What research steps should I take?

Like most other projects in life, there is a right way and wrong way to do research. You can do it the wrong way, but it may take longer to get the job done, and you may not be as satisfied with the outcome.

Very often students try to complete a research project in four stages:

1.      Task Initiation

First, they receive a research assignment.

2.      Topic Selection

Then, they select a topic. Often the topic is one about which they know something or already have a strong opinion.

(Important steps were omitted here!)

3.      Information Collection

Next, they go to the library to collect books and magazine articles about the topic. Often students perform this stage only because their instructor requires the use of a certain number of outside sources.

(Important steps were omitted here!)

4.      Starting Writing

Finally, they start writing.

In this case, information collection has been unfocused.

The usual result of this approach is a poorly conceived and poorly written paper that integrates new information into arguments badly or not at all. The result is a hodgepodge of quotation, paraphrase, original thought, redundancy, logical gaps, unanswered questions, and contradiction.

A better approach is to spend time at the beginning of your research on forming a focus and formulating a research question. The improved approach (based mostly on Carol Kuhlthau's research and publications, 1994) looks like this:

1.      Task Initiation

This stage is the same, you receive a research assignment.

2.      Topic Selection

This stage is also pretty much the same, only now the topic you select doesn't have to be as precise. You will make it precise as part of the research process, by developing a focus and research question.

3.      Prefocus Elaboration

Your goal at this stage is to get a feel for the complexity of the topic. What are its subdivisions? What kinds of sources (and how many) are available in the library? What is interesting?

4.      Focus Formulation

Now you are ready to choose a focused topic and get a clear picture of how it can be subdivided, how it relates to other topics, and what kinds of resources are needed and/or available.

5.      Question Formulation

Write a research question that you will be able to answer in the space (No. of pages) and time (before the due date) allowed. The question will help you stay focused. You may be wondering, ("Why can't I research a topic? Why do I need a research question?")

6.      Search Strategy Formulation

Write down where you will search (using which access tools) and what you will be looking for. This stage is similar to the process of specifying the procedure or methodology in other kinds of research. (It is reasonable to wonder, "Which starting point is usually best?)

7.      Information Collection

Because you have taken all the earlier steps to formulate a clear focus and research question--as well as to formulate a specific search strategy--this step will now be much more efficient. The materials you find will contribute more effectively to an excellent paper!

8.      Search Closure

Your task now is carefully to read what you have collected. Weigh what you have against your formulation of your research question. You may need to search for specific information to fill gaps in your understanding. In a few, rare cases, you might revise your research question.

9.      Starting Writing

By engaging in all the stages of the process, you will have formulated most of the content of your report by the time you start writing. Now you can relax and concentrate on expressing your ideas clearly and concisely.