Study guides / Study planning
How to plan a school research project
The hardest part of a research project is often choosing a question narrow enough to answer with the time and sources available. Planning that decision early makes the rest of the work easier.
Narrow the question
Start with an interest, then state what you will compare, measure or explain. “Climate change” is a field; a question about one policy, place and time period is a project. Check whether you can find credible sources or collect suitable data.
Check the rules
Read the assignment rubric, citation requirements and any ethics or consent guidance. Ask a teacher before collecting personal information or conducting an experiment that needs supervision.
Build milestones
Set dates for question approval, source review, method, first analysis, draft and revision. Leave time to change direction if the evidence does not support the first idea.
Keep a source and decision log
Record where each claim came from and why you accepted or rejected a source. Note changes to the question or method. This prevents missing citations and makes your final explanation more convincing.
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