Research Guide — Find Trustworthy Data, Reports & Quotes Fast

Research Guide

Trustworthy data • reports • quotes — fast

Sprint Evaluate Search Data Reports Quotes Cite Templates Links

Research Guide — How to find trustworthy data, reports, and quotes fast

Use this when you are writing a guest post and you want your claims to be clean, sourced, and editor-friendly. The goal is simple: find the best evidence, verify it, then package it so an editor can trust you quickly.

✅ Find data in 15–30 minutes ✅ Verify quotes the safe way ✅ Avoid weak sources ✅ Build a “proof pack” editors love

1) Claim Map Every claim → a source → a link → a note.

2) Proof Pack Clean citations + screenshots/ PDFs + timestamps.

3) Confidence Score A simple scoring method you can show an editor.

Part A — The 60-Minute Research Sprint (guest post version)

This is the fastest repeatable workflow. Do it once per section of your article. If you can’t prove it in the sprint, downgrade the claim or remove it.

0–5 min: Write your “claim sentence” Example: “Remote work increased X” → you need a dataset + year + population.

5–15 min: Decide the evidence type Data (numbers), report (analysis), quote (voice), or paper (study).

15–35 min: Find primary / official sources first Government, international agencies, peer-reviewed journals, official datasets, company filings.

35–50 min: Verify with “lateral reading” Open 2–3 new tabs: who are they, what do others say, what is the method?

50–60 min: Capture + cite + add a one-line takeaway Save link, title, date, numbers, definitions, and any limitations.

Guest-post rule: don’t “sound smart.” be provable. Editors prefer a simple statement with a strong source.

Your “Trust Ladder” (use this order)

Start at the top. If you use lower tiers, explain why.

Tier 1 — Primary / official

Official datasets & statistical agencies
International agency databases
Company filings / audited reports
Original transcripts, recordings, speeches

Tier 2 — Research & peer review

Peer-reviewed journal papers
Systematic reviews / meta-analyses
University research outputs
Open scholarly catalogs & DOI records

Tier 3 — Reputable secondary

Major news explainers with sources
Well-cited books from known publishers
Industry bodies with transparent methods

Tier 4 — Use carefully

Blogs without methods
Viral charts without data links
“Quote” websites
Anonymous reports with no author

Fast check: If you can’t find the method or the original dataset, treat it as weak.

Part B — Evaluate sources fast (SIFT + CRAAP in plain English)

Use SIFT for speed and misinformation defense, and use CRAAP as your checklist when you’re unsure. You don’t need fancy theory — you need a repeatable move-set.

SIFT (4 moves) — your 2-minute defense

Stop: don’t share / don’t trust instantly.
Investigate the source: who are they, what do they do, what’s the incentive?
Find better coverage: do respected places confirm or disagree?
Trace: go back to the original context (dataset, paper, transcript).

CRAAP (5 checks) — your “quality scorecard”

Currency: is it current enough for your topic?
Relevance: does it match your exact claim?
Authority: is the author/organization credible?
Accuracy: is there a method + data + citations?
Purpose: is it selling, persuading, or informing?

Quick scoring (copy this)

Give each CRAAP item 0–2 points (0 = weak, 1 = ok, 2 = strong). Total /10: 8–10 = strong, 5–7 = usable with caution, 0–4 = avoid.

Editor-friendly habit: in your draft, attach a short note after tricky stats: “Definition used:” “Dataset year:” “Sample / region:” “Limitation:”

Part C — Search moves that cut research time in half

Use these like “commands.” You will find better sources, faster.

1) Primary-source hunting (the fastest combo)

site:oecd.org "methodology" "indicator"
site:imf.org "data portal" API
site:data.worldbank.org "metadata"
site:gov.in "report" filetype:pdf

Start with official domains and the words metadata, methodology, definition, dataset.

2) PDF report hunting (better than blog posts)

("annual report" OR "white paper" OR "working paper")
filetype:pdf
("methodology" OR "survey" OR "sample")
"2024" OR "2025"

Reports often contain definitions, tables, and limitations — perfect for guest posts.

3) Scholar-first searching (for studies)

"your exact claim" AND (systematic review OR meta-analysis)
"your topic" AND (randomized trial OR cohort study)
"your topic" AND (survey) AND (sample size)

Prefer systematic reviews when you need strong “what the evidence says” writing.

4) Find definitions (avoid “stat confusion”)

"term you will use" definition site:oecd.org
"term you will use" methodology site:worldbank.org
"term you will use" "metadata" filetype:pdf

Most bad guest posts fail because the author used the wrong definition.

Official search operator tip: the site: operator lets you restrict results to a specific domain or URL prefix. Use it to force official sources first.

Part D — Where to get trustworthy data fast (official portals)

These are “safe defaults” when you need numbers for a guest post.

World Bank Open Data Global indicators + country data. Look for metadata and definitions.

World Bank Indicators API Programmatic access; useful when you need clean tables and charts.

OECD Data Trusted statistics + indicators + methods. Great for definitions.

IMF Data Portal Macroeconomic & financial data; includes flagship products.

UNdata Single entry point for UN statistical databases.

India — MoSPI Official India stats & releases (check definitions + provisional notes).

India — eSankhyiki (official data portal) Gateway to explore India’s official datasets.

MoSPI Visualizations Quick charts; always click through to the underlying dataset/notes.

Google: site operator Use site: to force official sources first.

How to cite a dataset in a guest post (simple format)

Organization / Portal. Dataset name (or Indicator name). Year accessed: 2025-12-18.
URL. Notes: definition used + any limitations (provisional, revisions, missing countries).

