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BHS Library: Steps to Research & Inquiry

How do I research?

How do I research?

Follow these simple steps for conducting a research project. 

  1. Connect with your topic. Your teacher may assign a topic, or or you may need to choose one yourself. Read general information on the web or in a book (Wikipedia, encyclopedia...) to get some basic facts about the topic.
  2. Wonder about your topic. Now that you've read a bit, you will start to develop new questions. Choose one to pursue. Your teacher may assign you a research question, in that case you can start the process here.
  3. Investigate your topic. Look online, in the databases, and in books to find the answers to your research question. Remember to be savvy when you're looking for information. Not everything on the internet is true, and almost everything has a bias!
  4. Construct your conclusion. So you started with a question, now you should be developing a sense of what your answer is. Organize your ideas and the information you've gathered so they make sense to other people.
  5. Express your conclusion. This means do your task! It could be an essay, a presentation, conversation...anything! But here is where you formally answer your research question using all of the information you found and your own ideas.
  6. Reflect. Now you should ask yourself:  How did it go? If I was going to continue this process what would I do next? What would I do differently if I had it all to do over?

The resources below will help you understand these steps, and provide guidance on how to accomplish each one. 

Finding a topic

These two videos break down the process of finding a research topic. There is more to it than just thinking of something you think is cool -- although that is usually a great place to start!

 

**PRO TIP: Click fullscreen to see the videos better.

Inside most of our school's databases, you can use a thing called "Subject headings" that can help you narrow your topic down from a big idea that you're interested in, to something more manageable or a specific question. This video will show you how to access it, and how to use it. 

**PRO TIP: Use fullscreen to see the presentation better.

In this video you can learn about what subject headings are, and how databases work differently from a Google search. Undersanding the differences can help improve your search strategies when using a database.

**PRO TIP:  Use fullscreen to see the video better.

Inside most of our school's databases, there is a feature called "topic finder" that can help you narrow your topic down from a big idea that you're interested in, to something more manageable or specific question. This video will show you how to access it, and how to use it. 

**PRO TIP: Use fullscreen to see the video better.

Writing a research question

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A research question is the question is the center your research.  It should be:

  • clear: someone can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
  • focused: it can be answered thoroughly in the space required by the.
  • concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
  • complex: it is not a “yes” or “no” question; the answer requires an analysis of sources.
  • arguable: there are multiple answers that are open to debate rather than accepted facts.

Text adapted from: George Mason University Writing Center

Image from: Lewis A. Jackson Library at Indiana Wesleyan University

Cycle of Inquiry


Inquiry is a cycle! This means that when you are investigating or researching a topic, you will often work backwards and forwards as you locate, evaluate and analyze information. Inquiry and research do not happen in a linear fashion. Instead, you will often loop back and revisit steps in the research project. In general, here are 6 phases of inquiry that you will visit and revisit: Connect, Wonder, Investigate, Construct, Express, and Reflect.

 

For any questions, email Mr. Mulvey at jmulvey3@schools.nyc.gov