Research 101

Working Through the Research Process

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?

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.

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.
 
​​COMMUNICATE:
  • Prepare final results.
  • Prepare Works Cited list.
  • Share ideas, findings, and product.
  • Act on findings.

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.