Research Advisor

Research Advisor

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• User needs to conduct research on a topic and wants a structured approach
• User wants help finding, evaluating, or synthesizing sources
• User needs to develop a research question or thesis statement
• User is writing a research paper and needs methodological guidance

Do NOT use this skill when:

• User wants a complete paper written -- this skill guides research process, not ghostwriting
• User needs data analysis help -- use data analysis skills
• User wants a simple factual answer -- no research methodology needed

Process

1. Step 1: Define research question, scope, and purpose (academic, professional, personal)
2. Step 2: Develop search strategy: databases, keywords, inclusion/exclusion criteria
3. Step 3: Evaluate source quality: credibility, recency, relevance, methodology
4. Step 4: Synthesize findings: identify themes, gaps, and connections across sources
5. Step 5: Organize findings into structured output (annotated bibliography, literature review, or summary)

Purpose

This skill helps students and researchers at all levels navigate the research process from question formulation through publication. It provides structured frameworks for finding and evaluating sources, organizing research, selecting appropriate methodologies, and writing up findings in proper academic format.

Questions to Ask the User First

1. Research stage: Where are you in the process? (Brainstorming, lit review, data collection, writing, revising)
2. Academic level: Undergraduate, graduate (masters/PhD), or professional research?
3. Discipline: What field? (Sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, business, etc.)
4. Assignment type: Research paper, thesis, dissertation, literature review, journal article, or other?
5. Topic area: What is your general topic or area of interest?
6. Research question: Do you have a specific research question yet?
7. Methodology exposure: Have you studied research methods? Are you comfortable with qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods?
8. Timeline: When is this due? What milestones do you need to hit?
9. Citation style: What citation format is required? (APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE, etc.)
10. Resources: Do you have access to academic databases (JSTOR, PubMed, Google Scholar, your institution's library)?
11. Advisor/instructor requirements: Are there specific requirements or guidelines you have been given?

Research Question Formulation

From Topic to Research Question

RESEARCH QUESTION DEVELOPMENT WORKFLOW
========================================

STEP 1: START WITH A BROAD TOPIC
  "Climate change" / "Social media" / "Healthcare access"

STEP 2: NARROW TO A FOCUSED TOPIC
  Ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
  "How does social media use affect academic performance in college students?"

STEP 3: EVALUATE YOUR QUESTION
  A good research question is:
  [ ] Specific (not too broad, not too narrow)
  [ ] Answerable (can be investigated with available methods and data)
  [ ] Relevant (contributes to the field, has practical or theoretical value)
  [ ] Original (not already fully answered in existing literature)
  [ ] Complex (cannot be answered with a simple yes/no)
  [ ] Ethical (can be researched without harm)
# ... (condensed) ...
EXAMPLE:
  Topic: Social media and academic performance
  Main RQ: "How does daily social media usage duration affect GPA among
            undergraduate students at U.S. universities?"
  Sub-Q1: "What is the average daily social media usage among undergraduates?"
  Sub-Q2: "Is there a correlation between usage duration and GPA?"
  Sub-Q3: "Does the type of social media platform moderate this relationship?"

Literature Review Strategies

Systematic Search Strategy

LITERATURE SEARCH PROTOCOL
============================

STEP 1: IDENTIFY KEY TERMS
  Main concept 1: __________ (synonyms: __________)
  Main concept 2: __________ (synonyms: __________)
  Main concept 3: __________ (synonyms: __________)

STEP 2: BUILD SEARCH STRINGS
  Use Boolean operators:
    AND: Narrows results (social media AND academic performance)
    OR:  Broadens results (social media OR social networking)
    NOT: Excludes terms (social media NOT marketing)
    " ": Exact phrase ("academic performance")
    *:   Wildcard (educat* finds education, educational, educator)

  Example search string:
  ("social media" OR "social networking") AND ("academic performance" OR GPA)
  # ... (condensed) ...
STEP 6: SCREEN AND SELECT
  Screening criteria:
  [ ] Published in a peer-reviewed journal
  [ ] Published within the last 5-10 years (unless seminal work)
  [ ] Relevant to your research question
  [ ] Adequate methodology
  [ ] Accessible (full text available)

Literature Review Organization

SOURCE TRACKING TABLE
======================
Author(s)  | Year | Title          | Journal       | Key Findings | Method | Relevance | Notes
___________|______|________________|_______________|______________|________|___________|______
___________|______|________________|_______________|______________|________|___________|______
___________|______|________________|_______________|______________|________|___________|______

THEMATIC ORGANIZATION:
  Theme 1: __________
    Sources supporting: __________
    Sources contradicting: __________
    Gap identified: __________

  Theme 2: __________
    Sources supporting: __________
    Sources contradicting: __________
    Gap identified: __________

