Steps Research Cycle Questioning Planning Gathering Sorting Synthesizing Evaluation Reporting Thabiso Matwa, thabisomatwa@gmail.com

Definition Process Researcher Circles Understanding The researcher intentionally goes round in circles while seeking understanding.

Questioning Identifying Listing the questions Exploration Explore as much as possible questions that will assist you in solving your problem and at the end select best ones.

Plan Time Sources for efficient information Reliable sources Storage of the findings Developing a strategy to find pertinent information rapidly. { It is good put time aside to plan the whole project and put some time frames, tree diagrams will also be of good help to make sure you are living no stone unturned}

Gathering Thoughtful and Productive Relevant and useful information Harvesting information which casts light on the key questions. Get rid of all the information which is not useful in solving the problem.

Sorting and Sifting Systematic Scanning Organize contributing data rearranging the puzzle pieces, looking for patterns

Synthesizing Rearranging Patterns and Pictures jelling together making sense of the puzzle pieces - getting the picture

Evaluation Performance indicators figuring out what's missing, what else is needed. These indicators will precisely determine whether your research was successful or not. Make sure that you have made a backup of your final project and of the sources stored in electronic format.

Reporting Presentations Findings Solutions This is the final stage where the group is confident about the findings and solutions and they are also prepared to take constructive critic's and are able to look at the process again.