What is research?
The use of information to inform, enhance and/or confirm one’s knowledge.
At CGGS we focus on inquiry learning and research is part of inquiry learning. The Guided Inquiry Process is a research structure within inquiry learning.
The Guided Inquiry Process
Guided Inquiry can help you to research with academic integrity. The stages blow provides a structure to guide your research.
Open – decide the direction for your research
- What is the task asking of you?
- Read the task carefully, including the rubric, to understand what you are being asked to do
Immerse – once you have decided on your topic
- Identify what you already know
- Build background knowledge
- Identify areas for further exploration
Explore - a variety of ideas relating to your topic:
- Identify resource types and how to search for information
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
- Source type (print, digital, articles, books, websites, audio visual, etc.)
- Evaluate online information using:
- Revise browsing, scanning and skimming techniques
- Note sources you find and write down questions
- Use an inquiry log to track resources and reference them using the appropriate style guide
- Keep a running record of your research, including:
- Your initial ideas
- Useful ideas that are not your own (State full source details as you write)
- Exact quotations (Use quotation marks and state source details as you write)
- Summaries or paraphrases of material written without reference to the original source. (Add source details when you have finished)
- Websites accessed, dates of access because these can change (Record search engine used to access each website)
- Your reactions to material read and conclusions you have reached
- Copies of downloaded material; highlight relevant sections (State source)
Identify - revisit the question to align your findings, or refine your own question if appropriate
- Revisit the task instructions to check that you are answering the question and fulfilling the requirements
Gather - select the information resources that will be the most useful to you
- Focus your research to answer the task’s question(s)
- Use note taking strategies [some examples]
- Use credible sources [evaluate using Schrock’s 5 Ws]
- Gather additional sources as necessary, including audio visual, images, etc., e.g. from Creative Commons sources
Create - synthesise your ideas
- Categorise your research findings, drawing similarities and differences in ideas using a mind map
- Consider your audience and create your work in an appropriate style and format
- Writing your draft:
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- Always attach the source to any words, ideas, material which are not your own.
- Don’t wait until the final copy
- Avoid cutting and pasting from electronic sources – unless you use quotation marks as you do this and state source
- Only use lengthy quotations (more than 4 or 5 lines of original text) if they are integral to your essay/document/report. It may be better to paraphrase the ideas rather than quote them
- Final copy:
- Check any paraphrased or summarised material against the original to make sure you have not accidentally included exact wording from the original source
- Acknowledge all work included in the assessment that is not your own
- Make sure all sources are acknowledged in a bibliography or reference list
Share – disseminate your work and what you have learnt with other students and a wider audience, including teachers, mentors and parents, ensuring that you have completed:
- Final proofread and edit
- Checked your similarity report in Turnitin, if required
- If it is an oral, revise your presentation skills.
Evaluate - at the end of the process, reflect on your work, and the feedback you have received:
- Evaluate how the process has helped you complete your work
- Consider the feedback your teacher has given you, and how this will help you
- Revise your strategies for approaching assignments
- Apply your new learnings in your next task.
