𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 Senior school projects provide valuable experience of individual research. Successful projects provide students to undertake independent research when they arrive at university. Minerva Tutors have vast experience of independent study and are available to advise students on honing their research skills across a broad range of subjects.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 Students need to establish the criteria on which they will be basing their final conclusions. They must be aware that emotional bias may cloud their judgements. For example, a geography project on homelessness may become a personal moral plea rather than an academic objective investigation.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡? Students should be clear on expectations. Are they expected to undertake original primary research? Or should the research compromise of study of existing resources, that is secondary research?

𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 Using an internet search engine can threw-up a diverse range of sources. Although Wikipedia may appear as a credible source, as anyone may create and edit entries, educationalists question the value of its content.

𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 Students should assess the value and relevance of sources for their particular project. Is the resource dated? Is it likely to have been superseded by more up to date material? What methods did the research utilise to reach its conclusions? Did it take a sufficiently large sample size?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 Comparing the value of individual sources, for a particular project, is an acquired skill. How does a small local quantitative investigation, conducted with intense academic rigour, compare to a global overview written as an opinion piece for a national newspaper?

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧: Email: valerie.weston@minervatuition.com Phone: +852 6156 5705. We would be delighted to hear from you.