THE VALUE OF

RESEARCH IN THE
AREA OF INTEREST
 The purpose of research is to inform action. Thus, your study should
seek to contextualize its findings within the larger body
of research. Research must always be of high quality in order to produce
knowledge that is applicable outside of the research setting. When you
scan through the topical areas of these research fields or area of study,
an area of interest can be identified which a researcher can focus on
and study.
 The integrity of research is based on adherence to
core values—objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness,
accountability, and stewardship. These core values help
to ensure that the research enterprise advances
knowledge.
 KEY TASK
01. Reading to become familiar 02. Narrowing your topic and
with what is already known developing specific research
about your topic area questions

03. Identifying a working 04. Background

hypothesis to reading
investigate
 Your job as a thesis student is to:

Become an Extend knowledge

within that field in
expert on your some novel or new
topic way
 
 To do this you will need to:

a. Read a great deal before you can narrow your topic

b. Learn about the most important, frequently cited works on your topic

c. Become familiar with the most current work on your topic

 Important points while reading:

Use computer programs that help you

Record the complete Take some key notes to do this efficiently and
bibliography for about what is in make formatting your
each source each source bibliography or reference list
simpler

You should also do any background

To avoid inadvertent
reading necessary for
plagiarism, make
direct quotations understanding your subject area
obvious in your even if it isn’t directly related to
notes your topic.
 
 Choosing a topic:

1. The goal is to go from a broad topic area to a specific research

question or questions.
2. Choose something you are genuinely interested in studying.
3. Avoid picking a topic just because it seems simple to do
4. Try starting with something that caught your interest in one of
your classes
 
 Moving from a topic area to a research question

• Think about things that made you ask more

questions
• Is there one key question that you would
like to answer?
END