RESEARCH

You are going to spend a lot of time on this project so the best thing you can start with is to select a topic that truly interests you. Some things to consider are: 

• Will your topic fit the parameters of the assignment? 

• Can you find enough information? (Have you tried a preliminary search for information?)

• Will your teacher find it interesting? (You don't want a bored teacher!)

• Who is your audience? 

Tips for finding a topic

• Use the SIRS Issues Researcher database to read about current controversial issues.

A general topic is too broad for a research project because it will overwhelm you with information. Focusing your topic is where your sense of wonder really kicks in! Think about your topic and ask Who? What? Where? When? Why? 

For example, consider the general topic "dress code". 

General topic: dress code - what kind of dress code - workplace or school?

Narrow topic: high school dress code - better but what about the dress code interests you?

Focused topic: impact of school dress codes on learning - a much more focused topic!

Presearch is one of those back and forth stages - it is where you will build a foundation of background information and also narrow (or broaden) your topic based on the amount of information that you find. This is the time to play around with your topic! 

Develop research questions: 

The reasons to develop research questions are to:

• Guide you in finding the information you need to understand your topic 

• Determine if enough information exists for your topic. 

To develop research questions, start with restating your topic as a question:

• What is the impact of high school dress codes on learning?

Then create a few additional questions to consider other factors that:

• • Give you basic facts or a broad overview of the topic 

  • Compare the topic to something else

  • Explore cause and effect

  • Examine recommendations or solutions 

  • Consider different points of view 

Here are some example research questions for our topic:

• What is the purpose of a dress code policy? 

• How does a dress code policy affect student achievement? 

• Why should (or shouldn't) a school adopt a dress code policy? 

• Who is impacted the most by a high school dress code?

• How do the consequences of violating a dress code impact student learning?

• Does a dress code policy promote stereotypes?

• What data or studies exist about the impact of a high school dress code policy? 

Identify keywords: Keywords are the search terms to help you find sources of information to answer your research questions. Developing good keywords is the key to doing good research!

• Use a graphic organizer to help you keep track of your keywords. 

• Read several sources and notice the words and main ideas that appear often in these sources. These become keywords. 

• Creating your keyword list is an ongoing process. Keep adding to your list as you find new keywords.

• Check out these keyword search strategies for more ideas.

Search for background information: You want to find enough information so that you understand your topic. Some places to look:

• Use reference materials like encyclopedias and other reference books for a broad overview of your topic. These can be found both in the library and online in library databases like Britannica and Credo Source.

• Browse the library shelves that contain the reference materials for your topic. Use the online card catalog Destiny or ask the library staff to help you find these.

• Wikipedia can be used as a way to gather background information but never use it as a source for your paper! For more information, watch How to Use Wikipedia in Your Research.

• If you use Google to find background information, check out these tips and tricks for Google searches (Remember that anyone can post anything they want on the internet. Be skeptical and persistent in finding good background information).

The thesis statement is the main idea of your paper and specifically states what you are going to prove and how you are going to prove it.

Do you have an opinion on your topic now that you have some background information? Turn that question into a thesis statement. For more information: How to write a thesis statement 

For our "impact of dress code on learning" topic, an example thesis statement is:
A school dress code policy negatively impacts female student achievement by disproportionately targeting female students and promoting sexual stereotypes.

To you locate evidence to support your thesis statement, you will:

• Find scholarly or research based articles that support your claim (EBSCO is a good database to use)

• Take notes in a way that works best for you - check out these note-taking methods.

• Keep track of sources used on a Works Cited page as you are researching.

Persistence really pays off in this stage. If a source doesn't produce quality information:

• Try another source. 

• Use different keywords.

• Modify your thesis statement.

Tips for finding sources:

• Use library databases like EBSCO and SIRS Issues Researcher to find quality information from sources like scholarly journals and magazines, government documents and publications, and newspapers. 

• Learn more about scholarly, peer reviewed and primary sources.

• Use Boolean operators and advanced search features to narrow down your search.

• Follow the links at the end of a Wikipedia article to discover sources.

• If you use Google, check out these tips and tricks for Google searches (remember to fully evaluate all sources you find on the internet).

