experience? Use the first colour sticky notes to identify distinct skills and themes across your day. Use one sticky per idea.

Step 3: Examining Skill Progression

The   World In/Out graph   shows a progression of learning. Larger junior courses are better suited to ‘bringing in the world’ through guest lecturers, case studies, etc. while senior classes are better suited to going out into the world and practicing skills in context. How might you develop a similar progression in your class, so that eventually students develop the necessary skills to be effective disciplinary practitioners? Take one RSAW skill and work backward from proficient to novice. Use the second colour sticky to mark your insights for how students, at the level you teach, might align or work towards proficiency.

Step 4: Aligning Skills with the Experiential Learning Cycle

Make sure that there are opportunities for   reflection   and   feedback   throughout the progression of learning. How will students know how well they did something and what they need to improve? Design stages of learning to match the progression of learning. At USask, we have adapted the RSD framework to better highlight the role of reflection in learning. This is available as a   word document   and via   Canvas Commons   (log into Canvas before trying this link). The Canvas module includes reflective questions you can embed throughout a research skills development activity.

Step 5: Support and Implementation

Identify one skill progression you want to integrate into your classes and find challenging. Find a colleague and discuss it. Even if they don’t have a solution, normalize talking about teaching and learning, even when we all don’t have answers. Then, try even just one new thing in your course. For example, have students self-evaluate using the RSD framework during your next research skills development activity.

Step 6: Reflection

Reflect on what you’ve gathered during this self-guided study. How will students practice research, scholarly, or artistic skills in your classroom? By now you should have some ideas on how to embed research skills successfully into your classroom and aligning instructional activities within your disciplinary practices. Remember, the key is to create an authentic and engaging learning experience for your students.

Reach out to   Mandy Fehr , Coordinator, Undergraduate Research Initiative or   Aditi Garg , Educational Development Specialist, Experiential Learning, Gwenna Moss Centre for more help with setting up RSAW in the classroom.

Structure of this article drafted from Mandy and Aditi’s original in-person workshop using OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 language model on November 23, 2023.

Title image credit:  Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels