The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. Add to that more than 3,000 tipsheets from our national conferences on how to cover specific beats or do specific stories and you have a resource that no reporter or editor should be without. These stories and tipsheets are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Logged-in members can view the tipsheets free online:
Search results for "research techniques" ...
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Tools, Techniques, and Research for Public Affairs Reporting
The Reporter's Lab aims to produce reviews that are consistent, independent, fair and above all, useful for a reporter with little time or patience for technical details.
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Surveys: The bad, the ugly and the good (your own, that is)
This PowerPoint presentation covers the fine art of crafting an effective, accurate survey. The author offers some examples of poorly designed surveys, as well as tips and advice on creating a new survey. He includes sources where you can borrow questions, as well as tips for keeping the survey objective and fair.
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PI Techniques for Investigative Reporters
[Powerpoint] Outlines what private investigators do and how they differ from investigative reporters. The powerpoint also supplies a list of resources available to both.
Tags: private investigator; research; database
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Loosening Lips 2007
2007 update of Nalder's "Loosening Lips" tipsheet. He offers extensive advice for successful, exhaustive interviewing. He explains how to deal with common yet difficult obstacles to thorough interviews and delineates his entire interview process. His advice spans everything from pre-interview research to how to cope with getting a door slammed in your face. Nalder\'s interviewing panels at IRE conferences are well-attended every year.
Tags: interviews; interrogation; sources; investigative reporting; research; investigative techniques
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Interviewing
Maier offers five tips with lots of details about how to go about conducting a successful interview. The tips cover everything from preparation to being aware of how to write the story. Maier discusses different interview styles and when to utilize each one.
Tags: interview technique; sources; research; investigative reporting
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Fast searching on the Internet
Garcia provides a number of helpful Web sites for reporters to use when doing online research. She gives specialized subject directories, specialty search engines, regular search engines and tells when to use each one. Garcia also gives tips on how to evaluate the information you find from your searches. Version en Espanol(2912)
Tags: Internet; investigative techniques; finding information online; Web tools; Spanish 2912
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Using Alexa: For Fast Researching on the Internet
Reddick describes the useful research capabilities of the Alexa Web utility function and explains how reporters can obtain the program for their own use. Among its many functions, the Alexa program can provide real-time site ownership, link listings of similar sites, give Web traffic rankings and give readers one-click access to Wayback Machine.
Tags: Alexa Web; investigative techniques; research methods; finding information online; Internet
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Loosening lips: The art of the interview
Nalder offers extensive advice for successful, exhaustive interviewing. He explains how to deal with common yet difficult obstacles to thorough interviews and delineates his entire interview process. His advice spans everything from pre-interview research to how to cope with getting a door slammed in your face. Nalder's interviewing panels at IRE conferences are well-attended every year.
Tags: interviews; interrogation; sources; investigative reporting; research; investigative techniques
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Diary of a two-day reporting effort
Nalder's tipsheet narrates his quick yet thorough investigation of the Washington state ferry system, which reveals techniques for rapidly digging into an organization's records and procedures. The sheet explains research techniques, interview strategies and keys to source selection.
Tags: open records; public records; ferries; transportation; investigative reporting; interviews; regulation; Coast Guard; boat safety
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Investigating the past with results in the present
Mitchell summarizes methods for constructing investigations that probe beyond the recent past. He suggests research methods, useful records and human sourcing techniques that he employed in his IRE Award-winning investigation of unresolved murder cases during the civil rights era in Mississippi.
Tags: open records; courts; law enforcement; justice; criminal justice system; crime; public records; history; historical investigations; law