How to Do Real Research in 2025
(When the Internet Is Full of Trash)
There was a time when you could open a search engine, type a question, and get a decent answer. That era is over. Today, most search results are polluted with AI-generated filler, SEO spam, outdated content, paywalled studies, or recycled misinformation. A 2025 study estimated that over 40 percent of the top search results on common platforms contain AI-generated or SEO-driven content. If you want real answers, you have to work for them. This guide is for regular people who want reliable information in a world drowning in noise.
1. Navigating Online Research
VPNs Have Limits: A VPN can help you bypass some regional content filters, but it will not magically unlock academic journals or subscription-only material. Countries like those in the Nordic region have stronger open-access policies, but accessing them still requires open-access platforms or institutional credentials. Use VPNs wisely and combine them with legitimate research tools.
Use Open-Access Tools First: Prioritize platforms like DOAJ.org (Directory of Open Access Journals), Unpaywall.org, Archive.org, and arXiv.org for legitimate, legal access to academic research, preprints, and archived materials.
Wikipedia as a Map, Not a Source: Wikipedia’s reference sections often link directly to reliable studies, government reports, or original documents. Use it to find sources, not as a source itself.
Google Scholar and the “Cited by” Trick: Search academic papers on Google Scholar, then check who cited them. This method uncovers newer research and evolving theories.
Contact Authors Directly: Most researchers will share copies of their work if asked respectfully. They are used to sharing among peers and often welcome genuine interest.
Check ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Preprint Servers: These platforms can offer free versions of papers, though availability is hit-or-miss. Also check preprint repositories like SSRN, bioRxiv, and arXiv for working papers and early drafts.
Be Cautious with LibGen: Library Genesis offers access to pirated academic materials. While it is widely used, it operates in legal gray zones in many countries. Understand the risks and prioritize legal access whenever possible.
Emerging Tools to Know: Semantic Scholar uses AI to summarize papers, but always check the full text. Elicit.org helps streamline research queries. IPFS-based archives can offer decentralized document access. These tools can aid your research but should not replace direct source verification.
2. Ethical People Research and Public Records
Free People Search Tools: Websites like FastPeopleSearch and TruePeopleSearch compile public records, but data quality varies and privacy concerns are real. Always cross-verify information and avoid misuse. These sites come and go quickly so have multiple backups.
Social Media as a Research Tool: Gen X and Boomers remain active on Facebook. Smart searches by name, location, and connections can reveal relationships, posts, and affiliations. Use social media respectfully and legally.
The Reality of Paid Databases: Services like Accurint, Tracers, TLOxp, IRBsearch, and IDI Core offer powerful data searches, but they are expensive, restricted to licensed professionals, and often overkill for most research needs. As a professional investigator, I rarely use them. They are cumbersome, heavily regulated, and frequently offer no better information than you can get with careful groundwork and respectful human inquiry. For the general public, local public records, library databases, or verified government portals are better options.
Local Library Resources: Many libraries provide free access to Ancestry.com, local archives, and historical newspapers. Even if you cannot access subscription services at home, your library may have them.
Public Records and FOIA Requests: Freedom of Information Act requests can unlock a wealth of data, but exemptions apply, and response times can range from days to months depending on the agency. Learn your state’s public records laws and file accordingly.
Community Conversations and Fieldwork: Sometimes the best source of information is direct human contact. Approach with respect, explain your purpose, and always prioritize safety and legality.
Example: I once needed to confirm whether a person was staying at a certain apartment complex. The manager said, “I can’t release that information.” I didn’t push. Instead, I asked how her day was going, mentioned I was a private investigator working on a legal case, and listened to her stories about her job. About ten minutes in, she volunteered the information herself. People like to be heard. Rapport beats interrogation every time.
3. Using AI for Research Without Falling for Garbage
AI tools like GPT can be valuable, but they require careful use. Left unchecked, they may return vague responses or outright invented information. Here’s how to make AI work for you:
Prioritize Primary Sources: Direct AI tools to use or reference primary data only. Avoid relying on secondhand summaries.
Cross-Check Every Claim: For every assertion, ask the AI to cite or reference at least one independent, credible source.
Discard Unverifiable Claims: If a claim cannot be verified, do not trust it. AI sometimes generates plausible-sounding but false information.
Challenge Assumptions: Always ask the AI to explain underlying assumptions, check for logical errors, and offer alternative viewpoints.
Ask for Competing Interpretations: After receiving an answer, request at least two different perspectives or explanations.
Use Clear, Specific Prompts: Example: “Act as a research assistant. Provide only information backed by primary sources. Cross-check claims. Identify logical gaps. Give two alternative interpretations.”
Request Internal Checks: Periodically ask the AI, “What might be wrong with this answer?” This forces a double-check of its output.
4. Real Examples of Effective Research Tactics
In 2024, a journalist debunked a viral misinformation claim by using Google Scholar’s “Cited by” feature to track a misused medical study to its modern meta-analysis, exposing the distortion.
A genealogist accessed a closed local archive by partnering with a librarian who had special access credentials, showing the value of human connections.
A public records request filed at the county level produced critical evidence in a legal case after federal agencies had denied access, proving that sometimes local channels work better.
5. Ethical and Legal Considerations in Research
Always respect privacy laws and copyright regulations. Do not misuse people search tools or access materials illegally.
Understand the limitations of your tools and your jurisdiction’s laws on information access.
When in doubt, consult a legal expert or librarian.
Conclusion: The Information Is Still Out There—If You Know How to Look
Misinformation is rampant, but real information is still accessible to those willing to pursue it. Whether you are researching a health condition, tracing a family story, verifying a public record, or checking a news claim, the methods in this guide can help you cut through the noise. Start with one method—contact a librarian, file a records request, or make a respectful inquiry—and build from there. In a world where misinformation is the norm, disciplined research is your edge.
If this kind of real-world, no-nonsense research advice helps you, stick around. I write regularly on how to cut through noise, find truth, and navigate broken systems. You can read everything for free (even the locked posts, just ask) — and if you want to support this work, a paid subscription helps me keep writing it.
This was a useful article, bookmarking it for reference. And of course, this may go without saying, but, I feel it's a MUST that anyone doing research understand the advanced search tools. Learning how to do advanced search was one of the most useful lessons I ever had in Middle School, and it was only 1 hour long. I think learning how to vet sources and conduct advanced searches is more crucial than ever for schools to cover (especially given the shortcomings of AI), and should be very thoroughly taught.