This document provides guidance for students completing a critical research project. It outlines the 12 step process for conducting research, which includes choosing a topic, developing a research question, planning the research strategy, conducting research through interviews and questionnaires, analyzing the findings, and preparing notes for the exam. It also offers tips for researching online, such as using search engines, news archives, and official websites to find a wide range of information. Students are advised to consider factors like availability, appropriateness, and developing an effective search strategy before researching online.

1. Critical Research Project This should be approached as an examined piece of coursework. You are allowed to take 4 sides of notes into the exam. You answer 2 questions, 1 on your methodolgy and 1 on your findings.

2. Process 1. Choose a topic 2. Devise a research question 3. Discuss the question with your teacher and draw up a plan & timetable for your research strategy 4. Research and interview ( focus groups & questionnaires). 5. Organise your research- what were the strengths and weaknesses. 6. Write a case study about your research findings.

3. 7. Organise your findings into 4 sides of notes. 8. Revise your notes. 9. Mock exam 10. Feedback & content revision. 11. Revise and learn.

4. How to do research on the internet. What you need to know.

5. Variety of net sources Search engine News archive Official media sites Unofficial sites Mailings lists and news groups Education sites

6. What will I find on the internet? Information on a huge number of topics Trends and statistics Company reports and financial information Contact details for research resource centres Laws government announcements and parliamentary debates News and current affairs Databases of reference material Places where you can discuss topics and ask for help Remember quality & relevance are import and there is a lot of information that isn’t available on the internet at all.

7. What else should I consider before searching the internet? Is the information likely to be available for free? Would a printed or other electronic source be quicker or more appropriate? Would it be bette to use a search engine or a subject dictionary/ To search effectively it is important that you consider exactly what question you are trying to answer. This is called developing a search strategy.

8. What exactly is the question that you are trying to answer? What is your topic? What are the key concepts in your question?List them. Are there other ways in which you can express these key concepts?

9. Choosing a searching tool Should be determined by the sort of material you are looking for 3 primary ways of searching the internet for documents and web pages 3 ways- search engines (google) Metasearch engines ( metacrawler) Subject gateways ( yahoo) Each has advantages and disadvantages.