Research Strategies Every Student Should Know
Research strategies can be implemented in just about every facet of your professional practice. Strong research skills are what can make or break a student’s academic success, and these are skills they will take with them in their future careers. Research entails finding credible sources, interpreting information, and then consolidating those findings into a polished research paper. Many students struggle with this process, and that’s precisely what Homework Help Global aims to help with today.
In this blog, you’ll learn the essential steps to researching that every student must know. Starting with planning the research to choosing the right methods, evaluating sources, and organizing. We’ll be sharing practical techniques that have been tested and proven by reputable academic institutions, so you can conduct research with not just clarity but with purpose.
Why Research Strategies Matter In Academia
One of the most valuable academic skills a student can master is developing research strategies. This comes in handy either for short response essays or full-on research papers. Research strategies encompass locating credible information, verifying sources, and synthesizing ideas.
When done correctly, learning correct research methods can save students time and improve the overall quality of their work. Students who are actively practicing their research skills can feel more confident, less overwhelmed, and better equipped to meet their academic goals.
Gaining Research as a Core Academic Skill
Students looking to boost their confidence and reduce the time struggling with last-minute research should learn how to do research effectively. Research is more than just gathering data; the real skill is learning critical thinking.
When students approach writing and research through a specific process, they gain the ability to identify patterns, assess arguments, and form their own evidence-based conclusions. Gaining research as a skill is what supports long-term academic success. When perfected, research skills will help students excel in their courses, whether it requires analytical writing, presentations, or group projects.
Step 1: Understanding The Research Process
In navigating how to do research, it’s important to understand that this is not a hasty process.
The first step is rarely finding the sources or writing right away. The first step is to understand what the assignment actually entails. What is the goal of research? What is the topic about? What kinds of information are required? Students often overlook this step and end up overwhelmed and pressed for time.
Read The Instructions and Requirements Carefully
The best and easiest way to nail a research strategy is to review the assignment instructions. They will almost certainly contain important information like required length, sources, citation, and style. It will also point you in the direction of what kind of research is expected – whether analytical, argumentative, or exploratory. This initial step is what can save students time and energy.
Identify The Research Question
Choosing a topic from a sea of endless possibilities is quite challenging. That’s why research papers should always aim to answer a research question. Avoid going from broad topics and narrow it down to specific topics. For example, instead of just using “technology” as a broad topic, pose a question like, “How do smartphones impact a student’s academic performance?”
By identifying a research question, students can immediately make the process manageable, and it filters out irrelevant sources.
Step 2: Planning and Developing Research Strategies
After narrowing down a research topic, you can create a plan to approach it.
Planning is not a step that should be skipped over because this is how you stay focused, especially since the research process will entail a lot of information. The plan you come up with will be the foundation of a successful research project.
How To Create A Research Plan
You don’t need to jump into Google or a library’s database immediately; instead, create an outline by asking these questions:
- What do I already know about this topic?
- What else do I need to learn about the topic?
- What keywords or concepts best describe my chosen research question?
A Milne Library article emphasizes that strategic planning helps students avoid information overload while building momentum in their research. The simplest outline can provide clarity during the initial research phase.
A List of Research Strategies To Remember
Try these proven strategies early on in your research to stay organized and lessen the need to backtrack.
- Remember to break up the research process into phases: planning, searching, evaluating, and note-taking.
- Keep a handy list of keywords and search terms.
- Track the databases, journals, and websites you’ve already visited to avoid repeating.
Step 3: Choosing The Right Research Methods
Different research methods won’t necessarily yield different findings, but they do determine how information is gathered. That’s why step 1 of this process is important.
Each assignment will expect a specific method or explicitly mention your freedom to choose your own approach.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research Methods
- Qualitative Research explores ideas, experiences, and opinions. Data is gathered through methods like interviews, open-ended questionnaires, case studies, and observations. Using qualitative research methods answers questions about “why” situations happen.
- Quantitative research focuses on data that can be measured. Data is collected through quantifiable surveys with numerical data and statistical analysis. This research method answers “how much”, “how often”, or “what is the relationship between variables?”
Choosing between research methods ultimately depends on what you’re trying to analyze and how you aim to answer your research question, so choose wisely!
Step 4: How To Search Effectively
Focused research and searching require more than just typing a phrase on Google and hoping for the best. The reason it’s called a “strategy” is that it’s intentional.
Effective research requires using the right tools, keywords, and even filters. When you’re strategic about your research, you’re more likely to find high-quality and credible sources while weeding out irrelevant materials.
Smart Searching Techniques Using Google Scholar
If you ask any of your research advisors, they’ll tell you Google Scholar is an excellent resource. Not everything on the internet is a credible source after all, and Google Scholar has established itself as a reputable database for academic research.
