The success of any research lies in two things : metriculous planning (stick to the plan!) and focused vision (fight for it!).
The most crucial yet difficult part of any research is staying focused!
Creating a research outline - listing out the original research idea, proposed plan, intentions and expectations from particular research- is the best way to stay focused.
Every research progress organically - meandering through the errors and creating new paths- to reach the end goal. A research outline works as a blueprint than can be improvised as the research progress. It is also a reference point for researchers to come back to - "Why did i choose this?" "How did I come choose this?" so on and so forth.
Answer W4H's to create your research outline
What is the problem that you want to solve?
Who is affected by this problem?
What are the existing solutions and their issues?
What is your proposed solution and its benefit?
How will you do prove that the solution works?
Research Kanvas (K for Keyword)- a downloadable template - will help in preparing a research outline. Try It!
ALERT! Stick to the following rules & tips to make your research kanvas
Rules
A thorough literature search is a MUST before you start making a research outline. Reliable background information helps understand the 'successful,' 'not-so-successful,' and 'unsuccessful' possibilities to solve ‘the problem.’
Use ONLY specific key points/words instead of long sentences . This helps in clarity and saves space for adding more points.
Tips
Go through suggestions under each heads patiently; think loud and pen-down key points.
WHAT [The Problem]
Is it a local/national or global issue?
What is the impact of this problem- is it social/ health/ economical/environmental..?
Is it a solvable problem?
WHO [The stakeholders]
Who is affected by ‘the problem’ or who will be relieved due to ‘the solution’?
How can you label and categorize the 'WHO' – age, social strata, have/have-not…..?
WHAT ARE [Existing Solutions]
Based on the exhaustive literature search- what are the available/tried - protocols/methods/steps/trials/ technologies/ attempts done to solve the problem?
WHAT NOW [Proposed Solutions]
How is your protocol/method/step/ trial/ technology/ attempt different from the existing solution? Is it
Cost-effective
Rapid
Effective
Qualitative
Quantitative
Sensitive
Accurate
Specific
Increases/Positive….
Decreases/Negative…..
Objectives [Intentions]
List 3 objectives and if you are tempted, then maximum 4.
Divide your research into three or four sessions/phases or milestones and frame the objectives for the research
What do you want to prove/establish/obtain in each session/phase of the study?
Output [short-term goals]
What is the immediate result/effect/productivity?
What are the tangible products you can deliver/make?
or
What non-tangible effects were observed?
Note- a publication is also considered an output of the research, so is a joint –collaboration.
Outcome [long-term goals]
What is the benefit of the output on the stakeholder
Impact
How does the outcome impact society, nature, living, so and so forth?
It is the lasting version of outcome
Keywords
Words that are very relevant and reflect the research as a whole/ or represent phases
Important as they form tags with which one can relate /connect or access your work.
Go ahead! Plan your work in style.
Some additional references you can check. Action Research Model Canvas by Anh-Duc Hoang Academic tool kit Research Canvas PwC byWilliam Kaye-Blake and Matthew J Smith
Thank you it was helpful!