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There are 3 keys to completing successful research projects:
This involves a good deal of independent work for you, and your learning can grow considerably through the process. Have faith in your intelligence and abilities. You can do it!1. Plan Ahead
2. Keep Organized
3. Review and Revise
On of the most common queries raised by students about research projects is the difficulties of finding suitable information / reading or literature about the research theme or topic.
Samuels (2004) has three really good 'tip sheets' to help with this. They are all hyperlinked below so you can use them with this stage of the research:
This tip sheet helps by suggesting a list of the words that will help you find the information you need about your research topic is a good place to start. They are called "key words" because they can "unlock" the doors that will lead you to useful information.
Getting an overview is finding a source of information that gives you a simple understanding about a topic without telling you all about it in great detail. An overview should have some basic facts and be in clear enough language for you to understand. It should answer the questions; "who", "what", "when" and "where", and only briefly some of the "why" and "how" questions. Think of an overview as a picture taken from a distance where all of the details are not in focus. Your later research will bring those details into focus.
Focusing a research topic is narrowing (or sometimes broadening) a topic so that you can demonstrate a good understanding of it, including enough examples and important details, within the size limits of the project you are required to produce. You need to satisfy both yourself and your teacher that you know what you are talking about. If your teacher gives you no limits, make them for yourself. You don't want to spend your life on this, at least not right now.