Research
is something that everyone does, more often than one would think. Research
doesn’t just mean sitting in a lab or making a new discovery that will
revolutionize science and technology— it can be much simpler. Research is when
you look up different colleges and majors to decide where you want to apply. It’s
when you look up new coupons and sales for a trip to the mall, or when you check
the stock market statistics to make a decision on whether or not to buy a
certain stock.
Research
serves the basis for a lot in our lives, even the small things. But for
extended research, like writing a paper on a specific topic, it can be a
daunting task. Researching and compiling what you find to put it into words is
always a challenge. If you want to start a research process, the best way to
begin is to choose a topic that you love and go with it.
But
how do you know what you want to research? What are you willing to learn about
and devote your time to? If you can’t think of a topic to start with, start by
looking up a broad topic that interests you, or read some articles in a
magazine or journal that you find intriguing. Take notes and free write. Write
down as many ideas as you have, and from there you’ll be able to narrow it
down. This part isn’t always simple, and isn’t always easy, but once you clear
this hurdle and have your beginning, it will drive you forward.
And
so this is where I stand now, trying hard to search for a question that
intrigues me. There are many broad topics that draw my attention, such as
cancer research, new scientific discoveries, and even controversial topics like
animal experimentation in research. However, narrowing it down is where I am
stuck. But as I explore different possible questions and topics, such as the
role of animals in cancer research, or perhaps how training helper animals is
similar and/or different to what is done in animal experimentation, I can unravel
new ideas that will help me to embark on my path towards beginning my research.
