Getting Started
Ask Questions
As a way of getting started, ask questions about something you want to know more about. These questions become the focus of your research, the central idea, the thesis. You investigate these questions and then report about what you have learned. Select "Put It In Writing" in the menu to the left to learn more about this.
Two Types of Research
- Primary Research
You make your own discoveries through original research or experimentation
Some written sources, especially those produced by those close to or actual participating in the topic you are researching, can be considered primary sources - Secondary Research
You learn what others have previously discovered or thought about a topic
Method used is often library research, using texts
Your Research Topic
Frame your research topic in the form of questions or a hypotheses (theories about potential answers). Research questions may help direct and focus your research. Good research questions should be
- Appealing --> you should have some personal interest in the research topic/question
- Researchable --> you should be able to find sufficient information
- Narrowable --> you should be able to narrow the focus of your research topic/question