The document outlines a six step research process: 1) Defining the task, 2) Locating information, 3) Selecting information, 4) Organizing information, 5) Presenting information, and 6) Evaluating the process and results. Key aspects of each step are discussed, such as using mind maps and focus questions to define the task, utilizing various information sources and graphic organizers to locate and select information, and presenting and referencing work appropriately while evaluating strengths and areas for improvement.

1. The Research Process
A six step research inquiry process

2. The Information Process
Six steps to help you do “great research”
Defining What do I need to find out?
Locating Where will I find the information I need?
Selecting How will I select the information I need?
Organising How will I organise the information?
Presenting How will I present the information?
How well did I do? What did I do well?
Evaluating What do I need to improve on?
2

3. Defining the task
Know exactly what it is that you are
required to do.
When you first get your
research project, it is worth
spending the time getting
REALLY CLEAR on what you
are expected to do.
It will make the other stages
of the process much easier.
Here are five questions you
should answer before you
start.
3

4. The question is the answer
The questions you create will define
how you approach your research.
Great questions will lead to great
research.
Brainstorming / Focus Questions • KWL Chart
Mindmapping
•5W’s This charts lets you :
This is a great way to •The Question Matrix • Identify what you
see how your brain
•Bloom’s Taxonomy already know
EXPANDS ideas
•Six Thinking Hats • Identify what you
about the topic. It
shows how you want to know
think.
4

5. In the DEFINING stage…..
In the DEFINING stage mind maps are
especially good to:
•Document all of the existing knowledge
you have a about a topic;
•Begin
to see connections and links
between different aspects of the topic;
•See where there are gaps in your
information;
•Use focus questions to formulate
appropriate questions that you want to find
the answers to; and
•Provide a VISUAL MAP of your thinking
process
You can add to the mind map as you discover more
information or make new connections in your thinking.
5

6. The 5 W’s
Here are five basic questions you can
start with.
WHO? This question is about people.
WHAT? This question refers to facts.
WHERE? This question refers to a location or place.
This question refers to a time (past., present,
WHEN? future or situation).
This question asks about a reason, cause,
WHY?
explanation, justification.
This question is hypothetical – asking
WHAT IF? you to predict something based on a
set of circumstances.
6

7. The Question Matrix
The Question Matrix is a grid that allows you to categorise your
questions against a number of contexts . It is a great tool to help you
develop your focus questions
7

8. Locating Resources
When doing your
research you will find
that different sources
have a different
purpose and
audience. For
example an
encyclopedia article is
very different to a
journal article which is
different again to a
brochure.
Pick the information
source that best suits
your task.
8

9. Sources of information
Different ways of looking at information
There are many different
sources of information. Try
to utilise all of these when
you get the opportunity.
Do NOT underestimate the
value of primary sources.
More and more the
internet is taking primary
sources and converting
them to an electronic
form:
•Virtual Tours
•Videos of interviews
•Digital versions of “real”
documents”
9

10. Graphic Organisers
Some of the Graphic Organisers you
might like to use in this stage of your
research project are:
Semantic This helps you compare similar features across
Grid a number of criteria.
Lets you compare two things in colums
T-Chart
Lets you look at something in terms of PLUS,
PMI Chart
MINUS, INTERESTING
Let’s you sequence steps in a process.
Flow Chart Could be set of instructions, recipe, timeline
Venn Allows you to compare and contrast two
Diagram things to identify similarities an differences
Six Thinking Let’s you look at a topic in six different
Hats ways according to a colored hat.
You can find examples of all these and more in
10

11. Organising information
When you have located your
information and taken your notes you
need to answer these questions:
You need to go back
to your original task
and focus questions
to see if the
information you have
collected will satisfy
your task.
If you don’t have
enough information
then you need to go
back to step two –
Locating information.
11

12. Presenting information
The way you present your information will
depend upon:
• Your research task requirements
Is the presentation format set or can you
choose how you present your work?
•Your audience
Who are you presenting the work to? Is your
presentation format relevant?
•The purpose of the task
What was the purpose of the task?
To inform? To entertain?
To persuade?
12

13. Presenting information
Here are just a few presentation ideas
that you might like to try for your final product /
presentation. They can be traditional or digital
Also check out
the ‘Creative
Output” module n
iResearch for
some great
presentation
ideas.
13

14. Evaluating
This is probably one of the most important stages of the
whole research process because it helps you to work
out how well you did. Here are some questions you can
ask?
1.What did I learn from this task?
2.How is this learning going to help me?
3.Did I answer all of my focus questions?
4.How well did I go at each stage?
5.How well did I present my information?
6.What did I really do well?
7.What needs to be improved next time?
14

15. Don’t forget to reference!!
This really shouldn’t come at the end…..
• It is really important
that you REFERENCE
every source of
information you use
for your project or Canfield, J. & Healy, K.
assignment. 2008, The success
principles for teens,
• Check out “Making
Referencing Real” in Health
the iResearch Communications, Inc.,
Module to learn how
to do that. London.
• Here is an example of
what it looks like for a
book.
15

16. Where to from here?
OK, you have done your research
project. So now what?
Celebrate your success!!
Think about ways you
Focus on what you can build on what
want to improve for you have learnt to
next time. make your next
project bigger and
But most of
better.
all…have fun
with your
research!!
16