The Research Process: 7 Steps For Creating Credible & Helpful Content

Modern readers are smart and informed. They care about accurate facts. That’s why you need to find out everything there is to know about a specific topic.

You can use sources that range from library books to internet articles for your research. Remember the main aim at this stage is to find out as much as you can about your topic. Read as widely as you can, and talk to experts if necessary.

Even fiction authors are advised to do some research. The last thing you want to do is claim your character rode a bicycle from Toronto to Tokyo in fifteen minutes. You need to get your facts straight if you want readers to trust you.

By breaking down the research process into these seven simple steps, it becomes easier to manage your work and stay organized throughout your project. This article will outline each step and provide examples to illustrate their purpose.

What Are The Types Of Research In Prewriting?

in rewriting, the types of research that might be done include: gathering background information and data, conducting interviews, researching current or past events, exploring available resources, observing people or situations in person or online.

However, generally, there are five basic types of research methods. They include quantitative approaches such as surveys and tests, qualitative methods such as action research and interviews, and mixed methods which combine elements of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, case studies which involve an in-depth investigation into a particular person or situation, and surveys which collect data from a sample population.

All these different types of research can be used to collect data and explore different topics. However, as a writer, there are specific types suitable for your needs.

Guidelines On The Research Process

Here are good research guidelines you can follow:

• Browse through books from the section of the library that contains books on your topic – don’t be hesistant to ask the librarian for recommendations.
• Type the keywords of your idea into a search engine like Google – you can use quotation marks to get more specific results.
• Check the history and credentials of the person who wrote what you read in order to establish credibility – not every source is accurate or trustworthy, especially on the internet.
• Skim and scan materials so you don’t spend too much time researching.
• Take down notes as you research – you don’t want to forget important concepts you come across during your research.

Research is the first and one of the most important steps in the 9-step prewriting process. Using incorrect information means you will come across as ignorant and lazy to your readers. This could potentially ruin your career, seeing as readers have no reason to trust anything else you write in the future.

The Research Process Steps

1. Identify your topic.

The first step in the research process is to identify your topic. To do this, you need to consider what areas of interest you want to explore and what specific questions can be asked about them. Once you’ve done this, narrow it down to a manageable size.

For example, as an author, you may decide to research the history of the novel. To narrow this topic down, you might focus on a specific period in time, such as Victorian literature.

2. Develop a research question.

After you have identified your topic, the next step is to develop a research question. This should be a single sentence that summarizes what you want to investigate and why. Your research question should be specific enough that it can be answered in a limited amount of time without becoming overwhelming or too broad.

If yu want to use this same scenario for your novel, your research question might be: “What were the key themes and literary techniques used in Victorian novels?”

3. Gather the necessary information.

Once you have identified your research question, the next step is to begin gathering the necessary information to answer it. This means finding books, journal articles, websites, and other sources of information that relate to your topic. Be sure to take notes on any important points or quotes as you go along so you can easily refer back to them later.

So, this basically entails reading existing literature in the field and conducting interviews, surveys, and experiments. Here are some examples of activities that you can undertake during this phase:

• Reading textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, and other published research related to your topic
• Type the keywords of your idea into Google – you can use quotation marks to get more specific results.
• Interviewing experts in the field
• Developing and administering surveys
• Conducting experiments or field studies
• Using data sources such as census figures, statistics from governmental agencies, and historical documents

Using the previous example, while researching Victorian literature, you could conduct interviews with professors who specialize in the field, read books from the library on the topic, and search for articles online.

4. Evaluate resources.

Once you have gathered your resources, the next step is to evaluate them. This includes assessing their relevance and accuracy in relation to your research question. It is important to consider the author’s credentials when evaluating a resource, as well as any potential biases they may have. Check the history and credentials of the person who wrote what you read in order to establish credibility – not every source is accurate or trustworthy, especially on the internet.

For example, as an author researching Victorian literature, you may want to read books from the library written by respected scholars in the field and compare them with online articles written by anonymous authors.

5. Analyze your data.

The next step is to analyze the information you have gathered and draw conclusions based on it. This involves looking for patterns or trends that can help answer your research question. Be sure to include citations for any sources you use in your analysis, as well as provide an explanation of how the information you found is relevant to your research question.

Depending on your research question, different analytical methods may be used. For example:

• Quantitative analysis of numerical data including averages, correlations, and trends
• Qualitative analysis such as coding textual data or interpreting interview results
• Creating visual representations of data such as graphs, charts, and diagrams to make it easier to interpret

For example, after researching Victorian novels, you may come to the conclusion that many of them focused on themes such as social class and gender roles due to the needs of the time period. You would then back up this conclusion with evidence from your research, such as quotes and statistics.

6. Draw conclusions.

The final step of the research process is to draw your conclusions and present your findings. Be sure to include any relevant graphs, charts, or diagrams that help explain your findings. You should also provide an explanation of the importance of your research and its implications for future study.

7. Present your findings.

Finally, it is time to present your findings in a meaningful way. This can be done in a number of ways, from writing your book, a formal research report or paper to giving an oral presentation. The aim should be to clearly communicate the results of your research and make recommendations based on what you have discovered.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your research project is successful and provides meaningful results.

Research Process exercises

Do the following:

1. Go to the library. Spend an hour researching the history of your country.
2. Use the internet to search for the first-ever software engineer.
3. Choose any source you came across in 1 or 2. Try to find out as much as you can about the person who created that source.
4. Use the steps we discussed in this section to research any topic of your choice.

Final notes on the Research Process

No matter what type of research you are conducting, it’s important to document your process in detail. This can include keeping a log of the sources you use and any decisions made during the investigation. Doing this will not only help you stay organized but also provide evidence to support any claims or conclusions you make.