  Theme 3: __________
    Sources supporting: __________
    Sources contradicting: __________
    Gap identified: __________

YOUR RESEARCH FILLS THIS GAP: __________

Source Evaluation: The CRAAP Test

CRAAP TEST FOR SOURCE EVALUATION
==================================

C - CURRENCY
  When was it published or last updated? __________
  Is the information current for your topic? ___
  Do the links work (for web sources)? ___
  Score (1-5): ___

R - RELEVANCE
  Does it relate to your research question? ___
  Who is the intended audience? __________
  Is it at the appropriate level (not too basic, not too advanced)? ___
  Have you looked at multiple sources before choosing this one? ___
  Score (1-5): ___

A - AUTHORITY
  Who is the author? __________
  # ... (condensed) ...

TOTAL SCORE: ___ / 25

  20-25: Excellent source
  15-19: Good source (note any weaknesses)
  10-14: Questionable source (use cautiously, corroborate)
  Below 10: Do not use as a primary source

Source Hierarchy

Methodology Selection

Choosing Your Research Method

METHODOLOGY DECISION TREE
===========================

What is your research question asking?

"How many?" / "How much?" / "Is there a relationship?"
  --> QUANTITATIVE
  - Surveys, experiments, statistical analysis
  - Produces numerical data
  - Tests hypotheses
  - Large sample sizes
  - Generalizable results

"What is the experience of?" / "How do people make meaning?"
  --> QUALITATIVE
  - Interviews, focus groups, observation, document analysis
  - Produces text/narrative data
  - Explores and describes phenomena
  - Smaller, purposeful samples
  - Rich, deep understanding

"Both -- understanding the relationship AND the experience"
  --> MIXED METHODS
  - Combines quantitative and qualitative
  - Sequential (one then the other) or concurrent (simultaneously)
  - Provides breadth AND depth
  - More complex to design and execute

Quantitative Methods Overview

QUANTITATIVE METHODS
=====================
EXPERIMENTAL:
  - Random assignment to treatment/control groups
  - Manipulates an independent variable
  - Measures effect on dependent variable
  - Strongest evidence for causation

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL:
  - No random assignment (uses existing groups)
  - Pre/post test designs
  - Weaker causal claims

CORRELATIONAL:
  - Measures relationship between variables
  - Does NOT establish causation
  - Survey-based, observational

DESCRIPTIVE:
  - Describes characteristics of a population
  - Frequencies, percentages, means
  - Surveys, census data

DATA ANALYSIS: t-tests, ANOVA, regression, chi-square, correlation

Qualitative Methods Overview

QUALITATIVE METHODS
=====================
PHENOMENOLOGY:
  - Explores lived experiences of a phenomenon
  - In-depth interviews (typically 5-25 participants)
  - Analysis: identify themes and essences

GROUNDED THEORY:
  - Develops theory from data (bottom-up)
  - Iterative data collection and analysis
  - Theoretical sampling

CASE STUDY:
  - Deep investigation of a specific case (person, program, event)
  - Multiple data sources (interviews, documents, observations)
  - Bounded by time and context

ETHNOGRAPHY:
  - Studies culture of a group through immersion
  - Extended observation and participation
  - Thick description

NARRATIVE INQUIRY:
  - Explores experiences through stories
  - Life histories, oral histories
  - Focuses on meaning-making

DATA ANALYSIS: Coding, thematic analysis, constant comparison

Citation Management

Citation Style Quick Reference

APA (7th Edition) -- Social Sciences
  In-text: (Smith, 2024) or Smith (2024)
  Reference: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher. DOI

MLA (9th Edition) -- Humanities
  In-text: (Smith 45) -- author + page number
  Works Cited: Author. Title. Publisher, Year.

Chicago/Turabian -- History, some humanities
  Notes-Bibliography: Footnotes + bibliography
  Author-Date: Similar to APA

IEEE -- Engineering, Computer Science
  In-text: [1], [2], [3] -- numbered references
  Reference: [1] A. Author, "Title," Journal, vol. X, pp. Y-Z, Year.

AMA -- Medical Sciences
  In-text: Superscript numbers¹
  Reference: Author(s). Title. Journal. Year;Volume(Issue):Pages.

Citation Management Tools

RECOMMENDED CITATION MANAGERS
===============================
Tool          | Free? | Best For            | Key Feature
Zotero        | Yes   | All disciplines     | Browser extension, group libraries
Mendeley      | Yes   | Sciences, social sci| PDF annotation, social features
EndNote       | Paid  | Sciences, medical   | Institutional integration
RefWorks      | Varies| Institutional users | Web-based, institutional access
BibTeX/LaTeX  | Free  | STEM, technical     | Integrates with LaTeX typesetting

SET UP EARLY: Start managing citations from day one of your research.
Adding citations retroactively is painful and error-prone.

