The federal govern spends around just over one-half percent of the gross domestic product on research each year.

When we identify a problem or issue that we need further clarification on we will research a solution. We can use a multitude of different sources that have previously encounter this and come up with some level of understanding of the nature of what we are dealing with. Research normally starts with first identifying a problem. This can also be called forming the research question. The next step is to learn more by reading through available literature to others who have already tackled this problem. What did they learn? What can you build off of? The next step is to evaluate the sources of the studies you have examined. Who wrote them and are they valid sources? The last step is to identify a solution to your problem based on what you have learned. The research worksheets below will run you through several steps of the process to help you gain insight as how to research your own work.



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Printable Research Worksheets

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Healthy Food Worksheet

Research: What is Healthy Food?

To research sometimes means to study something carefully and in detail in order to establish facts and draw new conclusions. Research can be conducted in any way that you can use to learn new information: books, magazines, documentaries, the Internet, etc.

Finding Keywords Worksheet

Finding Keywords

The better you are able to identify the information that you are looking for online, the easier it will be for you to find it. Start by identifying as specifically and as completely as possible what kind of information you are looking for.

### Worksheet

Choosing Resources

Different kinds of resources provide different kinds of information on a given topic. Knowing which resource to use to find the information that you are looking for is an important research skill.

Local Business Worksheet

Research a Local Business

This provides you with a series of questions that will help you take a deep dive into a local business to better understand it.

Pet Worksheet

What Pet is Right for You?

Fill out the organizer with information about the kind of pet you think might best fit into your family.

Endangered Animals Worksheet

Endangered Animals

To research sometimes means to study something carefully and in detail in order to establish facts and draw new conclusions. Research can be conducted in any way that you can use to learn new information: books, magazines, documentaries, the Internet, etc.

Future Worksheet

The Future of Our Planet

Conduct some initial research to determine what threats our planet is currently facing. Based on your research, what are the three greatest threats facing our planet in the next 50 years?

Research Resources Worksheet

Research Resources

Different kinds of resources provide different kinds of information on a given topic. Depending on what kind of information you are looking for, some resources may be better for you to use than others.

My State Report Worksheet

My State Report

You will take some time to research a US State of your choice and answer this series of 4 worksheets that are helpful to understand the nature of your state.

Bibliography

Bibliography

List the sources you used to complete your report. Include the author’s name and the title for books. For websites, include the URL and the title of the online article.

Working Thesis Worksheet

Creating a Working Thesis

What are some questions you have about your topic? Try to think of at least one question for each question word: who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Clustering Worksheet

Clustering

You can use a technique called clustering to help you organize information as you conduct your research. Clustering is a way to sort information as you find it by putting like things together and identifying different subtopics that fall under a single topic. Use the organizer below to take notes on your research. You can also use this technique to map how different ideas are related to each other.

Research Project Prep Worksheet

Research Project Prep

To research sometimes means to study something carefully and in detail in order to establish facts and draw new conclusions. Research can be conducted in any way that you can use to learn new information: books, magazines, documentaries, the Internet, etc.

New Technologies Worksheet

New Technologies

Conduct initial research to see what kinds of new technologies are expected to become common in the next decade. Choose one that interests you.

Organizing Facts Worksheet

Organizing Facts

For this assignment you will practice finding and organizing information about a topic. Choose from one of the topics below. Use at least 5 sources to find out as much about your chosen topic as you can. Use the organizer to take notes, grouping your notes according to what they are about.

Sports Worksheet

Get Into Sports

You will go deep into a deep look into a sport of your choice. This consists of 4 pages.

Bibliography Worksheet

Bibliography

A great way to cite all your sources.

What Is the Research Process?

When we identify a problem or issue that we need further clarification on we will research a solution. We can use a multitude of different sources that have previously encounter this and come up with some level of understanding of the nature of what we are dealing with.

Research is the core of any investigation process. Whether you need to test scientific studies, language surveys, or make minute calculations, you may need to have familiarity with the research procedure. Research methods can vary based on the field of work. However, the goal of all research activities is the same. The research process refers to understanding a problem and testing it under specific conditions.

To understand how a typical research process works, we have listed below the core steps to help you.

Steps of Research Process

Problem Identification

The first step in the process is to identify the problem. You may need to analyze if the problem complies with research demands. Problem is a relative term whose meaning varies under different environments. To distinguish between researchable problems and non-research issues, you may use a few intuitive indicators.

Any problem you can verify, analyze, and test under specific conditions may refer to a research problem.

Reviewing Literature

The second step in the process is to review the relevant literature. As a researcher, you may need to study existing phenomena closely related to your research question. You may need to gather helpful knowledge to support your thesis. Research scientists often study extensive literature to determine if someone researched the same problem in history.

Digging deeper into the facts enables you to find the gaps in the literature. Your research may contribute to filling the gaps.

Formulating Hypotheses

You can reshape your research problem into a refined statement in the third step. It is worth noting that your research question(s) may vary before and after the literature review, depending on your findings. A hypothesis is a proposition that you can test, support, or refute using empirical data. Hypothesis typically asserts a possible answer to the research question.

You can define multiple propositions during your research to test and evaluate.

Research Model

Once you define your hypotheses, you can now choose the optimum framework for testing procedures. Your research model can vary based on your hypotheses and field of study. The most common research designs include surveys, experiments, secondary data analysis, and observational studies.

After careful consideration, you may choose one or more of the above-listed models to test your hypotheses.

Sampling

After choosing your research model, you can proceed to the sampling phase. In this step, you need to collect samples based on your model. For example, if you conduct a survey, you may need to define your population based on demographics. There are different types of sampling, including simple, random, stratified, cluster, and systematic sampling.

In some cases, you may opt for multistage sampling and probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling.

Data Collection

After deciding on the sampling model, you can proceed with data collection. This step requires extra care. You may not want to make any mistakes in collecting data. Human errors can lead to altered results. Depending on the data type (quantitative or qualitative), the collection method can vary.

Quantitative collection methods include questionnaires, interviews, and secondary sources like public records. On the other hand, qualitative collection methods cover in-depth interviews, observational studies, and group discussions.

Data Analysis

Once you collect the data, you can analyze it using evaluation tools. You may start with the coding of data and discard flawed samples. Coding helps you process data and perform systematic analysis based on the key variables. To draw formal conclusions, you may analyze the size, patterns, and other statistical information.

Reporting Results

In the final stage, you can create a formal report identifying the results of the research problem. You can include an abstract, background, literature review, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion, and recommendations in the report.

Wrapping Up

The above-listed steps of the research method can help you carry out thorough research in any field of work. While evaluation methods and sampling techniques may vary, the formal research method remains the same.