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Think For Yourself

How to Research a Topic From Scratch

Ages 12–16 25 min read Intermediate

You want to understand a topic — really understand it, not just skim the surface. Where do you start? How do you go from knowing nothing to having a solid, well-sourced understanding?

Here's the step-by-step process that works for any topic.

The Seven-Step Research Process

Step 1: Start with a Question

Good research begins with a specific question. Not "climate change" but "How much have Australian temperatures risen in the last 50 years?" Specific questions get useful answers.

Step 2: Get the Overview

Start with a general source (Wikipedia, a textbook, an encyclopedia). This gives you the big picture: key terms, major debates, and important names. Don't stop here — this is just the starting point.

Step 3: Identify Key Sources

Wikipedia's greatest feature isn't its articles — it's the references section at the bottom. Follow those links to find the original sources that Wikipedia's editors used.

Step 4: Find Multiple Perspectives

Deliberately seek out different viewpoints. If you've found three articles that agree, search for one that disagrees. This isn't about "balance" — it's about understanding the full landscape.

Step 5: Evaluate Your Sources

For each source, check:

  • Who wrote it? What are their credentials?
  • When was it published? Is it current?
  • Where was it published? Is the publication reputable?
  • Why was it written? What's the purpose or potential bias?

Step 6: Synthesise

Don't just collect facts — connect them. What patterns do you see? Where do sources agree? Where do they disagree? What conclusions can you draw?

Step 7: Know Your Limits

After research, you should know three things:

  1. What the evidence strongly supports
  2. What is debated or uncertain
  3. What you still don't know

The third point is the most important. Knowing the boundaries of your knowledge is real wisdom.

Tonight's Question

"Pick a topic none of us know much about. Give ourselves 20 minutes to research it using the seven steps. What did we learn?"

Make it a fun challenge — try something random and interesting.

The Research Race

  1. Everyone picks the same topic (something none of you know much about).
  2. Set a 20-minute timer.
  3. Each person researches independently using the seven steps.
  4. After 20 minutes, present your findings.
  5. Compare: did you find the same information? Different sources? Different conclusions?
  6. Discuss: what made some research approaches more effective than others?

Go Further

  • Tool: Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) for academic sources.
  • Tool: Trove (trove.nla.gov.au) for Australian historical sources.
  • Book: Research Like a Pro by Diana Elder & Nicole Dyer (2018).
  • Challenge: Research a topic that someone in your family is an expert in. Can you learn enough in an hour to have an informed conversation with them?

What We Simplified

  • The process isn't always linear. Real research is messy — you loop back, revise your question, and discover new angles.
  • Wikipedia is controversial in education. Many teachers ban it. We think it's a useful starting point as long as you follow the references and don't stop there.
  • Time matters. Deep understanding takes weeks, months, or years. A 20-minute research session gives you orientation, not expertise.

Sources

  • Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G. & Williams, J.M. (2008). The Craft of Research. 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press.
  • Google Scholar. scholar.google.com
  • National Library of Australia. "Trove." trove.nla.gov.au

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