This paper reports on information acquisition patterns (“research”) in freelance technical translators based on a series of questionnaires alternating with interviews, and fine-tuned along the way. The principal aim was to identify links between these patterns and other parameters such as translators’ previous specialization, training, experience and working languages. The analysis of responses by 245 translators suggests that all these parameters do indeed have an effect on information acquisition patterns and that time pressure as well as the Internet are also important determinants of such behavior. Findings also show that actual field practice is often quite remote from principles taught during training.