¶ … paramount to the success of the research effort," and "to see the problem with unwavering clarity and to state it in precise and unmistakable terms is the first requirement of the research process" (43). The author goes on to spell out what research is and what it is not. For instance, research is not simply looking to discover more about a subject, but is instead attempting to discover some type of solution to a problem. Furthermore, the author stipulates that problems that can be easily answered with a yes or a no are not "suitable problems for research" because the answers are usually obvious or not in-depth enough (45). Finally, the author continues by suggesting some ways that a student may find a problem for research, find potential sources, and then frame his or her research.
By reading "The Heart of the Research Process," students can quickly contend that coming up with a good question is the first step to successful research. Without a good question, students will founder when it comes to finding sources and writing about their topic, or presenting a project. It might take a while for many students in this class, including myself, to come up with a topic for research, but as we continue to look deeper and deeper into the fields that interest us, discovering a good question will come eventually. In order to make the rest of the research process easier, however, it will be important that each student determine whether or not the research question that he or she has come up with is suitable. Students can ask themselves whether the question is obvious or can be answered with either yes or no. Although the research question I am pursuing may change many times as I complete my project, knowing that I have a strong question that will help guide my research will benefit me.
