Preparing+to+Conduct+Research+-+Some+Helpful+Advice

//**This advice is by no means exhaustive. It just offers some helpful tips for you to use while preparing to conduct research. Feel free to add more as you see fit!**//
 * **//General//**
 * //Take pride in your work! The research paper and the KIS Soc/Talk that follows your research should be the best paper you have ever written and the best speech you have ever delivered! You will have more time to work on this project than any other project in your KIS career. Not only that, YOU get to choose the topic!//
 * //This is not just a project...Y////ou are conducting __real__ research!//
 * **//For your own field research//**
 * //Consider before conducting--how does this help me answer my research question? If each question/idea doesn't, then try something else.//
 * //Look at the methods used for how others have tried to answer questions similar to yours. Feel free to use their best ideas as long as you cite them later.//
 * //Also, look at resources such as the ones provided in the classroom or online that may help you. Examples include but are certainly not limited to://
 * //[|How to do a variety of types of research]//
 * //[|Advice for Conducting Surveys]//
 * //Most surveys, observations, and/or experiments are most effective when they have a __control group__ and an __experimental group__.//
 * //Be specific with your data!//
 * //If doing a survey, find out important demographic data at the beginning (age, gender, perhaps income/nationality/# of siblings/etc) so you can cross-reference your data in a variety of ways at the end to see if there are any trends (e.g. females are more likely to...)//
 * //Operational definitions should only be included for terms that (a) are important to understanding your research question and (b) would not have a common definition across different groups of people.//
 * //Try to make your sample both stratified and random////.// //Avoid sampling bias & selection bias.//
 * **//For additional research//**
 * //Be sure to include information from outside sources to further explain your own question. These sources should be primarily made up of research-based articles. Be careful of informal sources such as blogs.//
 * //Each person needs to include information from at least one [|'peer-reviewed' journal] though more are certainly welcome.//