Basic Pointers

re·search: NOUN: 1. a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding.

Cambridge Dictionaries Online,
© Cambridge University Press 2003.

Researching describes the process of seraching for information. Think about the prefix re, which means again. Research involves a series of searching... again and again! For example, each of the following activities involves such a search, but the differences are significant and worth examining.

Research Questions	Essential Characteristics
1. Find the population of each country in Africa or the total (in dollars) of Japanese investment in the U.S. in 2002.	This is a search for individual facts or data and may be part of the search for the solution to a larger problem or simply the answer to a bar bet. This type of research is concerned with facts rather than knowledge or analysis and answers can normally be found in a single source.
2. Find out what is known generally about a fairly specific topic. "What is the history of the Internet?"	This is a report or review, not designed to create new information or insight but to collate and synthesize existing information. This may be a summary of the past. Answers for this type of research can typically be found in a selection of books, articles, and Web sites. [Note: gathering this information may often include activities like #1 above.]
3. Gather evidence to determine whether gang violence is directly related to playing violent video games.	This involves gathering and analyzing a body of information or data and extracting new meaning from it or developing unique solutions to problems or cases. This is "real" research and requires an open-ended question for which there is no quick answer. [Note: this will always include #2 above and usually #1. It may also involve gathering new data through experiments, surveys, or other techniques.]

Considering the many different ways that the concept "research" is viewed, here are some guidelines to keep in mind before you start on a class research project:

1. Understand the assignment. Don't risk selecting inappropriate materials or addressing irrelevant issues. No matter how well you write or speak, this will usually result in poor work. If necessary, discuss the assignment with your instructor.

2. Select a topic that interests you. If you are interested in a topic, you will find the research more enjoyable and your presentation of your research results more interesting for your audience.

3. If possible, select a topic you are already researching for another project. This may not only save you some time but allow you to explore different facets of the same topic and build a deeper understanding.

4. Select a topic that is not likely to be chosen by others. Imagine your course instructor reading a dozen papers on the same two or three topics! Find an original or unique topic or a new way to look at an existing idea, but always remember to make sure the topic fits the scope of the assignment (see #1 above).

Topics Sections

1. Topics

2. Basic Pointers

3. Generating Questions
- Brainmapping Ex.
4. Broadening Questions
5. Narrowing Questions
6. Selecting Keywords
7. Vocabulary