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The
Research Process:
How Do I Do This?
You will find an excellent description
of the research process at
http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/. Provided by Cambridge Rindge & Latin
School (Cambridge, MA), this page - called "Basic Steps in the Research Process"
- offers a clear strategy for creating a research paper.
A similar process is outlined by the
Big Six
information problem-solving system, found below:
1
Task Definition
1.1
Identify the purpose of the research
Clarify the assignment parameters
Choose a broad topic of interest
Discuss the choice with your teacher
1.2
Establish prior knowledge
Brainstorm ideas and information about the identified topic
Identify broad information resources appropriate to the topic
Relate all prior knowledge to the topic
1.3
Formulate the essential question or hypothesis
Identify the purpose of the research by focusing on a specific
question to be answered,
thus narrowing the topic
1.4
Determine the audience for whom the paper is intended
2 Information
Seeking Strategies
2.1
Identify keywords
Define keywords and/or phrases related to the essential
question
2.2
Develop a search strategy
Identify possible sources
Explore previously identified resources
2.3
Scan resources for usefulness
2.4 Revise or define essential question if necessary
3
Location and Access
3.1
Locate information resources
Use the library media resources, including the consulting
skills of
the library
media specialist
Explore other resources from the public libraries,
community, home,
experts, online
computer searches,
etc.
3.2
Access Information
Use a predetermined search strategy to access the
information
Use appropriate tools, such as print and electronic indexes,
search
engines, and online catalogs
4
Information Use
4.1
Engage and evaluate the information
Read, view, or listen to sources
Evaluate
the relevance of the information
Evaluate
the information for the motive, point-of-view, bias, authority, and intended
audience
Distinguish
among fact, non-fact, opinion, and propaganda
4.2
Make Working Bibliography Cards
4.3
Make Note Cards
5
Synthesis
5.1
Organize information for application
Synthesize information
Develop a thesis statement that answers your essential
question
Select appropriate organizational style: chronological,
argumentative
position, order of importance,
problem-solving, etc.
Organize your note cards
5.2
Write a sentence or topic outline with your thesis statement
Use
your outline to evaluate the notes you
have and determine areas of
your research
which still
need further exploration
6
The Writing Stage
6.1
Draft first copy
6.2
Revise the first copy by
Rethinking
Reworking ideas, wording, and/or organization
Conferencing
Editing (correcting sentence structure, usage, and such
mechanics as
spelling, punctuation, and capitalization)
Proofreading
7
Publishing Stage
7.1
Prepare research paper in correct manuscript form including:
Title page (see page for
sample layout)
Outline with thesis statement
First draft
(if required)
Final draft (with proper citation)
Appendix (as appropriate)
Works Cited
7.2
Present Final Copy
8
Evaluation
8.1
Evaluate the final presentation/project/product
Determine if the assignment was completed as instructed
Determine if the essential question was answered
Determine if the thesis was sufficiently supported
8.2
Evaluate the process of investigation and inquiry
Evaluate time management
Evaluate each step of the process to
determine where improvement
is needed
[ Research
Manual Homepage ][ Introduction ] [ Research Process ] [ Dewey Decimal ] [ Search Strategies ] [ Evaluating Resources ] [ Bibliography Cards ] [ Avoiding Plagiarism ] [ Note Cards ] [ Works Cited ] [ Parenthetical Citations ] [ Science Writing ] [ Documenting Science ] [ Outlining ] [ Sample Outline ] [ Graphic Organizers ] [ Sample Paper/Works Cited ] [ Primary Sources ] [ Glossary ] [ Useful Links ]
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