How to Use Research for Better Writing (and Credibility)
Establish credibility for better writing
Almost all writers rely on research for facts and information. Even fiction writers and memoir authors, whose work is either made up from imagination or based on personal experience, will turn to research to fill in holes and answer questions.
We use writing resources like dictionaries and style guides. We use encyclopedias and reference books, articles from scholarly journals, and we rely on historical facts and data collected by researchers so we can write truthfully and honestly. We also use Google (and some of us use Wikipedia), and we use blogs and other material found online. All of this research is supposed strengthen our work and lead to more credible, better writing.
We absorb this information and then spit it back out in the words we write. Then people come along and read our words. Maybe they go off and repeat what they’ve read. Maybe they rehash our material in a blog post of their own. Maybe they use it in an academic paper or perhaps it inspires a poem or a short story. The information itself is constantly making rounds, getting processed, filtered, and regurgitated. How are we to sift through it all to find reliable facts? How do we tell the truth from the lies?
The Information Age
We are currently bombarded with information. It’s more accessible than ever before in history — millions of facts can be yours with a few keystrokes and the click of a button. Yet oddly, misinformation seems to be spreading more rampantly than ever. It’s becoming less and less common for sources to be cited, and Darren Rowse of Problogger recently noticed that external links (which are a form of citation) are an endangered species.
I find the spread of misinformation grossly irresponsible (it’s one of my pet peeves). We are so connected and there are so many ways to get the facts straight, there is really no excuse for it. I’m not talking about misunderstanding or making a mistake — I’m talking about either knowingly repeating things that are untrue or failing to get facts straight before reporting or repeating them.
But what does this have to do with you, as a writer? How does responsible research (or lack thereof) reflect on a writer’s credibility, and how does solid research and the use of legitimate citations lead to better writing?
Solid Research — The Path to Better Writing
It can be difficult to know when research is required to back up the facts. There are some things that we know from life experience or from working in a particular field over a long period of time. Other things are simply common knowledge. And much writing today involves doling out advice (tips) based on personal experience (that’s pretty much the entirety of the blog you’re reading right now).
But when you’re presenting any historical data, including statistics, or quoting sources, you have a responsibility to get the facts straight and to cite them.
Citations are important for a few reasons. First, a citation gives your readers an opportunity to look further into the topic. Second, you are giving credit where credit is due — to whoever compiled the facts for your use. Third, by citing your sources, you are showing your own work to be responsibly researched and therefore credible and accurate.
Online Research and Citation
I want to take a minute here to address research and citation on the Internet, where these practices are sorely lacking (particularly on blogs). Online, there is an added component of citation, which is to include a link back to your source. Even if your research comes from a book or magazine, you could link to the author’s website or to a store (such as Amazon) so readers can take a look.
We can get into a whole discussion about how links are internet currency and it’s considered polite or ethical to link to your sources. There are a boatload of benefits that come from using external links. Among these, building relationships with other writers or bloggers, but perhaps more importantly, making it easy for your readers to follow the information trail.
In any case, we all need to be conscious of link inclusion. After all, hyperlinks are what makes the Web go round. I know that I get frustrated when online writers discuss articles or books they’ve read and don’t bother to include titles, links, or any kind of reference. It’s something we should all keep in mind and practice more often.
Let’s Get Curious
Back to research and citations. How do you know when research (and therefore a citation) is required or warranted? Use some common sense and foster a little curiosity. Start by asking questions:
- Did this really happen? Is it true?
- How can I be sure?
- Who compiled this research and are they credible? What are their qualifications?
- Are there any potential conflicts of interest in the reporting?
- Is there any corresponding research to back this up?
- Is there any conflicting research that can provide contrast?
If you start firing off questions (yes, be a cynic), you’ll eventually stumble across the answers you’re looking for. Remind yourself daily: question everything.
Here’s What Writers Can Do
- Make a commitment to being a responsible and therefore credible writer.
- Check your work for claims or statements that are debatable or that warrant proof. Are you quoting a person or a text? Are you citing statistics? Are you making a claim?
- Be smart about the research you conduct. Establish credibility of all your sources.
- Double check your facts (and their sources) to see if claims have been countered. Try not to be one-sided.
