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How To: Navigate the Research Process

HOW TO | NAVIGATE THE RESEARCH PROCESS

What is the Scope

Your research scope is the parameters or boundaries of your research surrounding a particular topic. A scope can be broad or narrow, with varying degrees of breadth and depth. A research scope is usually closely related to your assignment or are pieces of information you deem important through investigation and assessment. When determining your scope it is helpful to try and answer the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Assignment Analysis

Every assignment has unique requirements. Several of these are outlined in the assignment prompt, others are determined by time constraints, future assignments, or your curiosity. Read through the assignment fully and ask yourself these questions to get started:

  • When is the project due?
  • What should the final product/project look like? (e.g. paper, presentation, work of art, podcast)
  • How much time will need to create/construct the final product?
  • What types of sources do you need? Are there limitations on publication type, years published, or another facet?
  • Did your professor recommend specific databases, websites, sources, or other places to find this information?
  • What information do you need or hope to get from these sources?
  • What citation style do you need to use?
  • Is this assignment part of a larger assignment later in your course or is this a stand-alone assignment? 
  • How can this assignment be beneficial to you? Are you gaining knowledge, experience, something to use in a portfolio?

Research Question

Your research question is the catalyst that drives your search. In an assignment a research question can be given to you by a professor, which can be distinct or vague, or you might have to come up with your own question(s). All of these have their own difficulties. Your research question is bound to change overtime. Your curiosity is what makes your research question unique.

Thesis

You will use your research question to establish a thesis statement. This statement works in conversation with the existing body of scholarship on a topic. You are either answering a question that's already been posed in a unique way or by asking a unique question. The thesis should be:

  • Clear: provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
  • Focused: narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.
  • Complex: requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition.
  • Arguable: open to debate rather than accepted facts.

Background Research

Before you can fully develop your thesis, you first need a general understanding of your topic. This can be information from classes, snippets you read online, or information acquired through reference resources. 

Reference Resources are commonly used when looking for background information as they summarize the topic so it can be easily understood. These materials were initially designed to be mediated, and include materials like dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, etc.  However, reference resources tend to vary in how general or specific the information given is. 

More often than not, background research is not used in your final product, but a starting point for you to learn more about the topic in order to pull search terms, often called keywords. 

Keywords & Phrases

Keywords are words that relate to your research question and topic. Having a list of keywords will help you find resources during the search process. Spend some time brainstorming words that are connected to your topic. Record new words you come across during your background research and create lists of synonymous terms to use interchangeably when searching. 

Try some of these strategies for brainstorming and recording keywords:

This will also help you begin to think intensely about your research topic and question, distilling what truly interests you. 

Question Documents

Feel free to use the blank documents below to write your own answers to the assignment analysis questions.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reference Resources