My Research Process

My Research Process

I have found the study and use of the research process quite an interesting topic. It’s something I have never looked into. The structured format has been new to me from the making of topic questions, to the researching and writing up of information. It has shown me how to better research a topic, and that you can not just write up a theory on something or resource information with out it being backed it up with qualitative and quantitative proof, if you want it to be successful.

The fact that I have never used the research process, or had much experience in research itself, I found it hard to work and think in a formal structure, my natural tendency would be to just decide on a topic and get into the research and writing it up with not much conscious thought. I can see the benefits of insuring you follow curtain steps in the research process. When this is done the research is more ordered and it allows you to keep track of things, this would be needed for larger topics.

Learning how to structure a topic question opened my eyes. I wasn’t aware how much the wording of the question could change the ease of researching a topic and insuring you are going find the answers you wanted in your research. I think the structured approach to setting the question, researching, processing information and writing up the topic, are good ways to keep on track and finish with a successful project.

This topic has taught me that to write a successful project, you need to back up claims as much as possible with qualitative and quantitative proof for it to be respected and valid. This is not something I have thought in the past. I can now see the reasons referencing is so important as it allows people to follow up on claims or access further information on the topic, as well as insuring the right people get credit for there work.

The use of the research process with my Collaborative research project has gone well so far. We are currently in the researching faze after working with Felicity on our topic question. Our group first started with everyone thinking up topics of interest, then we came together to choose one that we all agreed on. We then met with Felicity to refine and reword the question so as it would not be to broad or simple, and that it was accurately directed to what we wanted to find out. Since then we have meet as a group and made a set of questions that we will need to research within our topic question. This will to help direct us to the areas of research we will need look into. Our group is now individually searching through some of the possible sources we came up to those questions, and we are set to bring what we find to our next group meeting.

The whole topic has been a big learning curve for me, and I hope it will become more natural in the future. Learning the structures of the research process has not come easy, but I can see its benefits so will persevere with it. I have also learnt the need and importants of backing your work with qualitative and quantitative proof, which before I just sore as a nuisance and time consuming. I am glad that my first research project is a collaborative one as the work is shared amongst the group and any lack of understanding can be put right by the other members. This makes the process less over whelming, and allows you more time to get comfortable with the structures of the research process.

Resources

K, Pullen, (12/11/2008). How to Find Quality Information, Suite109.com. Retrieved 19/03/2009 http://internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/finding_good_quality_information#ixzz0ABZGEaSd
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