Here are some tips when using it:
- Use quotation marks when searching for exact phrases.
- Filter results by year to get current information.
- Use the “cited by” filter to see other relevant sources to your topic.
Learning how to do research with a strategy means you test different combinations of phrases, filters, and terms during the search process. Along the way, keep a list of your resources so it’s easier to look back on for citations.
Want to learn how to navigate Google Scholar better? Watch our past Homework Help Show episode, “How To Use Google Scholar for Academic Research”.
Step 5: Evaluating and Selecting Sources
Gathering information and data during the research process is only half of the equation. You have to practice discernment when choosing which sources to trust.
A truly effective strategy will require careful evaluation so you can confidently say that your research is built on accuracy, credibility, and relevant evidence.
How To Check Source Credibility
You want your work to be elevated, and to do this, you must present strong and supported arguments. The CRAAP test is an evaluation tool that can help you practice research discernment.
- Currency: Is the information up to date?
- Relevance: Does the information support your research question?
- Authority: Are the authors or publishers of the information reputable?
- Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence and error-free?
- Purpose: Is the information shared by the author informative, persuasive, or transactional?
When choosing your sources, make it a habit to do the CRAAP test to filter unreliable sources. Remember that you are looking for primary sources. These come in the form of peer-reviewed journals, academic articles, credible news outlets, government publications, or web sources with a .edu or .org address. Try to steer clear of blogs, opinion websites, or commercial websites that might contain bias.
For more information, check out our past blog on “Academic Research Pitfalls To Avoid and 6 Steps To Proper Research.”
Step 6: Organizing Research Findings
Now, if you’ve followed our steps through, you’ll probably find that you’ve gathered quite a few sources. Before you start writing, it’s important to keep everything organized.
Good organization will keep you from losing track of important information, and you’ll find it much easier to write.
How To Stay Organized During The Research Process
There are plenty of ways to organize the data you’ve gathered during your research. Here’s how you can keep track of them all:
- Use the Cornell Method: This method asks you to divide your research into cues, notes, and summaries for easier reviewing later.
- Digital Notes: Like Google Docs or OneNote, allows you to organize quotes, summaries, and links into folders that become helpful when you’re working with multiple sources.
- Citation Managers: Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote are just a few examples of tools that automatically store articles, generate citations, and organize your bibliography.
Remember that organizing is a continuous process, but it ultimately makes everything easier to navigate.
For more help organizing your research, consider an expert writer to assist. Check out Homework Help Global’s academic writing services to learn more.
Step 7: Writing A Strong Research Paper
You’ve collected and organized your data and resources, now you’re ready to write! This part of the research process challenges your ability to transform raw data into a well-structured paper.
If you’ve followed through our steps, you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed as other students do. You have applied research strategies that would hopefully make writing more manageable.
How To Write A Research Paper
With your sources on hand, identify major themes, arguments, and patterns, and group together the most related ideas. Highlight your strongest evidence so it’s easier to see the direction your paper is heading. Follow the structure: introduction, background, argument or analysis, discussion, and conclusion.
Outline and Draft
Keep the process organized by creating your outline. This will help to control the flow of ideas and will allow you to stay focused on answering your research question.
Paraphrasing vs. Plagiarism
Bates College puts an emphasis on ethical writing. In research, it’s an academic practice to cite the authors and the ideas they provided that support your own research question. It’s important to learn the difference between simply paraphrasing and plagiarism. Always cite your sources to maintain academic integrity.
When you write, don’t forget to cite and always proofread your work. Get effective essay proofreading tips to boost your grades from our past blog!
Freqeuently Asked Questions
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What’s the best way to know if a source is credible?
An easy way to spot a credible source is if the author’s qualifications and publication dates are present. Always do the CRAAP test if you’re unsure!
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How can I improve my research methods?
Research is a skill you can practice over time. Break down each step into manageable parts, and don’t be afraid to experiment with keyword searches and keep reading scholarly articles.
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How do I choose a research question?
Consider what you’re truly interested in and keep refining if the topic is too broad. General concepts are a good place to start. Brainstorm and create concept maps to narrow down your research question. -
What are the best research strategies for students?
Set yourself up for success by staying organized, using reputable library databases, and outlining before writing. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Follow our step-by-step process or get expert help from the Homework Help Global writers!
Develop Your Academic Skills Today!
Developing research strategies as an academic skill is like investing long-term. Research skills aren’t just useful in school; you’ll find that you’ll circle back and use these skills even when you join the workforce.
Learning how to plan your research, search effectively, and evaluate sources will help you gain confidence in your ability to think critically, write clearly, and complete your assignments stress-free.
For more guidance, Homework Help Global is always here to assist! From coursework writing to editing, we stay committed to providing excellent writing assistance for students across all levels. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