- Cite your sources in the text, in footnotes, or with a bibliography (for books). On a blog or website, you can include a list of sources at the bottom of your article.
What Readers Can Do
Misinformation is not only the fault of writers and reporters acting irresponsibly. If the audience blindly soaks up information without questioning it, they too bear the burden of responsibility. We all need to be more aware of fact versus fiction.
- Be cynical. Ask questions like: where is the proof?
- Evaluate the sources, if they are provided.
- Do a little googling of your own to see what other facts or opinions are out there.
Credibility Matters
It’s important for writers to work responsibly. If you’re writing in the nonfiction genre, it pays to get your facts straight. In recent years, some memoir authors have come under heavy fire for changing the details of their own personal experiences in an effort to make their material more enticing. Readers didn’t like that at all and careers were damaged (we’re not going to name any names!).
There will always be irresponsible people and audiences who are willing to hang onto every untrue word they utter or write. You can be one of them if you choose, or you can opt for the ethical route — and be a credible, trusted writer. The choice is yours.
Does credibility matter to you, as a reader and as a writer? Does careful research lead to better writing or is it irrelevant? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment and let’s discuss!
Melissa Donovan is a website designer and copywriter. She writes fiction and poetry and is the founder and editor of Writing Forward, a blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas.
Great article! I love the tips you included for both writers AND readers!
.-= Positively Present´s last blog ..inspired by the opposite of love =-.
Thanks so much!
Great post!
This is a lot of information to absorb, but it is also a lot of important information, at least in my opinion.
I’m a big advocate for information accuracy and knowing when to cite sources. I think these practices are becoming lost even though they are more important now than ever before. We’re living in the Information Age and we all have a responsibility — especially bloggers!
Ask any politician: you can tell the zaniest lies and get away with it as long as you’ve got statistics to back up your lies.
Seriously, though, you’ve hit a topic that, for me, falls into the category of ‘I should be doing this, but sometimes I just forget.’
Citations are a win-win for everybody: the reader wins because they know they’re getting solid information. The writer wins because they look more credible.
Since I started writing online, I’ve found delicious is indispensable for keeping track of stuff I might want to cite in the future. Too many times I’ve wanted to cite something I read in the pre-delic days, but I just can’t find it.
Thanks for taking the time to write this and getting it back on my radar.
.-= Seth M Baker´s last blog ..Who Is Your Audience and How Do They Affect Your Work? =-.
Thanks Seth! Yep, politicians know about the power of misinformation better than anyone, and so do some major media outlets (I’m not naming any names!). Ultimately, we each have to take responsibility for fact-checking, which is a real shame because it means there is a huge lack of responsibility and trust. Ah well, I’m grateful for factcheck.org! As for us writers and bloggers, we just have to do our best to be reliable and credible
This is really well put and thorough.
I always cite other sources in posts. However, if the site does not meet certain family friendly or other criteria I do not post a hyperlink but I do tell them where to find the original and warn of the potential questionable issue with the site.
.-= Deb´s last blog .. =-.
Deb, you could always include a warning that a site may be R-rated. Or, you could do what I do and just leave it up to the parental controls
I’ve linked to sites with strong language, but as a writer, I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, all my life, I’ve found it curious that we’ve segmented certain words and deemed them vile. Language is supposed to be used as a form of communication and expression. Some words and language carry strong politically incorrect meanings or are offensive because they indicate bigotry, hatred, or personal insult, and these I don’t believe using. However, other standard curse words don’t bother me (you know, your basic swear words). They’re just words!
Not sure why I went off on that tangent… but I think it may be a post in the future! Thanks Deb.
Beautiful write up and timely.
I just started studying argumentation. I can quickly see how knowing how to evaluate the strength of an argument (claims, evidence, inferences, warrants) can really help you build a case.
What I especially like about argumentation is that it helps you improve your thinking. I also like the fact that it helps deal with all the areas that are not black and white. Facts you can simply look up. It’s when there’s an argument about “what to do” that the power of argumentation really shines.
On blogging, one way I see people play it safe is writing from experience. It’s tough to argue with “in my experience …” It’s the shift from personal experience to generalizations where contraversy happens.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..3 Stories for Improving Your Thinking, Feeling, and Doing =-.