Part E — Reports: how to pick strong ones (and avoid “PR reports”)

Reports can be gold — but only if you can see the method.

Green flags (strong report)

Named authors + credentials
Clear method / sample / limitations
Links to raw data or appendix tables
References to primary sources
Revision history (updated versions)

Red flags (weak report)

No author + no method
Only “insights” with charts and no data
Numbers without units or denominators
Vague claims (“massive”, “huge”) with no base rate
Feels like marketing (purpose is selling)

Mini SOP: “Report credibility check” (5 minutes)

Find the method sectionIf missing → treat as weak.

Find sample size + populationWho is included? Who is not?

Find limitationsStrong reports admit limits.

Trace 1–2 key stats back to primary dataBest way to catch errors fast.

Check other coverageDo reputable sources agree?

Guest-post tip: When you use a report, quote its method/definition briefly (in your own words). It instantly increases trust.

Part F — Quotes: how to find and verify them safely

Quotes are risky because they get copied, shortened, and removed from context. Your safest move is: trace to the original recording or transcript.

Fast quote finder (search strings)

"exact phrase" transcript
"exact phrase" interview
"exact phrase" "press conference"
"exact phrase" site:.gov transcript
"exact phrase" "minutes" meeting

If you only find the quote on “quote sites” — pause. That’s usually not safe.

Quote verification checklist (SIFT: Trace)

Find original contextVideo, transcript, official post, or full interview.

Confirm exact wordingCopy carefully, keep punctuation, keep meaning.

Capture time / pageTimestamp (video) or page number (PDF).

Check for editsWas it paraphrased? shortened? translated?

Add one line of framingWhen + where + why they said it.

Safe guest-post rule: If you can’t locate the original transcript/recording, don’t use an “exact quote.” Use a paraphrase with a source link instead.

Part G — Capture, cite, and build your “proof pack”

Editors don’t just want a link. They want confidence. Your proof pack is your “I did my homework” folder.

What to capture (minimum)

Source URL + title + org
Date published + date accessed
Key numbers + units + definitions
Method / sample / limitations (1–3 lines)
Proof image: screenshot or PDF copy

Easy metadata tools (for studies)

Crossref: find DOI metadata + citation details.
OpenAlex: open catalog to discover papers, authors, venues, topics.
Use the DOI to reduce “wrong paper” mistakes.

Proof pack structure (copy this folder layout)

/PROOF-PACK
  /01-Claim-Map
    claim-map.md
  /02-Data
    dataset-links.md
    charts-screenshots/
  /03-Reports
    pdfs/
    method-notes.md
  /04-Quotes
    transcript-links.md
    timestamps.md
  /05-Citations
    bibliography.ris (or .bib)
    url-list.md

One habit that wins guest posts: When you submit, attach a simple “Sources & Proof” doc. It makes an editor relax.

Part H — Copy/paste templates (guest post ready)

Use these to work faster and make your research visible.

1) Claim → Evidence Map (core template)

CLAIM:
EVIDENCE TYPE: (data / report / quote / study)
SOURCE (best available):
LINK:
WHAT IT SAYS (1 line):
DEFINITION USED:
YEAR / REGION / POPULATION:
LIMITATION / CAVEAT:
HOW I WILL USE IT (sentence in my draft):

2) CRAAP score (0–10)

CURRENCY (0–2):
RELEVANCE (0–2):
AUTHORITY (0–2):
ACCURACY (0–2):
PURPOSE (0–2):
TOTAL /10:
NOTES (why):

3) Quote verification note

QUOTE:
SPEAKER:
ORIGINAL SOURCE LINK:
FORMAT: (video / transcript / PDF)
PROOF: (timestamp or page):
CONTEXT (1–2 lines):
CONFIDENCE: (High / Medium / Low) + why

4) Email: request a quote or clarification (polite + short)

Subject: Quick clarification for a guest article (1 question)

Hi [Name],
I’m writing a guest post for [Site] about [topic]. I want to be accurate.

Could you confirm:
1) [your exact question — keep it 1 sentence]

If there’s a public link or document that answers this, feel free to share it.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Your website / profile link]

Simple rule: if a claim is “strong,” your evidence note should also be strong. If your evidence note feels vague, the source is probably weak.

Part I — Trusted frameworks & portals (links)

These are the foundations behind the checklist.

SIFT (library guide) Stop • Investigate • Find better coverage • Trace to original context.

Teaching lateral reading (COR) Practical lessons for evaluating online sources fast.

CRAAP test (source evaluation) Currency • Relevance • Authority • Accuracy • Purpose.

Google: site operator Restrict results to a domain or URL prefix.

Crossref: retrieve metadata Use DOI metadata to reduce citation mistakes.

OpenAlex overview Open catalog of global research outputs and relationships.

GIJN fact-checking guide Trace every verifiable statement to a source.

CUNY Journalism: fact-check your work Go to primary sources when possible.

TEDx fact-checking guide Script claim checks + proof habits you can copy.

World Bank Open Data Indicators + metadata + definitions.

OECD Data Trusted stats + methods + indicators.

IMF Data Macroeconomic and financial datasets.

UNdata UN statistical databases via one entry point.

MoSPI (India) Official India statistical releases and portals.

eSankhyiki (India) Gateway for exploring India’s official data.

Practice drill: pick one claim you want in your guest post and run the 60-minute sprint. If you can’t produce a proof pack, the claim is not ready.

One-page reminder (pin this)

Start with Tier 1 sources Use SIFT to avoid traps Use CRAAP to score quality Trace quotes to originals Build a proof pack

Optional: paste this guide into your “guest post SOP” folder and reuse it for every article section.