What research techniques do you use to adequately answer a question?

I search on Google or directly through websites I know of I also use ebooks and like to read paper books since I spend too much at computer. An answer should be pertinent and well-thought. Not only quantity, but quality Some people, depending on the questions, use their knowledge, others from sources, others both of them.

There is a balance between giving sources to support you answer and using directly your knowledge. I am still thinking how to define that properly Different opinions were given from answers: -pro source: *you may think you know the subject, but you will be amazed to find there are errors *without a souce, the information cannot be verified * not from Mahalo but let me add here a quote from Mark Boslough (physicist) from the last number of "Skeptical Inquirer" "The first thing I do when when I read an editorial or a blog entry is check to see if the supposed science has been published in scientific literature. If not, I don't see why I should bother to read what nobody could be bothered to put through scientific peer review" -against insisting on sources: *people ask in Mahalo because they didn't find the answer through Google, so they want something original *a person who answers may have already a reputation in Mahalo; he's an expert and can be trusted.

*does anybody read these sources? Or do they want to validate their writing by simply placing links on the bottom? You ask "How can I improve the quality of my answers?"

Some tips: -verify your sources -use reliable professional sites such as bbc or universities -don't lie and twist the information for your benefit. Use your logic and critical thinking - you can read from Wikipedia, but it's better to verify its original sources (at the back of the pages). Some people are critical of Wikipedia.

-don't copy and paste more than 2 paragraphs. Add original content and research -inlink to Mahalo pages whenever possible -be polite and open to comments. Mahalo means "thank you" in Hawaiian -don't be verbose, don't try to manipulate through visuals.

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/mahalo-answers-community/should-mahalo-focus-more-on-ideas-current-inventions-and-discoveries-not-on-stylish-answers-with-countless-unnecessary-words-or-images The visuals (videos, photos) and the audios are great ,effective and colourful tools in Mahalo. Another issue is when and how to quote. Isn't a paraphrase actually a plagiarism?

Definiton "Claiming another person's written material as one's own. Plagiarism can take the form of direct, word-for-word copying or the theft of the substance or idea of the work. " http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/glossary/glossary_p.htm p.s.

I hope I was not too prescriptive. Have fun (most important) and welcome to Mahalo universe.

Well I like this question very much to andwer because this question is about what I do and how I work in Mahalo. First when I see a question I think whether is it possible to answer and get information or not? Then if I get a possibility then I go ahead to search first in google and yahoo answers , at last with my friends views and his views about this this.

I feel its really worth and intresting to find an answer in Mahalo.

Before anything, I think of any experience I've had with whats being asked. Next, I may open a few tabs related to the question. I use Google and Bing and search for combinations of relevant words.

Sometimes I add "study", "article", or "report" to my search terms to see if there's specific information out there. If I have no idea how to answer it properly, I won't.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.