Introduction to Academic Research

3 lessons · 45 min

What you will learn

• Explain what makes research academic
• Describe the research lifecycle
• Distinguish evidence from opinion

Lessons

• 1. What academic research is
• 2. The research lifecycle
• 3. Kinds of academic work

What academic research is

Academic research is a systematic attempt to answer a question using evidence that others can examine. Three features make it academic: a clear question, a transparent method, and engagement with what is already known.

An essay that only describes a topic is not yet research. Research takes a position, tests it against evidence, and is honest about its limits.

Example

Descriptive: “Social media is used by many students.” Research-led: “Does daily social-media use predict lower sleep quality among first-year students, and does the effect differ by gender?”

Exercise

Rewrite your current topic as a question that could be answered with evidence.