Georgia County Government-August 2008

ResearchCorner Getting the Most Out of Your Research t some point in a commissioner’s job, he or she will be asked to conduct research. It may not be an in-depth project — in fact, it could be a simple request — however, regardless of the size of the project, you will need to find the information in the most efficient manner and present it in a format that is easy to understand. In conducting research, the most important factor is fully understanding the request. Oftentimes, we are asked to fi nd the answer to a question on a subject we are not familiar. In this case, it may be necessary to fi rst research the topic generally, so that you will know what type of questions to ask when gathering the research for the specific question. The best way to research a topic generally is to fi nd a source that gives an overview of the topic, such as a white paper, guidebook or fact sheet. Many state departments and research groups have great reference materials on their Web sites. However, be careful about the type of Web sites used to gather information. For example, Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that can give overviews of many topics. However, anyone can make edits to the information listed, which means it may not always be correct. Always make sure to use a reputable source for research. A By Michele NeSmith Research and Policy Development Director The biggest mistake county officials can make is to move forward without all the necessary facts. At times when receiving a research request, the issue is not that you are unfamiliar with the subject matter, but that the requestor does not really know what he or she is asking. The biggest mistake county officials can make is to move forward without all the necessary facts. Not only is this a waste of time for you, but it will also increase the amount of time it will take to get the information back to the requestor. At times being a good researcher requires you to be a good detective as well. A request may be made based on a comment that a commissioner or staff person heard at a meeting or conference that they attended. In this instance, it is often necessary to contact the group hosting the event in order to find out what was discussed. Presentation of the information is just as important as the research. You can spend weeks creating databases or spreadsheets, but if the person who requested the information is not familiar with these formats, then your research is worthless to them. Knowing your audience is key in determining the format that your completed research should take. It may be that charts or fact sheets can better display information than a written report or spreadsheet. Conversely, your requestor may want to know every aspect of your research, from sources and contacts to statistics and findings, which would require a more detailed format. Conducting research may appear to be a daunting task, but once you know how to find background information, ask the right questions and present it in the correct format, you will find that you can research just about any topic. ■ Presentation of the information is just as important as the research. 35 AUGUST 2008 www.accg.org http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government-August 2008

Georgia County Government- August 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Georgia’s Transportation Issues More Critical to Counties than Ever Expanding Rural Airports: Partnering for Economic Development in Upson County Meet DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham Bridge Infrastructure and Risk Counties and the Law: Georgia’s Fair Employment Practices Act Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Coffee County Extension News: Infrastructure Investments Save County Funds Research Corner: Getting the Most Out of Your Research Discover the New Georgia Encyclopedia NACo News Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

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