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The first step in any project is preliminary research, regardless of what you are doing whether you are a student preparing for a term paper, a professional scholar investigating a new subject, or a content creator of any research paper writing service looking to prepare the basis for your next assignment.
According to a 2020 study by Edwards & Roy, more thorough preliminary research enhanced 52% of published research projects, underscoring the significance of these first stages in guaranteeing a study’s success.
It helps define the scope, important topics, and tactics to be addressed and sets the basis for more thorough research. Efficient preliminary research can improve the quality of your work, save time, and give more accurate insights. We will discuss the 10-step technique to conduct effective preliminary research.
The Role Of Preliminary Steps In The Research Process
Establishing a solid basis for the research process requires completing the preliminary steps which is your great dissertation help weapon. They assist in honing the research question, defining a precise method for in-depth analysis, and clarifying the research topic. Preliminary research definition helps researchers avoid ambiguous questions and save time by taking a more targeted approach. The following are the main steps in the preliminary study process:
These procedures guarantee that the research process is methodical, reliable, and well-structured which leads to a strong final study.
10 Steps In Preliminary Research
Here are the 10 basic steps for conducting effective preliminary research
1. Clearly Define Your Issue Or Topic
It is crucial to specify your topic or the issue that you hope to resolve before starting any investigation. Research can feel challenging and distracting if the topics are too wide or vague. For example, a more targeted question such as “the negative effect of climate change on agriculture of Sub-Saharan Africa” will help you focus on a particular region rather than choosing “climate change” as your study topic.
Consider the components of the subject that you find most intriguing or that you believe have the most scope for further investigation. A preliminary research definition enables you to focus your research and prevents you from gathering unrelated data. A well-defined topic also helps in choosing keywords for ensuing searches.
2. Create Preliminary Research Questions
Make particular preliminary research questions to direct your investigation after you have narrowed down your topic. A key component for locating targeted and relevant sources is a well-crafted research question. For instance, if your topic is “climate change and agriculture,” then some useful research questions might include:
These types of questions help in giving your study structure and focus, which promotes the identification of important topics to look into and possible gaps in the body of knowledge.
3. Conduct Background Research
Start by reading overall background material before going into scholarly journals or primary sources. This process is also called a literature review. A research project’s literature review is its most important element (Sutton, 2016). It helps to enhance a thesis or dissertation by studying the research topic (dissertationwritinghelp, 2022). You can get a general grasp of the topic and useful background information through Google Scholar, educational websites, introductory books, and even trustworthy blogs.
Reading background material will help you understand the bigger picture by directly guiding you toward crucial ideas, vocabulary, and significant arguments related to that topic. For instance, reading about environmental regulations, global climate trends, and the scientific view on climate change is helpful if you are conducting a study on this topic. This basic knowledge will make it easier to study more technical sources in the future.
4. Determine Key Phrases And Keywords
Keep an eye out for repetitive terminology, phrases, and keywords related to the topic as you read. You can use these keywords to help you find more specialized material. You can search databases, library catalogs, and internet resources more effectively if you make a list of these key terms. For example, the following keywords may be related to your research question if it concerns agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa:
You can identify the most relevant sites without searching through a lot of irrelevant ones if you have a keyword approach.
5. Look For Academic References
It’s time to find more academic and reliable sources because you have done your background research and determined your keywords. Peer-reviewed articles, research papers, and scholarly publications are easily found in academic resources like Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, or subject-specific databases based on your field.
Seek out studies that either answer your questions directly or give important context. Scholarly sources provide your research with more depth and credibility, and they frequently reference additional important sources that you can use to expand on.
6. Assess The Credibility And Importance Of The Sources
Not every source has the same importance especially those that are found online. It is important to assess each source’s credibility and usage when you assemble papers, articles, and other types of research. Consider the following questions:
For example, more recent studies can be significant in the subject of climate change research because the topic is always changing as new data becomes available.
7. Make Organized Notes
Take organized notes as soon as you start exploring more deeply into academic materials. You can save going back and rereading everything later by summarizing each source. Organize your notes by research question or theme so that you have a structure to work with before you start writing. To ensure appropriate citation in the future then you must make sure to note the bibliographic details for every source.
You can maintain the organization and accessibility of your notes with the use of note-taking software like Evernote, OneNote, or Zotero. You can also use physical note cards or notebooks if you want to. Consistency and order are essential no matter which strategy you use.
8. Find Knowledge Gaps And Improve Your Questions
You should now start to find similar concepts and patterns in the literature. Additionally, you can find gaps in the existing studies. These gaps in knowledge give ample opportunities for additional investigation and help in the development of your research topics.
For instance, you might decide to concentrate more on smallholder farmers if you see that there is a lot of preliminary study on how climate change affects large-scale agriculture but not much on smallholder farmers. Finding these gaps helps you focus on your topic and leads you in the direction of a possible unique idea in the field.
9. Seek Advice From Professionals And Relevant Sources
Finding primary sources or speaking with professionals in the field can be helpful if your research focuses on a complex or specific topic. Direct communication with subject matter professionals, surveys, and interviews can provide insights that are usually not available in books or articles.
Furthermore, primary sources give open data or unique perspectives on the topic, including government reports, historical documents, field studies, and first-hand experiences. For instance, if you are researching how climate change is affecting farming then you can also consult government agricultural reports, crop yield satellite data, or farmer testimonies. Primary sources provide your research more depth and authenticity which basically strengthens and validates your conclusions.
10. Update And Focus Your Research
It is common for preliminary research to present additional questions, changes in focus, or the need to modify your initial study question. Feel free to further focus your attention as you learn more if needed. This phase gives you guidance for the next phases of your study and enables you to concentrate on the most relevant elements of your topic.
For instance, your first basic question can be “the damaging effect of climate change on agriculture of Sub-Saharan Africa.” You can modify it into “What strategies smallholder farmers in Kenya are using to adjust to climate change?” after doing some preliminary research. This change helps you focus and manage your research.
Conclusion
Any initiative or study that is effective must start with preliminary research. These ten steps will prepare you to confidently go into more in-depth research by selecting your topic, developing specific research questions, reading previous research, assembling credible sources, assessing them, and narrowing your focus.
Having a professional mindset when conducting preliminary research helps you develop a strong foundation, lowers your chances of getting distracted, and guarantees that you are ready for more in-depth research. After doing your preliminary research, you will have a clear direction and a well-organized strategy for addressing your topic.
FAQs
How to Conduct a Preliminary Study?
Determine your research issue, examine previous studies, collect preliminary data, and narrow your focus in order to carry out preliminary research.
What Is Preliminary Data Gathering In The Research Process?
Gathering preliminary data means getting preliminary information to direct the primary research process through observations, interviews, or background research.
How Do You Conduct A Preliminary Analysis?
Evaluating preliminary data includes finding patterns, honing theories, and directing future studies for a more comprehensive analysis.
