A researcher is defined by his curiosity, organization and thoroughness. If you are undertaking a project, finding, evaluating and methodically documenting sources of information will improve the outcome of the research project. Define, refine, describe your material until you have sufficient evidence to write a definitive report.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Defining Project Scope
Step 1. Determine a good reason why this research needs to be done
Determine who the research will help. The reasons may be based on your academic, personal, or professional needs, but they should motivate you to do thorough research.
Step 2. Determine the problem or question at hand
You should work the questions down to basic terms, time periods and disciplines. Write down derivative questions that need to be researched before you can answer them.
Step 3. Consider your thesis
Usually a thesis is a response to a general topic or question in question. You should have some thought about what you will be using for your research; but these ideas need not be perfect before starting a research project.
Step 4. Submit a research proposal, if needed, to your teacher, supervisor or group
Generally a research proposal is required for a research project that will last longer than a few weeks.
- Papers, graduation projects and field research projects will require a research proposal stating the problem you wish to solve through investigation.
- State the problem first, then explain why it is relevant and important to the people who will receive your research.
- Include the type of research you will be doing, including reading, surveys, collecting statistical data or working with specialists.
Step 5. Define the scope and parameters of your project
The following topics should be defined before you begin:
- Time allocation for ongoing research. You will need to get the research going. You will need a share of time to successfully carry out all of your basic research.
- A list of topics that should be included in your final report. If you have a syllabus or official designation, explaining the scope.
- Schedule review by teacher or manager, so you can make progress throughout the research process.
- Number of sources of information required. Generally, the number of sources of information is commensurate with the length of the paper.
- Format for research lists, citation lists and work results.
Part 2 of 5: Finding Sources of Information
Step 1. Start on the internet with a basic search engine
Type in the basic terms of the research question to gain a brief knowledge of the subject.
- It is better to choose sites that are sourced from universities, scientists, projects and government research journals.
- Make a note of any idiosyncratic sources of information that you feel comfortable including.
- Use the plus sign to search for multiple words when used together. For example, “Christmas+Boxing Day.”
- Use the minus sign to exclude words from the search results. For example, “+Christmas -shopping.”
- Gather information about the site, including the date it was published, the issuing authority and the date you entered it, as well as the URL.
Step 2. Proceed to the library
If possible, use the campus library of your local high school or university. If a larger library is not available, create a library card at the public library.
- Consultation with librarians for references to find the library's collection of books, journals and dictionaries. For example, a Legislative Library book list will give you access to all the books on a particular topic.
- Read backgrounds, such as history books, photos, and definitions in large dictionaries.
- Use the e-card catalog to find books that can be requested from other libraries.
- Use the computer lab to access journals and other media only available in the library. For example, some scientific journals are only available on the library computer.
- Look in the media lab for other sources of information, such as microfiche, films and interviews available in the library.
- Request promising material through the reference desk or through your library account.
Step 3. Schedule interviews with people who have direct experience with the topic being researched
Interviews and surveys can generate quotes, leads and statistics to support your research. Interviews of experts, witnesses and professionals who carried out relevant research in the past.
Step 4. Organize observational research
Traveling to gather information at relevant locations can help get a history and background on your project's research. If you are allowed to use opinions in your research report, you can record the progress of your research and changes in your views.
Step 5. Improve your research as you develop leads with your research
When you decide on your thesis, you should divide it into sub-topics that you can search online, in the library, or by interview and individual observational research. Remember that you will need at least 6 good sources of information for each of your last 15 pages of reports.
Part 3 of 5: Evaluating Information Sources
Step 1. Ask if the source is primary or secondary
Primary sources are evidence, artifacts or documents that come from people who are directly related to a situation. Secondary sources are those that discuss information from primary sources.
Secondary sources of information can be a point of view or analysis of an event or an original historical document. For example, an immigration record would be the primary source, while a newspaper article about the ancestry of a family would be a secondary source
Step 2. Choose objective over subjective sources of information
If the narrator of a story is not personally connected to the subject, he or she will usually remain objective.
Step 3. Choose a source of information that has been published in print
Online sources or websites are usually not as tightly controlled as articles published in journals or books.
Step 4. Look for conflicting sources of information
Sources of subjective information that have opposing points of view can be very important, as they can provide an outside perspective on the issue. Find the “pain points” or problem points that need to be resolved in your argument and document any possible ways to deal with them.
It is easy to do research to support your thesis. Try to find sources that don't support your thesis so you can deal with objections to your project
Step 5. Evaluate whether the source is relevant and/or flawed before using the research in your project
Keep your sources separate until you decide to use them in your research section. While helpful in the research process, some sources will not be of sufficient value to support published research.
Part 4 of 5: Record Information
Step 1. Prepare a notebook
Write down all the questions your research generates followed by the sources and answers you find. Take note of the reference number of pages, URLs and sources of information that answered these questions.
Step 2. Annotate all information with notes
Photocopy your printed resources and note the visual or audio sources. Make side notes about terms that need to be defined, their relevance to your research topic and supporting sources.
- Use a pencil and marker on the photocopy. You should do this while you are reading it, not later.
- Taking notes encourages active reading.
- Make a list of citations that will be useful in your report.
Step 3. Save the file, so you can keep all your research
Separate them into folders according to different topics if possible. You can also use an electronic file storage system such as Evernote to store scans, sites and shared notes.
Step 4. Build the description with you doing the research
Separate the topics you need by number. Then separate the sub-topics you should search for and report them in letters.
Part 5 of 5: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Don't “bootstrap
” Do not base your thesis on generalizations made by previous research papers. Try not to assume that the past approach is the only approach.
Step away from your research for a few days, until you can see it with a fresher look. Take a break every week, as you would with a job
Step 2. Discuss your research with someone who knows nothing about the topic
Try to explain what you have found. Ask the person to ask any questions that arise when he or she hears about the topic, to look at the topic with a fresh look.
Step 3. Try finding sources of information in different fields
If you have approached a subject from an anthropological perspective, try a sociology, biology or other field paper. Expand your sources through the references section of your library.
Step 4. Start writing
Start filling in your description. As you write, you will determine which subsections need more research.