Academic Writing Structure

Research Paper/Article Structure (IMRaD)

STANDARD RESEARCH PAPER STRUCTURE
====================================

TITLE
  - Concise, descriptive, includes key variables
  - Avoid unnecessary words ("A study of...")

ABSTRACT (150-300 words)
  - Purpose, method, key findings, conclusion
  - Write this LAST even though it appears first

INTRODUCTION
  1. Hook/context: Why does this topic matter?
  2. Background: What is known about this topic?
  3. Gap: What is NOT known or what is the problem?
  4. Purpose: What does THIS study address?
  5. Research question(s) or hypothesis(es)
  6. Significance: Why does this research matter?
# ... (condensed) ...
  - Brief summary of key findings
  - Restate significance
  - Final thought or call to action

REFERENCES
  - Every source cited in text must appear here (and vice versa)
  - Formatted in the required citation style

Avoiding Plagiarism

PLAGIARISM PREVENTION GUIDE
=============================

WHAT COUNTS AS PLAGIARISM:
  [ ] Copying text without quotation marks and citation
  [ ] Paraphrasing without citation (even if words are changed)
  [ ] Using someone else's ideas without attribution
  [ ] Self-plagiarism (submitting your own previous work as new)
  [ ] Patchwork plagiarism (combining phrases from multiple sources)
  [ ] Having someone else write your paper

HOW TO AVOID IT:

1. WHEN QUOTING (exact words):
   Use quotation marks + in-text citation + page number
   "The results were statistically significant" (Smith, 2024, p. 15).

2. WHEN PARAPHRASING (your words, their idea):
   # ... (condensed) ...
  4. Compare to the original to ensure you haven't accidentally copied phrasing
  5. Add the citation

TOOLS:
  - Turnitin / iThenticate (plagiarism detection -- check before submitting)
  - Grammarly (has a plagiarism checker)
  - Your own careful attention is the best tool

Research Timeline Template

RESEARCH PROJECT TIMELINE
===========================
Total time available: ____ weeks

Weeks 1-2: EXPLORATION
  [ ] Explore broad topic area
  [ ] Conduct preliminary literature search
  [ ] Formulate research question
  [ ] Meet with advisor/instructor for approval

Weeks 3-5: LITERATURE REVIEW
  [ ] Systematic literature search
  [ ] Read and annotate key sources (aim for 15-30 sources)
  [ ] Organize sources thematically
  [ ] Draft literature review section

Weeks 5-7: METHODOLOGY
  [ ] Select research method
  # ... (condensed) ...
Weeks 14-16: REVISION
  [ ] Self-edit for clarity, logic, and grammar
  [ ] Peer review (have someone else read it)
  [ ] Advisor/instructor review
  [ ] Final revisions
  [ ] Format check (margins, citations, page numbers)
  [ ] Submit

Output Format

When advising on research, provide:

1. Stage assessment -- Where the user is in the research process
2. Research question evaluation -- Is it specific, answerable, and original?
3. Search strategy -- Databases, search terms, and Boolean strings to use
4. Source evaluation -- CRAAP analysis for any sources shared
5. Methodology recommendation -- Appropriate method with reasoning
6. Writing guidance -- Structure and organization for their specific paper type
7. Timeline -- Milestones with dates based on their deadline
8. Common pitfalls -- What to watch out for at their current stage
9. Next steps -- Top 3 actions to take this week

Example

Input: "I need to research the effects of remote work on employee productivity for a college term paper. I have no idea where to start."

Output:

Research Plan: Remote Work and Productivity

Research Question

"How does remote work affect employee productivity compared to in-office work, and what factors moderate this relationship?"

Search Strategy

Source Evaluation Checklist

For each source, rate: peer-reviewed (Y/N), sample size, methodology (survey/experiment/meta-analysis), recency, relevance to your specific question.

Key Themes to Track

1. Productivity metrics used (self-reported vs. objective output)
2. Industry/role differences
3. Moderating factors (home environment, management style, job type)
4. Pre-COVID vs. post-COVID findings (context shift)

Recommended Structure for Paper

1. Introduction + research question
2. Literature review organized by theme (not source-by-source)
3. Analysis of conflicting findings
4. Conclusion with identified gaps for future research

First 5 Sources to Find

Start with one meta-analysis for overview, then 4 empirical studies covering different industries.

Edge Cases

• Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding. Do not assume details the user has not provided.
• Out of scope requests: Redirect to appropriate professional resources when the request exceeds educational guidance.
• Conflicting requirements: Present trade-offs clearly and let the user decide priorities.