.. How do I research things without a computer?

Since the game takes place in 1973, you'll have to fall back on the archaic tools we used back then. That means you'll be using the telephone book on the coffee table. A lot. Once you find a listing, either use the telephone to call the number or go to the address in the book.

The game won't let you pick from a list of names; you'll need to remember the names yourself and type them in to look them up. Spelling counts, though capitalization doesn't; however, you do need full names -- Oscar Murgatroyd, not just Murgatroyd, for example. You might want to have some physical paper and a pencil as you play to jot down the names you want to look up when Lauren gets home, and I'll also give you some help there.