Build a Research Log That Someone Else Can Follow
A research log is the connection between a finding and the material that supports it. Without that connection, a useful note can become difficult to verify later. A good log allows another person to understand how you reached a conclusion without repeating the entire search from the beginning.
Record more than a link
For each useful source, capture its title, publisher, publication or update date when available and the date you accessed it. Add the specific finding it supports. A homepage link alone may not help a colleague locate the relevant statement. Use the precise page or document section and preserve the context around an important qualification.
Separate evidence from interpretation
Keep the source’s statement separate from your explanation of what it might mean for the business. Mark whether the information is current enough for the question and whether another source should confirm it. If a figure lacks a definition or time period, record that limitation rather than treating it as directly comparable with other figures.
- Research question or sub-question.
- Source title, publisher, link and relevant date.
- Supported observation and where it appears.
- Your interpretation, uncertainty and next verification step.
Make the log usable during review
Group entries by the questions they answer rather than only by the order in which you found them. Remove duplicate entries while preserving different perspectives on the same issue. When a finding changes, update its status instead of quietly replacing the earlier note without explanation. Avoid collecting a large number of weak sources simply to make the log look thorough. A smaller set of relevant, traceable sources is easier to assess and more useful for a decision than a long list with no clear connection to the research brief.
Take it into your working day
Every important finding should have a traceable source, a clear interpretation and visible limitations.