Step 1: Identify & Define Your Topic

Goal: Narrow a broad interest into a workable research direction.

• Brainstorm 3–5 topic areas from coursework, workplace issues, or community needs.
• Write 2–3 “problem statements” (what needs improvement and why?).
• Check feasibility: time, tools, data access, and scope.

Step 2: Conduct Preliminary Research

Purpose: Learn the basics, locate key terms, and identify gaps.

• Start broad: Google Scholar, then narrow with keywords.
• Use open databases: BASE, DOAJ, OpenAlex, OpenAIRE.
• For technology research: IEEE Access and JOSS.

Success looks like: 8–12 credible sources + a shortlist of keywords + 2–3 research gaps you can investigate.

Step 3: Create a Research Question (and/or Hypothesis)

Goal: Turn your topic into a question that can be answered with evidence.

• Make it specific: Who/what/where/when?
• Make it researchable: You can find sources or collect data.
• Make it meaningful: It addresses a real problem or improvement.

Example: “How does implementing MFA (multi-factor authentication) affect phishing success rates among first-year students at a technical institute?”

Step 4: Build a Search Strategy

• Write keyword groups (synonyms + related terms).
• Use filters: year, peer-reviewed, full text/open access.
• Track search strings so you can repeat or improve them.

Tip: Search smarter with quotation marks for phrases and combine terms (e.g., “technical institute” AND cybersecurity AND training).

Step 5: Evaluate Sources (CRAAP + Relevance)

• Currency: Is it recent enough for your topic?
• Relevance: Does it directly answer your question?
• Authority: Who wrote it and where was it published?
• Accuracy: Evidence-based, references included, methods clear?
• Purpose: Research vs opinion/marketing?

Step 6: Organize Sources & Notes

Goal: Keep your research manageable and citation-ready.

• Create a folder structure by theme/topic.
• Keep “quote notes” separate from paraphrase notes.
• Use a reference manager like Zotero (free): https://www.zotero.org/

Step 7: Analyze, Synthesize, and Build Your Argument

• Group sources by themes (not by author).
• Compare findings: where do authors agree or disagree?
• Identify patterns, gaps, and implications for VTI/industry.
• Write a clear thesis/claim supported by evidence.

Step 8: Write, Cite, and Revise

• Write your first draft early, then revise in rounds.
• Use APA 7 formatting consistently (in-text + references).
• Check clarity, structure, and evidence alignment.
• Proofread and verify every citation and link.