Starting a Research Project

Question

Hey everyone! I've started to work on a year-long research project and I'm daunted by the work potential and vague sense of scheduling. What helps you get on track when you have a long-term project? How do you stay organized (and stop stressing)?

Patti · Answer

Start with your goal, and then work backwards. That should give you a pretty good action list of things to do.

Nancie Shuman · Answer

Create an action plan, which includes what your intentions are. Make it clear, with concise goal posts. Break it down into three foot tosses/manageable chunks.  Hire a Coach to help you develop a plan of action. Check that plan regularly so you can see where you need to make adjustments. Create any matrixes which you need - an will use - in order to track your progress.

When you do this, things become much less daunting!

Good luck!

LEANNE TOBIAS · Answer

I agree with others.  Start with your “deliverable/s”— the end product/s of your research project.

For each end product:
-What are the necessary steps?  
Can the step/s be grouped across deliverables?  (Example: If there are 3 types of background research to be done, is it faster if you do all 3 at the beginning of your schedule, or would you prefer to complete  Deliverable 1, then do Deliverable 2, etc.?)
-How long do you anticipate each step will take?  Try to be generous in allocating your time, and try to build in some contingency time, in case everything does not go as planned.
-Organize your tasks into a schedule with clear milestones.  Example: -

-background research on for each deliverable due by (insert date.)
-interviews for each deliverable due by (insert date.)
-first draft of project completed by (insert date.)
-revised draft of project completed by (insert date.)

I suggest that you assume some slippage might occur, especially if your research involves feedback from others.  Assume that everything will take longer than you originally anticipate.  If it turns out that everything goes according to plan, you will be pleasantly surprised.  If not, you will have built in extra time to resolve problems.

If others are developing content for you: ask for it as early in the project as possible.  That helps account for missed deadlines and the time to make revisions.

For motivation: reward yourself/your team when each milestone is completed, when each deliverable is completed and when the final project is completed.

Miquira Jordan · Answer

For long time projects I like to tackle task one at a time, because when you try to complete the long term task in one shot or to see the task as one complete thing it becomes more daunting to complete and it can become burdensome. So try doing 1 step at a time.

Starting a Research Project

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