How To Research ANY Topic

Main ideas & lessons

• Deep research is a skill with a system. It’s easier (and more valuable) when you follow a reliable workflow—especially in a world full of misinformation and “internet noise.”
• Research is not an exclusive academic elite activity. Anyone can do it with the right tools and principles.
• Research should be driven by curiosity. Let genuine interest—not guilt or obligation—decide what you study.
• Pick and refine a research topic intentionally. Topic choice, scope (breadth vs. depth), and how you gather sources determine whether you can make progress.
• Use both “top-down” and “bottom-up” strategies.
  • Top-down can be faster but may increase confirmation bias.
  • Bottom-up (research-first/foraging) is slower but helps the topic emerge naturally from what you discover.
• Balance breadth and depth. Think in terms of a “matrix”: as you go deeper, you typically lose breadth, and vice versa. You can shift this balance over time.
• Gather literature efficiently (don’t over-prepare).
  • Avoid building a huge catalog before you begin.
  • Start with a few sources and let citations guide you.
• Start with “shallow media” before academic papers. Use videos, articles, blogs, and Wikipedia to build a mental map and learn key terms before diving into dense work.
• Build a multi-source, cross-checked reading base. A small number of sources isn’t enough—you need variety to compare viewpoints and detect disagreements.
• Use reference management software. Organized citations help you track where ideas came from.
• Schedule study with habit + environment.
  • Use repeatable daily/weekly routines.
  • Tie study to a specific time and place (or ritual).
  • Document progress so you can resume after interruptions.
• Organize notes using a “funnel” workflow. Move from broad scanning → deeper reading → extracted insights → synthesis and narrative structure.
• Critical thinking separates reliable knowledge from “noise.” Use a source-evaluation framework (CRAP test) plus additional skepticism practices.
• Create an “output” to give study purpose. Research feels less pointless when it leads to something tangible (essay, video, blog, Substack, etc.), improving accountability and motivation.

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Methodology / instructions (organized)

1) Start: choose a topic (but ensure genuine curiosity)

• Choose a topic so your time/energy doesn’t get wasted.
• Ensure curiosity is real (interest from within), rather than:
  • learning what you “should” know
  • “forcing” yourself like a completionist task
• Treat research like something rewarding and game-like—driven by questions you want to ask.

2) Decide how you’ll choose the topic: top-down vs. bottom-up

• Top-down approach (traditional)

  • Start with a title/focus.
  • Research from that starting point.
  • If you begin broad, narrow as you learn what exists.
  • Watch out: this approach can inject confirmation bias.

• Bottom-up approach (foraging)

  • Start with loosely gathered research instead of a fixed title.
  • Read what interests you and collect ideas/questions that emerge.
  • Let the “topic” crystallize from the research.
  • Once patterns appear, switch into a more top-down structure to fill gaps.
  • This takes more time, but is useful if you don’t yet know what to focus on.

3) Set scope: breadth vs. depth (use the matrix idea)

• Determine the compromise between:
  • Depth (how far you go)
  • Breadth (how wide you cover)
• Recognize trade-offs:
  • shallow + wide → gist/core ideas, minimal depth
  • deep + narrow → precise, advanced questions (suggested as a modern style)
• Change scope as you progress: the topic isn’t locked—you can narrow, branch, or reframe.

4) Gather sources without killing motivation

• Don’t pre-build an enormous bibliography before you start.
• Begin with only a few sources.
• Use citations and “further reading” lists to find the next sources.

5) Use “shallow media” before deep academic reading

• Entry materials can include:
  • videos
  • accessible articles
  • blogs
  • popular editions
  • Wikipedia
• Purpose:
  • build a “map” of the topic
  • learn key terms
  • understand schools of thought at a basic level
• Example logic: if you encounter an advanced concept in an interview, use accessible explainers first, then move toward papers/books once you have groundwork.

