Step 1 Describe a problem you have to investigate

Step 2. Identify your research goal; that is, explain what you want to achieve as a result. Then, introduce one or several hypotheses for your study. You can use at least two strategies: (1) inductive: you collect data first, and then make a conclusion about the studied samples; (2) deductive: you select a theoretical concept first, and then collect data to demonstrate or reject the selected hypothesis.

Step 3. Identify and describe the research sample of your study: groups of people, newspaper reports, children's drawings, texts, and so on.

Step 4. Choose or design a methodology for your project. Make sure that your method does not violate research ethics. Refer to your local review board for approval (this is an institutional review board which is required in most countries to make sure that the methods proposed for research with human subjects are ethical). Put together a schedule (timetable) for your project.

Step 5. Conduct a pilot study, a preliminary exploration of the method to see how your methodology works and whether there are any obstacles to data collection.

Step 6. Collect research data.

Step 7. Interpret your data using statistical procedures.

Step 8. Present the results and analyze them critically in a report.

Step 9. In your report, suggest where and how your data should be or could be used (i.e., in education, therapy, conflict resolution, etc.).