Research - All the Things: Stop

The first step, Stop, is the simplest, and also the most important. 

It's crucial to Stop before using or sharing information because

• it often takes some time to tell the difference between an emotional reaction to a piece of information and a reasoned response; 
• it gives you space to consider whether you recognize the source of the claim/information; and 
• it offers you a chance to re-focus the purpose of your search. 

It can be easy to get distracted by all the shiny things when you're in the midst of your research, and so Stop not only serves as a way to make sure you're not sharing weak information, but also as a way to ask yourself if this source answers any of the questions you're researching. 

• Do I recognize this source?
• If I do recognize the source, is it something I know I can trust?
• How does this source make me feel? 
• Does this source answer a question I'm asking in my research?
• What kind of content is this?
• Who wrote or created it?
• When was it published?
• Who published it?