A correctly drawn up research plan helps a schoolchild (student) to count on a high assessment of his activities. Consider the basic concepts associated with this topic: the problem, subject, object, hypothesis, research methods. Here is a schedule of research work.
Main stages
Regardless of who does the job, it involves scientific research. Therefore, the research part includes the practical part. It involves carrying out preliminary actions aimed at identifying common contours, programs, and approximate dates for the implementation of each stage.
The individual plan of the research work of the undergraduate includes:
- determination of the goal, subject, research problem;
- analysis of the literature on the problem under consideration, clarification of the most important concepts, description of the subject, choice of the final title of the work;
- formulation of tasks, goals and work hypotheses;
- selection of research methods;
- material collection;
- processing the results and their interpretation.
Let us dwell in more detail at each of the stages listed above.
The choice of the problem, object, subject of study
This stage is necessarily included in the plan of research work, is the starting point. The problem is the poorly studied or unexplored levels, features, relationships of phenomena that are interesting to science and practice. This is the question to which it is important to find an answer that involves certain theoretical and practical actions. As part of the work, there will be a desire to attract a large number of phenomena to the study in order to answer all the questions posed. Such a mistake leads to a decrease in the quality of the material, “dispersal” of the researcher’s efforts, as a result, the project will be superficial and vague.
The individual plan of the research work of the undergraduate is an excellent opportunity to think over the choice of the purpose and objectives of the study.
The subject of research is the fact that allows us to solve the problem posed in the work.
An object is what is studied in the framework of the study: people, phenomena, organizations.
The undergraduate research plan includes these terms.
With a clear and correct selection of the problem, subject, object of study, the author at the first stage can determine the scope and direction of activity, the topics of the methodological literature that he will study.
The plan of the research work can significantly save time spent on research.
Studying the literature on the problem
The purpose of this stage is to clarify the scientific information on the problem under consideration, to identify weak points that may become the basis for the upcoming project. The author often reveals the uncertainty and some contradictions that exist in the literature. To cope with such difficulties, the researcher must think out an individual plan of research work, be aware of new discoveries regarding the research topic. If it is not possible to find unambiguous answers in the definitions, the student chooses one point of view, stipulates his choice in the study.
The research plan allows the author to select from the list of sources only those that are directly related to the topic.
The functions of the supervisor at this stage are recommendations for the selection of literary sources.
First, an analysis of the special material is carried out and only after that periodicals are considered. If it was possible to select several publications on the problem, later books and collections are analyzed first to take into account all the changes that have occurred in the scientific world on this issue.
A well-thought-out student research plan allows you to highlight the main thing, without wasting time on unnecessary little things.
For convenience, the output of the taken literary sources can be entered into the card file. This will greatly simplify the compilation of a bibliographic list of ongoing work.
The maximum information sources can be outlined by creating on their basis the main part of the project. It is important to finish the literature review with conclusions on the basis of which general conclusions will be drawn in the material.
Hypothesis formulation, research objectives
This stage must be included in the research plan. The goal involves the study of a specific (problem) issue, which will be clarified during the analysis of scientific and methodological literature.
A hypothesis is a logically based assumption about the relationship of factors and phenomena considered in the material.
The hypothesis determines the direction of research and search, it acts as the main methodological tool that organizes the research process. A difficult task that requires painstaking and persistent work is the formulation of the research hypothesis. In its absence, it is difficult to count on positive results.
The formulation of the hypothesis involves the following conditions:
- it should be clear and understandable;
- checked by existing methods.
What does research suggest? The implementation plan needs to be thought out so that the hypothesis put forward is confirmed during the project or refuted. The author should put forward so many problems that they are enough to confirm or refute the hypothesis put forward.
Selection of research methods
What else should the research work contain? The writing plan involves the stage of selection of working methods. They must be consistent with the objectives of the study, as they act as a tool for the researcher. With their help, the author clearly fixes the considered phenomena, saves time and effort. The success of the project increases with a combination of different methods. This makes it possible to consider the phenomenon from different angles, to guarantee the objectivity of the results.
Material collection
Before proceeding to this stage, it is necessary to master the techniques. For example, you can check their effectiveness at an object that is not related to work, in order to identify shortcomings, and timely eliminate them. Next, carry out the necessary procedures for the collection of initial information. The student must identify and note the main trends of the processes under consideration, select and analyze in detail the actual material. As a confirmation of his thoughts, the author applies digital calculations, selects effective methods of analysis.
