1. Name 5 general problem areas in which you might conduct your research. At this point, your problem area may still be broad, such as "technology and society" or it may be narrow, such as "the impact of training level on employee's performance."
2. Make observations in your chosen problem areas and give a brief description of them. (Keep in mind that observations may be direct, such as observing aggressive behavior on a playground, or indirect, such as asking adolescents for self-reports on their alcohol consumption.)
3. At this point, do you anticipate using an experimental or a non-experimental approach in your research? Explain the basis for your choice.
   1. If it will be experimental, what treatments do you plan to administer?
   2. If you will be conducting a non-experimental study, will it be causal-comparative (i.e., looking to the past for the causes of some current condition)? If yes, briefly explain why you chose this method of research instead of the experimental method.
4. State a research hypothesis, purpose, or question for the research you are planning. (Note: You may have more than one of each.)
5. Name the major variables you will be studying. Define each variable, trying to be as operational as possible. (Note: We will revisit the question after you will have an opportunity to read published research on your topic.)
6. At this point, are you leaning toward conducting "qualitative" or "quantitative" research? Explain the basis for your choice. (Note that you will be learning more about qualitative research in the next topic.)
7. Do you anticipate that the study you are planning will involve human participants? Will you be obtaining informed consent? Will you have your consent form reviewed by your professor? By a university committee? By others? Explain.