The EE Dump is our signature research method. It's the most fun because you get to spend time researching, learning, and dumping all the information you find into one living document.
How the EE Dump Works
Break your RQ into 5 subtopics
These don't need to be perfect — they're for research organisation. Think of it like dividing a pizza into slices.
Google every subtopic
Go through all the relevant links. Read the information. This is Level 1 research.
Dump everything relevant
Copy the relevant information into your EE Dump document under the appropriate subtopic heading, along with the source link.
Hit Google Scholar
Find peer-reviewed research that connects your topic to areas you hadn't considered. This creates new links and findings.
Review and connect
After completing your dump, you'll be genuinely knowledgeable about your topic and ready to write with confidence.
Example: John's Five Subtopics
Using the sample RQ from Module 4, John's five subtopics:
1. Quantitative Analysis
Methodology — what statistical tools and frameworks are available for social media analysis?
2. Social Media Sentiment
How is sentiment measured? What tools exist? What does the research say about accuracy?
3. Engagement Metrics
What counts as engagement? How do platforms measure it? What correlations exist with real-world outcomes?
4. Voter Behaviour
What psychological models explain voting decisions? How has research evolved on media influence?
5. The 2024 US Elections
Context, key issues, demographic breakdowns, social media's specific role in this election cycle.
The Dump Method in Action
There is no word limit for your EE Dump and there is no such thing as too much information.
- 1Retrieve — Google every subtopic. Go through all the relevant links. Read the information.
- 2Dump — Copy the relevant information into your document under the appropriate heading, along with the source link.
- 3Repeat on Google Scholar — Find peer-reviewed arguments, models, and frameworks that add depth.
- 4Connect — Look for unexpected links between subtopics. These connections become your analysis.
After the Dump
Tip
After completing your dump, you'll be genuinely knowledgeable about your topic. You won't need to keep scouring the internet while writing because you already have everything you need.
This is also the point where, if you want to make any changes to your research question, you do it. After this, it's locked in. No more changes.
You can access the EE Dump template and the interactive EE Dump Workspace tool on our website to make this process even easier.
Key Takeaways
- Break your RQ into 5 subtopics for organised research
- Use both Google and Google Scholar — Level 1 and Level 2 research
- There is no word limit — dump everything relevant
- After the dump, lock in your final RQ — no more changes
Self-Check
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