Page 49 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

1. Start with the Big Picture: Understand the broader
context before narrowing your focus. Imagine you're
on a hill, observing a vast landscape. This represents
the initial stage of your research. You're getting a
panoramic view of the subject you're studying.

2. Find Reliable Sources: Vet information by
corroborating across multiple high-quality sources.
Picture yourself as a detective gathering evidence
from different sources to solve a case. Each piece
of evidence (source) adds credibility to your
investigation.

3. Continuously Absorb New Information: Reading
widely expands your knowledge base. Your brain is
a sponge, soaking up knowledge from various books,
articles, and resources. This continuous absorption
keeps your knowledge fresh and up-to-date.

4. Stay Organised: Take detailed notes and use tools
Research like citation managers. Visualize your notes as neatly
Pathway organized files in folders, like arranging puzzle

pieces. This organization helps you quickly find the
information you need.

5. Define a Focused Research Question: Conduct a
literature review to build your knowledge foundation.
Think of your research question as a spotlight on a
specific area of the landscape. Your literature review
lays the foundation, illuminating existing knowledge
and highlighting gaps.

6. Choose Appropriate Research Methodologies:
Surveys, interviews, experiments, etc. Imagine you're
a scientist setting up equipment for an experiment.
Each method you choose is like a tool in your research
toolbox, helping you uncover insights.

7. Collect and Analyze Data Objectively: Interpret
findings fairly and without bias. Envision yourself as
a judge weighing evidence on a scale. Your analysis
is unbiased, ensuring that your interpretations are
based solely on the data you've collected.

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 43