Primary Research

Do a research project by talking to people!

PRIMARY RESEARCH PROJECT: Grades 2-4

Definitions:

  1. primary = sources (people, newspaper articles, online articles) that have contemporaneous knowledge of the topic
  2. research = looking for information
  3. project = a task that requires creative thinking rather than merely following directions
  4. competent = skillful
  5. data = information collected in order to answer a question

Purpose:

  1. become skillful at finding information from primary sources
  2. become skillful at writing reports about your discoveries

Process:

  1. Choose a big question.
  2. Create 5 little questions that help answer the big question.
  3. Write a questionnaire.
  4. Talk to 4 to 10 people.
  5. Record the answers people give you.
  6. Write a report.
  7. Draw graphs and pictures.

Possible Questions:

What do you like about Canada?

  1. What are your favourite childhood memories?
  2. What is your opinion of how indigenous people are treated in Canada?
  3. How is climate change affecting your life?
  4. What is your opinion of our present government?
  5. How has your life been different than you expected?
  6. How has social media affected your life in recent years?

What are your favourite childhood memories?

    1. What do you remember about the time before you went to school?
    2. What do you remember about when you were in grades 1 to 3?
    3. What do you remember about when you were in grades 4 to 6?
    4. What do you remember about when you were in grades 7 to 9?
    5. What do you remember about when you were in grades 10 to 12?

What is good about life?

    1. What do you like about your family?
    2. What do you like about your job?
    3. What do you like about our country?
    4. What do you like doing for fun?
    5. What do you hope will happen in the future?

 

PRIMARY RESEARCH PROJECT: Grades 5+

Definitions:

  1. primary = sources (people, newspaper articles, online articles) that have contemporaneous knowledge of the topic
  2. contemporaneous = occurring at the same time as another event
  3. research = looking for information
  4. project = a task that requires creative thinking rather than merely following directions
  5. competent = skillful
  6. data = information collected in order to analyze a problem or question

Purpose:

  1. become competent at finding information from primary sources
  2. become competent at writing reports about your discoveries

Process:

  1. Choose a broad research question.
  2. Create 5 – 10 questions that help answer the broad question.
  3. Write a questionnaire.
  4. Make appointments to talk to 20 to 30 people willing to answer your questionnaire.
  5. Go talk to these people using a data collection sheet.
  6. Write a rough report using a report outline sheet.
  7. Draw graphs and illustrations to make your information more memorable.
  8. Write a polished report that includes your graphs and illustrations.

Tips:

  1. Do some preliminary research to make sure you can find first hand sources. (Remember that the purpose is not to choose the question you like but to find people who will talk.)
  2. Make a timeline, so that you finish the project in time.
  3. Meet every deadline in your timeline, so that you do not fall behind.
  4. Remember that writing a polished report may require 3 or 4 drafts. Don’t get discouraged. This is what adult researchers do all the time.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email