ABSTRACT
Presearch allows students to get comfortable with a topic. But it goes beyond just finding something: If they can't talk about a topic, they aren't able to build questions. When students are given time to explore, their research becomes driven by their curiosity, and we know that the best research takes place when we are genuinely curious. Fewer students switch topics, and nobody chooses a topic for which there are not enough sources readily available. When students know that viability is part of exploration, they are more flexible in finding alternative topics. Students are more invested in what they are studying when exploration is included in their research practices. Presearch offers students the opportunity to build sufficient prior knowledge to build the autonomy necessary for focused, independent and curiosity-driven research. Coming up with good questions is the most important part of focusing the students' research experience.
