Professional Development

Graduate Research Essentials & Research Planning Roadmap

Graduate Research Essentials

Completing a thesis, dissertation, or project involves more than conducting research and writing a final document. As you progress through your graduate research journey, you may encounter concepts, processes, and practices that are essential to the success of your work. The topics below provide a foundation for effective and responsible research and can help you identify areas where you may benefit from additional guidance from your supervisor, committee, Graduate Program Office, librarians, or other campus supports.

Graduate Research Planning Roadmap

Graduate research is a process that unfolds over time, from exploring ideas and developing research questions to conducting research, writing, and completing your final thesis, dissertation, or project. While specific requirements and milestones vary across programs, most graduate research follows a similar planning journey. The roadmap below outlines the key stages commonly encountered by graduate students and provides a framework for understanding where you are in the research process, what comes next, and the resources available to support your success. Remember to consult your supervisor, committee, and Graduate Program Office for guidance on program-specific requirements, timelines, and expectations.

The goal of this stage is to move from a broad area of interest to a focused research topic.

Key Questions
  • What am I interested in studying?
  • What problem, question, or issue do I want to explore?
  • Why is this research important?
  • What is already known about this topic?

The goal of this stage is to understand the existing scholarship.

Key Questions
  • What does the literature say?
  • What gaps exist?
  • How does my research contribute to the field?

The goal of this stage is to determine how you will answer your research question.

Key Questions
  • What methodology is appropriate?
  • What data or evidence do I need?
  • What resources will I require?

The goal of this stage is to formalize your research plan and obtain necessary approvals.

Key Questions
  • What are the requirements for my proposal?
  • Does my committee support the project?
  • What revisions are required?

The goal of this stage is to secure all necessary permissions before beginning research.

Key Questions
  • Is ethics approval required?
  • Are there institutional requirements?
  • Are there permissions needed from external organizations?

The goal of this stage is to collect and organize data or evidence.

Key Questions
  • How will I manage data?
  • Am I following my research plan?
  • What challenges are emerging?

The goal of this stage is to interpret and make sense of your data.

Key Questions
  • What patterns or themes are emerging?
  • What do the findings mean?
  • How do they relate to my research questions?

The goal of this stage is to communicate your findings and contributions.

Key Questions
  • What story does my research tell?
  • How should I organize the document?
  • What revisions are needed?

The goal of this stage is to prepare for final review and discussion of your work.

Key Questions
  • What are the expectations for my defense?
  • How will I present my research?
  • What questions might I receive?


 

The goal of this stage is to finalize requirements and prepare for what comes next.

Key Questions
  • Have I met all program requirements?
  • Is my document properly formatted?
  • What are my next academic or professional goals?