2. Cooking Up a Research Project An Introduction to the Basic Research Process for Elementary Students Adapted from

3. Doing a research project is a lot like being a chef in a fancy restaurant. A good chef thinks about what they re making and who they are making it for! A chef must carefully follow steps in order to create a culinary masterpiece! You can follow the same steps to create a masterpiece of a research project!

4. Follow these steps and you can create an exciting, dynamic research project to help teach yourself and others. BE CAREFUL! If you DON’T follow these steps, you may end up with no dinner!

5. THE BIG SIX RESEARCH STEPS 1. Task Definition 1.1 Define the information problem 1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem) 2. Information Seeking Strategies 2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm) 2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources) 3. Location and Access 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically) 3.2 Find information within sources

6. 4. Use of Information 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source 4.2 Extract relevant information from a source 5. Synthesis 5.1 Organize information from multiple sources 5.2 Present the information 6. Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency)

7. Are you hungry for information, but not sure what you want to try? Your first step is to brainstorm some possible topics! Step One

8. What’s my IQ? Important Question! What am I hungry for? What do I want to study?

9. 1 Define the information problem Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem) Step One: Task Definition

10. 1.Brainstorm places you could go to get your information! People, books, magazines, CDRoms, internet sites, etc. 2. Prioritize your list! Step Two: Information Seeking Strategies Time to make a shopping list!

11. 1.Locate your sources! http://www.askjeeves.com http://www.yahooligans.com 2. Find information within the sources Step Three Location and Access Time to go shopping!

12. 1.Get the information-read, hear, touch!! 2. Get the relevant information-You can’t have it all! Step Four Use of Information Time to sift!

13. 1. Organize information from multiple sources Use a graphic organizer to help! http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr1grorg.htm Step Five Synthesis: Organize Information Time to measure

14. Step Five Present the Information Time to Cook!

15. How will you Present Your Product? Think: Will anyone be eating with you? How will you serve your dish most effectively? Ideas: Written Report Power Point Presentation Brochure Newspaper Maps Poster

16. 1. Judge the product (effectiveness) 2. Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency) Step Six Evaluation Time to eat!

17. In conclusion……….. Step One: Task Definition Step Five: Synthesis- Organize Information Step Three: Location and Access Step Four: Use of Information Step Two: Information Seeking Strategies Step Six: Evaluation