Cross-check your facts

Once you've gathered all the facts related to the cause you're interested in, make sure to check their quality by reviewing it with a critical eye! Remember that it might be old information and therefore out of date. Or, it may be have written in a way that isn't neutral - with a particular agenda behind it. Here are a few ways to make sure your information is accurate:

• use a variety of sources and cross-check facts
• always think about who is providing the information and when it was published (for example, who sponsored or wrote the report, what date was the info published)
• be extra careful when looking at online sources as anyone can set up a website and post misleading or incorrect information. Try looking at official sites such as .gov, .ac, or .edu

Tip: Don't be afraid of numbers! Statistics are a really useful kind of information. They can be chosen help support your point of view. Reports from top universities are usually really very reliable as the research is done by top researchers and faculty. Including this sort of data in your research will also add an extra level of seriousness to your activity!

Now you have some ideas about how to do research, why not give them a try!