The following is an overview of the typical research process.
PLANNING
Purpose
Discovering what it is you want to know.
Building on what it is you already know.
Thinking through the requirements of the project and the steps you will
need to get to the final phase of your project.
Activities
Read in area of interest; consult general reference works.
Come up with a set of questions about what it is you want to know.
Brainstorm key words for beginning research.
Outcome
You have a clear overall question you want to answer with possibly
some sub-questions.
You have a set of key search terms with which to be able to begin to
find information.
LOCATE AND GATHER RESOURCES
Purpose
Finding where your source material will come from (public or school library,
community resources) in order to answer your question and locating a
variety of materials in different mediums and from varying perspectives.
Finding out if you have enough resources available to answer your
particular research question.
Activities
Make a list of all you possible resources.
Using key terms, locate resources -- print, databases, Internet, other
Outcomes
You have a variety of resources at your disposal with which to begin
research.
EXTRACT AND ORGANIZE INFORMATION
Purpose
Pulling together information and beginning to organize in a logical
way.
Beginning to formulate a perspective on your material.
Activities
Read and review your resources; note-taking and keeping track of
sources.
Determine if you have enough information to answer question.
Begin to formulate your conclusions.
Outcome
You have a body of information from a variety of resources and
perspectives and you have a logical sequence for ordering your
information.
CREATE FINAL PRODUCT
Purpose
Putting all your materials and all you have learned into a final form both
for yourself and in order to share your findings with others.
Activities
Follow presentation guidelines.
Present information within the context of your own ideas and the perspective
you have gained by doing the research.
Include a comprehensive list of citations, footnotes, and whatever
is required for the project.
Outcome
You have a clear, concise answer to your question in a format in which others can
understand your research project (purpose, research, answers).
SELF-EVALUATION
Purpose
Reflecting on the research process -- how well you answered the
main question, how well the research process went, and how
well the final product fit the assignment.
Activities
Reflect on the following questions with regard to process:
How effective and efficient were you in doing the required project?
What did you learn from each stage of the process?
How would you do it differently next time?
Were your sources useful; what sources did you need and not have?
Reflect on the following with regard to product:
Compare product to the assignment given.
Did you give credit to all of your sources?
Is the work neat and are you proud of your work?
Can others easily understand your outcomes?
Outcome
You have some insight into the process you went through to create
the product you did and you have ideas about how to improve
your performance in future projects.