Think of three topics that you would like to do research on. Decide which of these three is the most promising for you and start thinking about what you would like to know about it or what you think...

Think of three topics that you would like to do research on. Decide which of these three is the most promising for you and start thinking about what you would like to know about it or what you think should be known about it. Do a literature search, preferably using an electronic database such as Web of Science or PsycINFO. Try to locate the most recent research on the topic and read it. When reading the research, adopt a critical and questioning attitude to what has been written. Try to read some of the references cited to see whether they have been accurately cited and are relevant to the point being made in the paper you are currently reading. Are the views in these references generally consistent with those in the paper? If they are not consistent, what seem to be the reasons for this? Which view do you generally support? In terms of the study, how were the main variables operationalised? Are there better ways of operationalising them? What suggestions were made for further research and do these seem worth pursuing? What questions remain to be answered? How would you design a study to test these?