It’s definitely hard to argue with “in my experience.” One of the problems in argumentation is that some people cling to their beliefs and no amount of persuasion, facts, or data will sway them. I find the average person does not want to hear that what they think or what they’ve believed is wrong. Lately, I’ve been reading about food and health, and I find that some of the people I share my findings with refuse to accept that most of the food they eat is just plain dangerous. For example, even if you have scientific data to back up your claims, a person can simply say the scientists are untrustworthy or have ulterior motives. That’s good questioning when it’s coming from someone truly objective, but in some cases, people will just flat-out refuse to accept the facts and often they’ll use their own unreliable sources as evidence (so they can keep eating Twinkies). It’s a strange world in which we live…
Hi Melissa: I was reading a book that said that Charles Darrow had invented the game “Monopoly” while he was out of a job during the Great Depression. Then I started doing some research online and apparently he was just one of the people involved in creating the game. That brought the credibility of the author I was reading down a couple of notches. You do have to make sure that you say things as they really are. If there are contradicting stories of what you’re saying, you need to point that out.
.-= Marelisa´s last blog ..Finding Your Life’s Passion: Conduct Experiments =-.
I had no idea Darwin was involved in creating Monopoly! I’ve caught myself writing about things that I “just know,” particularly obscure facts and trivia. I always try to check those facts when I’m publishing or sharing the information. What’s frustrating is that there are so many sources that have the wrong facts or contradictory information. I think a great skill in this century is being able to discern reliable sources. You are very good at doing that on your blog! I love the professionalism you have in citing sources. It gives me hope
I think citing sources is a good way to encourage discussion. It’s like watching the same TV show, watching the same movie, or reading the same book. If the reader can follow the link to look at whatever the source is, you two will be able to have a more in-depth discussion.
I personally like to write what’s true, and when I make stuff up, I make it really far-fetched that people won’t think it’s true.
.-= Kelvin Kao´s last blog ..The Origin of Slutty Halloween Costumes =-.
Kelvin, you are definitely talented when it comes to making stuff up. I love your stories, especially the last one about the man who lost his dog and got all crazy with installing locks!
i am s/w eng. for information accuracy and knowing when to cite sources. I think these practices are becoming lost even though they are more important now than ever before.
Hi Ram, I’m not sure what “s/w eng.” means? Yes, these practices are becoming lost so it’s up to us to keep them alive!
the site does not meet certain family friendly or other criteria I do not post a hyperlink but I do tell them where to find the original and warn of the potential questionable issue with the site.
I just want to clarify that I don’t link to inappropriate or irrelevant sites. I’m all for free speech but you won’t find a triple-x link around here! I am only saying that I don’t ban links to other sites just for language content. As long as the content is relevant to writing, it’s all good.
More than once, I’ve read a fiction novel and wondered… “where on EARTH did this author get his/her information???”, especially when dealing with historical details. I’d love to see more authors put reference pages at the back of their novels, or even simply “Further Reading Recommendations” on the subject. That’s something I hope to include in my own novels someday — I want my writing to have credibility, and I want to show people that I’ve done a lot of hard work in putting together a manuscript.
When it comes to nonfiction, if you don’t cite your sources, I literally cannot trust you. You didn’t prove to me that you bothered to do your research, and I can’t verify your facts if things sound a little ‘off’. It’s too easy to alter data or write ‘truths’ that are skewed to the writer’s agenda — I want to be able to go to your sources and learn more, or be amazed that the fact you quoted is, in fact, true!
.-= Faith´s last blog ..Flex Your Marketing Muscle =-.
Hi Faith! Thanks for commenting. I have different feelings about novels that aren’t factually accurate. I tend to have a greater admiration and respect for works of fiction that do adhere to historical (or current) facts, but since we’re talking about fiction, I also don’t mind if writers take creative liberties. I remember a big fuss was made over James Cameron’s film Titanic because he stuck to the facts down to the most minute details — even ensuring the designs on the teacups were the same as on the actual ship (or so I heard). For nonfiction, it depends on whether the book is a memoir or a reference book. Obviously, a memoir is a person’s own experience (no research required — just a lot of remembering). But other nonfiction books should have a healthy bibliography!