Conducting an Inquiry in Media

1. Find a Research Problem or Question:

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Picking a research problem can be one of the most important steps when you are conducting an experiment.

Are you looking for an idea? Consider some of the following:

Investigate a Commonly Held Belief:

Knowledge is a good source of questions that can serve as the basis for research. For example, many people believe that studying up all night to cram for a big exam can actually hurt test performance.

You could conduct a study to compare the test scores of students who studied up all night with the scores of students who got a full night's sleep before the exam.

Review Previous Studies:

Previous studies are a great source of new research questions. In many cases, the authors will even note the need for further reserach in their works. Find a published study that you find intriguing, then come up with some questions that require further research.

Think About Eeveryday Life:

There are many practical applications for psychology research. Look for various problems that you or others face each day. Consider how you could research potential solutions. For example, you might test different study strategies to determine which methods are most effective.