When you find information, you need to evaluate it to make sure that it not only supports your thesis statement but that it is also credible, trustworthy and relevant to your topic. Take a critical look at multiple factors to determine if the information should be included as supporting evidence for your thesis. Here is where you really need to be skeptical!

One popular method for source evaluation is the CRAAP Test. Using this method, investigate your information and source in all categories listed below. If the information passes the tests in each category, you can use it in your assignment.

Currency 

• Is the information up to date? Does it need to be?

Relevance 

• Does the information support your topic?

• Is this the best evidence that supports your topic?

Authority  

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?

• What makes them qualified to write about the subject?

Accuracy  

• How reliable and truthful is the information?

• Is the information supported by evidence?

Purpose (and bias)  

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?

• Does the information favor one side over another (bias)?

If you use academic databases and published print materials, part of the evaluation process is already done for you (the information is generally considered to have authority and accuracy and the purpose is known), but you still need to make sure that the information is current and relevant to your topic. 

However, if you find an article on the internet, you are responsible for determining that all of the factors in the CRAAP Test are satisfied before you can confidently include the information from that article in your final product. 

Information largely derived from Website Research: CRAAP Test by Rebecca Hill Renirie which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Why do you have to cite your sources in your research paper? It's all about academic honesty. 

Sometimes you might:

• Let someone borrow a pen, but you expect it back.

• Lend someone your favorite jacket, but you not only want it back, you also want it back clean.

• Obtain a record in sports - you want the credit for your accomplishment.

Academic honesty is the same. Someone created that information that you are using and sometimes they will lend it to you, but:

• You need to give them credit for their accomplishment.

• You need to share where you got the information so your readers or viewers can learn more by looking at your sources.

• Sometimes they will let you use their information but there are restrictions.

Failing to give people credit for their work is plagiarism and it could get in a lot of trouble academically (fail the assignment or fail the class and some colleges may even expel you for it). Plagiarism is also a legal issue because it is a violation of copyright law.

When do you need to cite? 

• If the information you are presenting is not your original idea - even if you put the information in your own words. 

For more information: Watch this video to learn more about the differences between summarizing, paraphrasing, and quotations.

How do I cite? 

Citing has two components: an in-text citation (also called a parenthetical citation) and the biblographic information which is an entry on a separate page at the end of your paper that lists the source used (in MLA this is the Works Cited page).

Thing to consider when citing a source:

• Each type of source (book, article in a journal, encyclopedia, website, YouTube video, etc.) has specific requirements for the information to include and how to format that information.

• There are multiple citation formatting styles. MLA is the most common style used at our school, but always check with your teacher for the style required for your assignment. 

• A good resource for citation is the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). It has sections on MLA and APA as well as other styles you may have to use in college. 

• Citation generators found in most academic databases, applications like Microsoft Word and Google Docs and websites like MyBib and EasyBib, can generate bibliographic information for you. However you need to use a resource like Purdue OWL to verify the citation is correct as these generators can make mistakes.

Now you are ready to share what you have learned through your research. Just like the entire research process doesn't happen in a straight line, creating your final product is also a back and forth process. This step is not a one and done deal. Do what you need to do to get it done well and make sure the final product meets the requirements of the assignment.

Tips for creating your final product:

• Research paper: Write, proofread, edit, rewrite, peer edit, repeat as needed. Make sure the paper is the correct page length and is written in the correct formatting style (MLA, APA, etc.)

• Speech: Same steps as for a research paper but then record yourself, listen, edit, do a trial run with a peer, edit, and repeat as needed. Make sure your speech is within the required time frame. 

• Presentation: Similar steps as writing a research paper and delivering a speech but also make sure the visual information flows in a way that aligns with your points and makes sense to your audience. 

Note about using audio and visual content:  Just like we cite sources when we use other people's ideas in writing, we must also give credit to other people's creative work like photos, graphics, videos, music, etc. Just because it is available on the internet does not mean it can be used in your project without citing it. Check the Purdue OWL for more information. 

The purpose of doing research is not only to build new knowledge, but to develop critical thinking skills that will help you to be a better researcher in the future. Things to consider as you reflect:

• What worked well? 

• What did you struggle with?

• What would you do differently? 

• What did you learn about research? 

• What questions do you still have about your topic?  

• What new questions have arisen as a result of your research?