Research · · 1 min read
Read a source without losing the thread
A three-pass protocol for separating the question, the results, and the real scope of a document.
Serious reading is not necessarily a slow journey from the first line to the last. It advances through decisions: is this the right document, what question does it address, and which claims can I genuinely attribute to it?
Separate observation from interpretation
In your notes, first write what was measured or documented. Then add the authors' interpretation, followed by your own question. This separation lowers the risk of turning a cautious hypothesis into certainty.
Follow the claim to the source that owns it
A synthesis helps with orientation, but it may quote a result without its context. For an important decision, open the document that contains the method and data. Record the precise link while reading; finding it again later costs more.