Conducting a background information search is a crucial stage in the research process where you gather and organize all relevant ideas about your topic to establish a comprehensive scope for your study.
This process typically involves two parallel activities:
1. Raising Questions Using Six Key Frameworks
Develop a series of questions based on six essential frameworks to deepen your understanding and guide your exploration of the topic.
2. Mapping Ideas
Create a visual or conceptual map of the ideas related to your research topic. This helps in organizing thoughts and identifying connections between different concepts, ultimately shaping the direction of your research.
By engaging in these activities, you can effectively outline the boundaries and focus of your research, ensuring a well-rounded and thorough investigation.
Everyone is familiar with brainstorming, a process where we generate words or questions related to a research topic. However, effective brainstorming is far from random. Professor Christine Bruce's six frames for informed learning provide a structured approach to brainstorming, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of your research topic. Here are the six aspects you should consider:
Content Frame
Relational Frame
Competencies-required Frame
Learning-to-learn Frame
Personal Relevance Frame
Social Impact Frame
By brainstorming across these six dimensions, you can develop a well-rounded understanding of your research topic, paving the way for a more thorough and impactful study.
When organizing your thoughts using a map-like structure, such as a mind map or idea map, it's beneficial to place a central question at the core. Starting with "Why" and "How" questions can be particularly effective. Consider the following aspects:
| Knowledge Aspect | Ask yourself: What do I know about the topic's content? How do the things I currently know relate to each other? Using the 6Ws method (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) can help you explore these connections. |
| Research Methods Aspect | Consider: What do I know about the skills, techniques, or processes involved in creating this content? This might include specific research designs, methods, statistical analyses, and more. |
| Relevance Aspect | Reflect on: What do I know about the relevance or impact of this issue on a personal, professional, or community level? Think about its impact on yourself, current professional practices, the professional community as a whole, or the lives of the general public. |
Remember there is no one-size-fits-all method for organizing the thoughts and ideas in your research. However, the three-aspect framework outlined offers a foundational approach that you can adapt to suit your needs. Use it as a reference to help structure your research effectively.