“Garbage in, garbage out.” Whatever you find in your research of a piece determines the quality of information that you come up with. Use advanced research methods aids in making your essay more detailed and precise.
You will also have more evidence to strengthen your argument, thus making your essay more authentic. The process of research requires keenness and smartness to determine what is relevant to the topic and what is garbage. Here are some steps to take when researching to ensure you come up with the most compelling essay.
- Identify the topic
Using the guidelines given, come up with your topic of the essay within the confines of the assignment. Consider what you enjoy writing about when choosing the subject of the piece. This will make it more enjoyable for you as you work on the essay and also ensures that you come up with the best content.
You should also be original. Instead of copying a topic from somewhere, come up with your own. Creating your topic makes your work unique and all the more impressive. You should also choose a manageable subject with enough information to prevent straining to seek information on your essay. You are, therefore, recommended to do a preliminary search to ensure the information on the topic you have chosen will suffice.
- Identify research objectives
What do you seek to know about the topic? You can make research questions that will be answered during the research process to make data collection easier. Let’s say you are to write an essay on how a child’s upbringing is linked to schizophrenia; what are the conditions of a person with schizophrenia? Are there similarities in the upbringing of people with schizophrenia?
The objectives should be related to the topic of the essay and should act as guidelines for the research. Research objectives aid in choosing the best place and means to do your research. The sources are also dependent on the research objectives.
- Research methods
Determine the sources and methodology to find data of the research you are undertaking. Depending on the research objectives, you can choose to: conduct an interview, read journals, search on the internet, or observe.
You can combine multiple research methods to gather more in-depth information from your research. If you use the internet, be sure to highlight vital content to access them easily when making the essay. Quoting can be useful if the information is gathered from professional websites with articles on psychology. Ensure you give references and cite when necessary to avoid plagiarism.
- Research process
It is now time to begin the process of data collection from the various sources as determined above in the research methods. Gather data by answering the questions in the research objectives and linking them to the topic of the paper. Jot down the findings in points to make it easy to create a draft once finished with the research process. Ensure you get facts and figures that will support your argument throughout the entire essay. Proofread to be sure that all questions are answered and the points are adequate to create your first draft.
The research process is now complete. It is an essential part of a psychology essay and helps you understand more about what you write. Follow the above steps carefully for the best results.