Starting a college research paper is not an easy task. Researcher usually experienced mental block and almost started to feel hopeless. When I was handling business research for graduating students, I can feel the pressure and dilemma that my students are facing. Mostly, their main problem is how to start the college research papers. In spite of all the information, examples and instructions I've discussed, students were left clueless as what to do. Here are some tips on how to start with your college research paper:

CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC. Most common mistakes of student researcher are trying to come-up with a research title before anything else. A title, although it will be placed on the beginning page of your final research report does not mean that it will be the first one you have to think about. Sometimes, it is easier if you start first by choosing the topic you want to research. In choosing the topic, you have to make a list of what interest you to know. This is usually something to do with your field of expertise or line of course.

Let' say, business management is your line of course. There are several topics that can be researchable under business management like in human resource, operations, marketing, etc. If you choose human resource for example, identify the elements of human resource that needs research or it is better to determine the current issues on human resource and try to find out which among these is researchable like for example, high rate of employees turnover or absenteeism. Remember, a good topic is something that is researchable and can only be answered by means of research methods.

CAUSES AND EFFECT. Aside from determining the background of the company under research study, identify also the causes and effects of the specified problem. Usually these causes are the known facts but are not enough to conclude that these are really the main reason. Conducting a research will explore more what's behind these causes and revealing the unknown facts related to the problem. Effects of the problems will be your reason why you need to conduct a research. The use of analysis diagram is important in this aspect. Keen observation, interviews and gathering of data are needed in order to acquire much detailed and precise analysis result.

From this analysis, the main or general problem will create sub-problems or what we call as specific problems. Hypothesis will be derived from these problem statements, as well as the boundaries or scope of the research study. There will be some aspect that is not directly related which can be considered as limitations of your research study.

RELATED STUDIES. Doing library works on related articles or study will give you an idea how to deal with the problem. Sometimes, these related studies or articles were limited only to certain methods in solving the problem. You can use the identified loopholes of these studies as your guide in improving your research works. Unanswered problems can be a challenge for you to do your research much deeper.

FRAMEWORKS. There are three types for you to choose - the theoretical, the conceptual and the operational. It is much better if you can adopt the three types of frameworks in your research study. These frameworks will showcase how you will about to solve the problem and from what basis.

METHODOLOGY. This part will consume much of your time especially if it will require you to conduct a survey. Your methodology can either be descriptive, qualitative or quantitative. If you choose to do quantitative type of research study, identify all the tools needed such as survey forms, statistical tools or other quantitative analysis tools. Procedures must be listed in details. Operational framework can be used as your basis.

DATA GATHERING, SORTING, PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS. Description style is the most appropriate approach in this part. Just explain all relevant and essential information you gathered including the results either it is positive or negative. Analysis is the most crucial because you will use your technical know-how in interpreting statistical results like hypothesis testing results.

SUMMARIZE YOUR FINDINGS AND SITE IMPLICATIONS. Results of the analysis is needed to be summarized and based on these results, managerial implications must be identified. Go back to your hypothesis and problem statement and check if all were answered by the data results you gathered. If there is other information derived from your analysis but not included within your scope of research, you can cite these as basis for future research direction.

Other data needed to complete the research paper such as abstract, bibliography, tables, appendices, and table of content can be made at the end of the research study. Just always remember that full determination, interest and patience are basically needed in order for you as researcher to be less stressful while doing your research paper.