What is research?
- The basic textbook definition is:
- Identifying, locating, assessing, and analyzing the information you need to support your research.
- This is the same basic definition whether you are writing a report, a proposal, or preparing a presentation.
Your instructor may assign a topic or you may have to choose one. In either case some of the steps below may help you figure out your topic or narrow the focus of your assigned topic.
- Explore ideas for potential topics
- Some you are interested in and fits the parameters of your assignment
- Think of your topic and ask specific questions
- What about the topic interests me. (Civil war and Literature)
- Write down a list of keywords. These will help construct your "Research Question
- Use some Library reference resources such as Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, and other materials. They can help define terms and suggest more specific points of your topic
- Now you have some basic information on your topic it is time to do some more extensive research. You will be able to search for books and articles through the library to find the information you need
- Now you can start putting together a clear research question and begin the writing process. Always checking with your professor along the way.
Check out the video below for some help with the Research Process. It is from On Demand Instruction via youtube.