The Research Cycle

Question	identifying and listing the questions you need to explore
Plan	developing a strategy to find pertinent information rapidly
Gather	harvesting information which casts light on the key questions
Sort, Sift and Analyze	rearranging the puzzle pieces, looking for patterns
Synthesize	making sense of the puzzle pieces - getting the picture
Evaluate	figuring out what's missing, what else is needed
	Most challenging questions require several passages through the stages above before acquiring enough insight and evidence to move to the next and final stage. We call this process a cycle because the researcher intentionally goes round in circles while seeking understanding.
Report	sharing insights persuasively

Articles outlining and explaining the Research Cycle in detail.

Materials are copyrighted by Jamie McKenzie. Materials on these pages may only be distributed and duplicated if permission is expressly stated on the page or granted by Jamie McKenzie in response to a request. The background is courtesy of Jay Boersma's site