I. The Research Process

Now that you have your research topic, you'll want to narrow in on a specific question you have about a topic. The best research is driven by questions, inquiry, and hypothesis: instead of writing a paper or designing a lab where you already know the results, you'll instead be engaging in research to answer a question. Here are a few useful frameworks to help you move from a general topic to a specific research question:

• Ask about the history of your topic. What came before? How has it changed over time?
  • Example: What is the history of AI development? What particular aspects of AI have emerged recently? What aspects have stayed the same for the last few decades? How have perspectives about AI-generated internet content changed over time? 
• Ask about its structure and composition. How does this topic fit into a larger context or structure? 
  • Example: What is the role of AI in higher education? In medicine? How are Chat GPT prompts similar/different to research queries in a research database? What is the relationship between AI and authorship?
• Ask about if your topic can be categorized. Can it be grouped into kinds? How does it compare or contrast to others like it?
  • Example: How is AI unique among other research technology tools that college students generally use? What ethical distinctions exist between various natural language processing tools? 
• Ask "what if?"
  • Example: What if AI was government regulated? What if universities provided free access to an AI source and provided parameters for use? What would be the consequences if all online health resources were replaced with AI? 
• Ask questions that agree with or disagree with your sources.
  • Example: Source X claims that AI literacy is one of the leading indicators of an individual's success in the field of marketing; does the same principle hold true in higher education? Source X claims that Gen Z displays a higher proficiency with AI than any previous generation. But, could AI proficiency also be accompanied by an increase in anxiety around AI among Gen Z? 

Once you have a few questions drafted, identify the one that is clear, focused and interesting to you. This is your research question! If you have questions about if your research question is too specific or too general, speak to your professor.

(Adapted from The Craft of Research, 4th edition by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. Fitzgerald, pp. 39-41.) 

Research can be messy, and there are a lot of things to keep track of when researching. However, you can employ some methodical tactics to help navigate the journey. While there is no right way to research, it's highly recommended to keep yourself organized.

One option is to keep a research notebook-- this can be a physical notebook, a Word doc, a GoogleDoc, or a notes app on a mobile device. Consider how you've kept yourself organized with other projects. Experiment until you find something that works for you.

Here are some things you'll want to consider keeping track of:

• key terms and synonyms

• databases you searched

• terms you used

• combination of terms

• helpful subject headings

• Boolean operators used

• limiters you included

• potential sources 

And once you've found that perfect source, make sure to save it! Not just the author, not just the link! Save as many of the resources as you can. Is it a PDF? Create a file folder and save a copy. Is is a physical book? Scan or make a copy of the pages you found most helpful. Is it a link? Make sure to get the PERMALINK -- this is not the link the address bar. Find the icon that looks like this: 

 By keeping track of your research, it will make the dance of research so much easier. Research requires patience. You're learning new techniques and content. It takes time. Research requires perseverance. You are looking for a needle (your perfect source) in the haystack of information. (And there is a lot of information out there!) Give yourself time to explore. Research requires trust. You need to trust yourself. Know your strengths (and weaknesses) as a students. Know when to ask for help. Librarians are standing by to answer your questions (chat, email, phone calls, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom).