ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 introduces researchers to research as inquiry. For many researchers, the idea of doing research in a systematic way causes anxiety. Likewise, for many dissertators, the idea of writing a dissertation is overwhelming. The purpose of this chapter is to align the process of research with the common practice of inquiry. Practical examples of using inquiry to solve problems are discussed in a way that highlights the importance of being good consumers of research. The basic steps used to conduct research of all types are introduced. The steps are grounded in the scientific method, and are as follows: hypothesize, control, experiment, analyze, appraise, and conclude. The ways that the steps align with the National Research Council’s six benchmark standards are also discussed, and each step in the research process is presented in a way that is applicable to practitioners and/or dissertators who are designing a research project.
