{"id":1206,"date":"2016-12-16T17:06:23","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T22:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psdinst.com\/?p=1206"},"modified":"2016-12-16T17:38:59","modified_gmt":"2016-12-16T22:38:59","slug":"enhance-consulting-skills-4-simple-ways-bulletproof-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psdinst.com\/cms\/enhance-consulting-skills-4-simple-ways-bulletproof-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhance Your Consulting Skills: 4 Simple Ways to Bulletproof Your Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By now, we are all sensitized to the \u201cfalse news\u201d that pops up in various social media avenues.\u00a0 <\/span>But there is also a lot of false news in the conventional media and in the academic world as well.\u00a0 <\/span>It is estimated that 15% of articles in academic journals are fake or manipulated<\/b>.\u00a0 <\/span>So how does one protect his\/her work?<\/span><\/p>\n

People are exposed to a vast amount of information every day\u2014whether you\u2019re a professional consultant interpreting and analyzing data, a student writing a report, or someone just at home listening to the news\u2014it is very important to trust and challenge the information you come across to make sure you are not misinformed.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Information Growth<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Available information is doubling about every two years.\u00a0 <\/span>Much of it is not accurate or properly carried out.\u00a0 <\/span>As a researcher\/analyst\/consultant, you need to distinguish and understand:
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    • Cause and effect<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Associations<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Hypotheses<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Hunches<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Speculation<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Assumptions<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Beliefs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ol>\n
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      • Always be questioning and skeptical<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Check with peers and colleagues <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        2. Accuracy and Objectivity<\/b><\/p>\n

        You\u2019re responsible for ensuring accuracy.\u00a0 <\/span>You cannot just quote another source\u2014or even your own data\u2014without being able to explain it and how it was obtained.<\/span><\/p>\n

        3. Cross Checking<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

        Data can often be verified through multiple sources.\u00a0 <\/span>Even \u201cofficial\u201d numbers\/information may be only an estimate; may be suppressed; may be wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

        4. Evidence
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        Your analysis is only as good as the evidence you provide.\u00a0 <\/span>Assumptions and suppositions are not evidence\u2014they are just hunches and guesses.\u00a0 <\/span>Far too many decisions being made by agencies and governments are \u201cevidence light.\u201d Make sure your analysis is based on very reliable evidence to bulletproof your work.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"PSDI<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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