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Research in Teacher Leadership

Research process and search tips + resources for research in teacher leadership.

Librarian

Jeanie Winkelmann

she/her/hers

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Subjects: Library & Research Help

Step 1: Plan Your Research

Planning your research involves:

Developing research questions and keywords
Determining the kinds of information you need in order to answer your research questions
Knowing where to go for help

Develop Questions and Keywords

What kinds of questions and topics will you be researching? Use those questions to create a set of search terms, or keywords.

Developing Keywords:

Locate the essential words in your research question, problem statement, hypothesis, or thesis.

What are the nouns, proper nouns, and action verbs that make up your question?
What are the major concepts or themes that your question addresses?
Are there theories or methodologies that will help you analyze your research, or that are relevant to your research questions?

Think of a few synonyms or related terms for each keyword.

Consider the specific jargon of your field as well as more common terminology. (How would you describe the topic or concept to other teachers? To a friend who isn't a teacher?)

Consider how combining your keywords will change your search results.
- Which words will it be useful to search together?

What Kinds of Information...?

...will answer your questions? ...will you need for your assignments?

Scholarly research? Data and statistics?
Do you need to analyze specific studies, or learn about a larger conversation (get a bigger picture)?

Where to Go for Help

Your librarians are here to help!

We are always happy to meet one-on-one, in person or virtually, to talk through

Coming up with or focusing a topic
Brainstorming search terms
Search tools and strategies
Evaluating sources
Citing sources
Staying organized

Meet with a Librarian

You can also send us an email or drop by the library!