Rigour suggests approach

Metaphorically speaking

Research means knowing how you can advance. Advancing means not walking in circles, not exploring a field that others have explored before you, constantly stumbling and falling, or not thinking you have made progress. It means knowing how to operate your mode of progress.

Consequently, if you choose to put some distance between where you were and where you want to get, you will choose the vehicle that you can operate. If you have a pilot’s licence, you can fly—if you do not, you might choose to sail your boat. If you cannot operate either, maybe you drive a car, a motorbike, or a bicycle. At the very least, you will likely be able to hike. But you would not expect yourself to land a plane at your destination without any opportunity to have learned how to fly.

Rigorous, reliable, and valid application of methodology, just like modes of travel, are here to help. They can turn you into an impressively efficient traveller. But to ensure you reach your destination, you need to be (or grow into being) able to operate them appropriately—rigorously. This suggests: do what you can.

(This is a preview section. The full chapter on this topic continues with the sections “Rough coordinates”, “Train of thought”, “In essence”, “To reflect”, “Two travellers’ tales”, “Devil’s advocate”, and “How to tackle”.)