Who Are You Writing For?

            All of this time has been spent researching the topic to understand and develop it. However, sometimes you need to read non-scholarly sources, such as biased web articles, or watch videos on the topic. Now that you have a solid background of your topic after reading many scholarly sources without bias, you will not be easily swayed by biased and powerful advertising or websites.

            But why read through these sources? Can they even be used for your research paper?

            Many will probably not be useful for your paper. So why bother? Well, while researching scholarly sources is important, looking at biased videos by Novartis advertising animal research or skimming through PETA’s website helps me to get an idea of how my topic applies in the real world, and what I want to write about or include in my paper. It helps to see what people think and what I should keep in mind for my readers. This is important in understanding the readers’ various viewpoints. (To view the mentioned examples, click here for the Novartis video and here for PETA's website.)

(For the original source, click here.)

            In the video above, for example, many people are interviewed and asked about their opinions on animal research. While many have very different opinions as to whether or not animal experimentation should continue, many of them also agree that it is still very important in medical research. For example, one French woman says that she doesn’t much like the idea of animal experimentation, but agrees that it will slow down research if banned, unless they can find an alternative. Watching this video helps me to understand part of my audience and what points will be important to get across.

            So try watching a video on your topic, or skim through a biased source; it is just as important to understand your readers’ views and the modern aspect of your topic as it is to research it thoroughly through case studies and scientific journal articles.        

Research with a Grain of Salt

            There is a lot of bias to be aware of as you begin your research. As you learn more about your topic, you may start agreeing with one opinion and leaning towards their side.

            Don’t fall into that trap.

            One of the hardest parts of research, especially when you first start browsing and learning more about your topic, is the risk of developing a bias, whether based on the facts you read or the opinions and reviews of others. Remaining impartial is important in starting out, as reviewing all sides of the story allows you to better understand your topic and have a better grasp of what you want to write about. So what can you do?

            Take everything you read with a grain of salt.

            Write notes, challenge the ideas in the articles you read, question the author’s views— these are all helpful ways to avoid falling onto one side early on. There’s always a backstory to each side, so it’s important to understand the topic and all arguments before making any judgments.

           The first thing I did was read (and skim) as many articles about the pros and cons of animal experimentation. One article, Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?, stood out to me specifically, (the link of which can be found here). It compared both sides of the argument and tried to remain impartial in order to relay the facts that built the pros and cons.

  

            What I found most helpful was writing down questions and notes next to each argument. I asked questions such as: What are the long-term or overall effects? How does animal use in research compare to alternative methods? Why are there instances of animal cruelty in labs if it is more conductive for research to keep lab animals safe and healthy? Are there specific benefits of animal experimentation that allow it to remain an important part of research in modern scientific society? Question what you read; it helps to build the basis of the knowledge on your topic and opens up new inquiries and ideas.

            And this has also helped me to finally form my research question: What are the benefits and drawbacks of animal experimentation in research, and are there better alternatives?