Research 101
Working Through the Research Process

1. FOCUS:
  • ​​What is my research challenge? Purpose?
  • What are the critical questions?
  • ​Define the topic statement.
  • Who is my audience?
  • What do I know? What do I need to know?
  • What will my product be?
  • How will I plan my time?
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2. FIND AND FILTER:
Locate different types of resources (all formats).
Decide which resources might be suitable.
Select the most appropriate resources.
Do the resources answer your critical questions?
Did you find information that points you in another direction?
Revise research questions if necessary.
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3. WORK WITH THE INFORMATION:
  • Read, review, listen.
  • Interpret, record, organize.
  • Collect Works Cited information and quotations
  • Look for patterns. Make connections.
  • Check for understanding.
  • Review, revise, reorganize, and edit.
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4. COMMUNICATE:
Prepare final results.
Prepare Works Cited list.
Share ideas, findings, and product.
Act on findings.
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5. REFLECT:
  • What did we learn about the topic?
  • How does this new knowledge fit in a wider context?
  • What worked well?
  • What would we do differently next time?
  • What did we learn about research?
The above has been adapted from: Research Quest: A Student Guide developed by B.C.T.L.A. (British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association) and Teacher-Librarians in British Columbia. Adopted by the British Columbia Ministry of Education, January 2001.