Focusing Preliminary Research Topics
Once you have a preliminary research topic, you will need to focus it, using a new group of questions. Finding answers to each of these questions will help you get closer to what it is you will eventually study. Figure 1.2 shows the connection of the following questions: What entity should I study? What could I manipulate or change? What effects could I measure? What skills, knowledge, and tools would I need?
It is likely that your teacher will encourage you to narrow your "effects" (things to count and/or to describe) to only one or two items, most likely one or two you will measure and one or two you will describe. Use Table 1.2 as a guide as you complete "Student Handout #1: Focusing Preliminary Research Ideas," page 14. The goal of this stage is to brainstorm various com-binations of the same research topic. Try and list as many answers to the questions in Figure 1.2 as possible. Don't worry yet about what will work, just generate ideas.
You may want to fill out Student Handout #1 several times, comparing a couple of ideas you are considering at this time. Your teacher may have you enter these preliminary ideas into your laboratory notebook (see Chapter, 6). In addition to the various issues raised earlier in this chapter, you also need to pick a topic that is both safe and ethically