2. Academic Papers.

Your research has to be of an academic nature - this kind of research is different from the kind of investigation carried out by a journalist or commentator. The best way to learn how to conduct such research is to read the 'output' of such research: academic papers. There is a difference between an article in a popular magazine or newspaper and an academic paper: the academic paper tries to lay bare the process that led to it, to enable the reader to reproduce the research and test its validity. In order to do this, an academic paper must have several characteristics:

• it must state what it is trying to establish, and why;
• it must openly acknowledge all previous work on which it relies;
• it must identify the perspective and approach to the subject matter which it adopts;
• it must describe a research process and the results obtained when following that process;
• it must analyse and draw conclusions from the results obtained;
• some people might add that it should be impersonal, but if all of the above are scrupulously followed then this doesn't matter - 'experiential' research is quite valid.

Academic papers are produced for a limited number of publishing outlets: academic journals and e-journals, academic conference proceedings, books of collected papers. All of these are 'peer refereed' which, ideally, means that only papers which conform to the guidelines above should be published, and are generally sound in method and argument.

You have to find an academic paper to act as a model for your own research. Using your 'topic map' from your previous work:

• use internet or library-based investigation to identify journals or e-journals in your chosen topic area - try the main topic heading or any cognate terms you have found in your reading ... try some specialist variations - these will be the most promising and reliable source;
• see if we have the appropriate journals in the library, or if we have subscription access to any e-journals - some e-journals have open access;
• an internet search might reveal some on-line conference proceedings in your chosen topic area;
• look in the library for collections of papers in book form ... it is important that the chapters of the book have each been produced as self-contained reports of research;
• draw up a short-list of papers which are in the area of the topic that interests you - read through them and try and understand what they are saying and how they have been constructed;
• select one which is 'in-tune' with your needs and interests.

Don't make your search too narrow at this stage - you will probably find that the papers you read will 'adjust' your view of the topic and the area in which you are interested.