Processing the results
At this stage, all collected materials are processed using statistical analysis, mathematical modeling. The information obtained is grouped by drawing up charts, graphs, tables. The stage of theoretical interpretation is the most important step in the work of the researcher. He must have excellent theoretical training in the chosen discipline. It was during this period that the author turns to the hypothesis, makes a conclusion about its confirmation or refutation. An analysis of the experiments makes it possible to formulate recommendations on this issue.
An example of a project abstract on water
How to draw up a detailed research plan? An example of a project thesis will answer this question. Using tap water, we do not always think about safety. Among the problems characteristic of tap water are: increased stiffness, unpleasant aftertaste, bacteria, mechanical particles, radionuclides, pesticides. Issues related to the search for effective ways to purify tap water remain relevant, deserving of detailed analysis and consideration.
In the work, the author analyzed the effect of low-quality water on human health, examined water samples on the content of Cl - ; SO 4 2- ; appreciated the hardness of the water. The author made shungite filters for treating tap water, studied the feasibility of using coal and shungite for treating tap water, carried out a comparative analysis of their effectiveness, made conclusions, made recommendations. Methods used by the author: analytical, experimental, quantitative analysis (with statistical processing of measurement results).
Results: when conducting experiments on the basis of a school laboratory and a specialized laboratory, the author was able to confirm the hypothesis, to verify the ability of the schungite filter to maintain catalytic, bactericidal, sorption activity for a long time.
Research prospects. The long operational period of shungite filters makes them promising for solving issues related to the purification of tap water in different regions of the country, including the treatment of industrial effluents, and the preparation of water from thermal power plants.
Alternative project description option for alternative energy sources
Why is the sun shining and not cooling for billions of years? What kind of “fuel” gives it “eternal” energy? These questions have become fundamental in our research work. Solar radiation can be converted into usable energy through active and passive solar systems. In the Northwest region of the Russian Federation, this area of ​​small energy is at an early stage of development. The reasons are the cold climate, the low level of awareness of the principles of equipment operation, the lack of incentive measures for the development of renewable energy by the state. Methods used by the author: analytical, experimental, quantitative analysis (with statistical processing of measurement results). The feasibility of using solar collectors in the Northwest region was analyzed, the principle of their action, installation features were considered.
Job prospects. Currently, only an insignificant part of solar energy is used due to the fact that existing solar panels have a relatively low efficiency, high cost. Solar energy alone could cover all imaginable human needs for energy for thousands of years to come, including in our country.
Abstract design of the tidal energy project
The relevance of the work. One of the powerful sources of electrical energy is the ebb and flow. They are able to give humanity almost 70 million billion kW / h per year. This indicator is comparable to the energy that can be obtained from all reserves of brown and coal. The idea came up to analyze the appropriateness of using such energy: to accumulate water in reservoirs during high tides, and to unload it using the energy accumulated during high tides during the maximum load on the energy-producing network. In practice, such an idea is not realized in the Onega region, which testifies to the relevance of the topic under discussion. Methods used by the author: analysis of the literature on the research problem. From the analysis it follows that the construction of the Mezen tidal power plant is promising. Mezen tidal power plant is capable of producing 4 million kW.
The research results showed that there are no technical obstacles to the use of discontinuous generation of the Mezen tidal power plant in the European integrated energy system. Management of the operating capacity of the tidal power station in accordance with the requirements of the power system will ensure equivalent operationally of the power system with the tidal power station. One can count on a significant reduction in the cost of operating a tidal power plant, taking into account the economic effect of the ecological cleanliness of the station. We hope that in the near future a tidal station will appear in the White Sea, and the expenses of northerners related to the payment of electric energy will significantly decrease.
Conclusion
The topic of research work can be attributed to the scientific direction or to the problem within which research is being conducted.
It is global, intersectoral, sectoral in nature. Themes of term papers are determined by the respective departments. They strictly comply with the curriculum programs and curricula developed by the departments.
To obtain a high mark, the student must pay close attention to the selection of relevant, practically and theoretically significant, innovative topics for his research work. If the problem under consideration is vague, uninteresting for other people, it will not receive a positive review. Currently, research activity has become an indispensable element not only in higher education institutions, but also in ordinary secondary schools.