Understanding Research

Research process
Select a topic
Refine a topic
Identify objectives Choose approach
Explore a topic
Plan a search
Evaluate info

Finding Books

Finding Articles

How Do I Identify My Objectives?

Identify your objectives by formulating a few clear questions, based on what you want to do with your topic. The direction of your research will then be based on answering those questions.

What do you want to do with your topic? Do you want to:

• Find facts about a certain situation or issue?
• Investigate the pros & cons of a particular issue?
• Investigate the advantages or disadvantages of a situation or viewpoint?
• Examine an event, situation, or problem and determine its impact?
• Examine a problem and determine a possible solution?

These are points to consider when deciding what your objectives will be.

Survivor Tip: You take time to plan a vacation to know where you are going to and how to get there. To plan your research, first take time to identify your objectives—that is, your destination, what it is that you desire to find out. You will save time, and your journey will be a more pleasant one.

Next: How Do I Formulate Good Questions?