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
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