6) For deeper sources: use research databases/tools

Suggested platforms:

• Google Scholar
• JSTOR
• ScienceDirect
• ResearchGate
• Semantic Scholar
• Consensus (favorite, not sponsored)

7) Handle paywalls (options mentioned)

• Try search filters such as adding filetype:pdf.
• If applicable, check institutional access (college/university).
• Workaround resources mentioned:
  • Anna’s Archive
  • Sci-Hub
• Also try:
  • searching the paper title for freely available versions
  • emailing the author and requesting the paper

8) Read efficiently (don’t “grind through everything” immediately)

• For books:
  • find the “big dogs” (authoritative, widely recommended works)
  • check relevance and desired difficulty level
  • don’t feel obligated to read entire books—skim/focus on relevant sections
• For papers/articles:
  • read the abstract and conclusion
  • selectively check discussion sections
  • decide whether deeper reading is worth the time

9) Build trust in sources: use multiple criteria (CRAP test)

Use the CRAP test:

• C = Current
  • Is it recent enough to still be valid?
  • Could it be obsolete?
• R = Relevant
  • Does it contribute to your specific question?
  • Does it address the right problems/angle?
• A = Authority
  • Is the journal reputable and peer-reviewed?
  • Is the author an expert with credentials/track record?
  • Is there “social proof” (cited by serious people)?
• Second A = Accuracy
  • Are arguments logical and supported?
  • Does it acknowledge limitations (self-awareness is a good sign)?
• P = Purpose
  • What is the author’s goal and funding/context?
  • Why are they doing the research?

10) Critical thinking practices to reduce error and bias

• Read multiple sources (not a single author/book).
• Hesitate before judging:
  • don’t rush belief
  • doubt yourself
  • aim to be proven wrong as you test ideas
• Seek sources you disagree with to counter confirmation bias.
• Analyze arguments internally:
  • check points, evidence, qualifiers, assumptions
  • ask whether evidence actually supports claims
  • look for stated limits and constraints
• Know your limits in technical work:
  • don’t pretend you understand just because you “read”
  • if it’s too impenetrable, pivot to more accessible summaries/commentaries (“shallow media” for scholarship)

11) Organize information with a “research funnel” workflow

Funnel layers:

• Inspection: skim for relevance (blurb/abstract)
• To Read: deeper-worthy sources (partial/full)
• Insights: key ideas most relevant to your question
• Order: synthesis into a coherent story (connections)

Key idea: synthesis matters because new knowledge is often a combination of older ideas. Where it happens: commonplace books / notes systems (e.g., Obsidian, notes apps, mind maps).

12) Turn each source into useful notes (what to do with readings)

• Clip out relevant insights/key points.
• Rephrase in your own words to ensure real understanding (avoid copy-paste “collecting”).
• Identify problems:
  • what researchers struggle with
  • what they’re limited by
  • what they disagree on (possible future inquiry directions)
• Connect concepts:
  • link ideas that authors don’t explicitly connect
  • unexpected connections can produce breakthroughs
• Optionally create your own index/contents page as a structured overview/map.

13) Manage time with systems (habit > goals)

• Study should be a repeatable sequence of events:
  • “You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.”
• Create habitual patterns (example given): 1–2 hours every morning, non-negotiable.
• Attach study to time and space:
  • a desk setup, a room, or a repeatable ritual
  • optionally include “adventure study” (cafes/library)
• Document the process:
  • track what you did, learned, questions, problems
  • makes it easier to resume and prevents demotivation

14) Use a planning tool (optional support)

• Approach mentioned:
  • plan study around life rather than treating the planner as extra overhead
  • voice/assistant-like scheduling features described
• Presented as optional, not a core research principle.

15) Ensure study produces output (purpose and accountability)

• Study can feel meaningless if it doesn’t lead anywhere.
• To maintain motivation, create a tangible end product:
  • essays, blogs, videos, Substack, etc.
• Benefits described:
  • polishing scattered/jumbled ideas
  • turning research into structured work for others
  • accountability that helps you keep going even when intrinsic motivation drops
• Advice: convert interest into shareable output—no “secret sauce,” just doing it publicly.

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Speakers / sources featured (as mentioned)

• Andrew Wilson (interview mentioned in the examples)
• James Clear (systems quote referenced)
• CRAP test framework (credited as “from the internet”; specific source not provided)
• By Design (study/scheduling tool; mentioned as “video partner,” appears sponsored)
• Odysseus20 (coupon code for By Design)
• Zotero (reference manager example)
• Research Rabbit (reference manager example)
• Consensus (tool mentioned; also described as a favorite, not sponsored)
• Obsidian (notes/commonplace tool example)
• Anna’s Archive
• Sci-Hub