Research Process Overview
The research process typically includes five broad steps. Most often you complete one step before moving onto the next. However, there may be times when you will need to return to a previous step or complete multiple steps simultaneously.
Step 1.Brain storm
Develop Research Questions I Find Background Information
Create a Concept Map Video
Step 2. Create a Concept map | identify Keywords-- Create a Concept Map (view the brief video)
Books | Databases | Websites | Search Strategies
Step 3. Revise
List research question | Group similar questions
Step 4. Focus
Select a research question| Does not rely primarily on interview data
Step 5. Reflection
Narrowed research questions to the top three questions | Will the research question address a relevant, meaningful, and under researched problem? | Does the question deal with a topic or issue of interest? | Does it challenge or question current knowledge practices, theories, or assumptions, and will help to improve a situation?
adapted from the work of Norman Blaikie in Designing Social Research
Scholarly vs. Popular Journals
| SCHOLARLY JOURNAL Article | POPULAR MAGAZINE Article |
|---|---|
| Published in an academic journal, described also as refereed or peer-reviewed | Published in a popular, general interest, or news magazine |
| Author is expert on topic or scholar | Author may be lay reporter |
| Specialized audience of peers or students | Audience includes general public |
| Goal is to inform or present research | Goal is often to entertain or persuade |
| Research-based | Report events or findings of others |
| Includes sources: footnotes and bibliography | Sources may not be cited formally |
| Vocabulary is complex and technical | Vocabulary is familiar, non-technical |
| Graphics used to illustrate a point | Graphics used for visual impact |
| Titles may include the words Journal, Review, or Annals; and/or refer to a field of study. Examples: Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Journal of Higher Education | Titles often general, usually catchier. Examples: People Weekly, Newsweek |
| Published monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually | Published weekly or monthly |
Often your professor will tell you to choose only "scholarly" or "peer-reviewed" article resources when you do research for a paper. This table shows some key contrasts between scholarly and popular resources. Many of the Libraries' article citation databases include an option to search only scholarly, but not all do, so this table should come in handy.
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