How to Do Research for a School Project in Middle School: A Complete Guide

Doing a research project in middle school is an exciting opportunity to take on the challenge of a major project that explores a subject of your choice. Working on a research project serves multiple purposes:

• Skill development: Research hones critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

• Academic preparation: It lays a strong foundation for future academic endeavors, familiarizing you with methodologies and citation practices.

• Personal growth: Research fosters independence and builds confidence in navigating complex topics.

Our blog post today will walk you through each step of the research process so that you can approach your project with confidence and clarity.

Avenues to conduct research

There are several avenues through which you can conduct research:

• Experimental projects: Design and perform experiments to test hypotheses.

• Surveys and interviews: Gather data by asking individuals or groups questions.

• Literature reviews: Analyze existing information from books, articles, and reputable online sources.

• Collaborative projects: Work with peers or mentors on joint research initiatives.

How to ensure your research sources are credible

Assessing the credibility of your sources is crucial. Here's how you can evaluate them:

• Currency: Ensure the information is up-to-date.

• Relevance: Confirm the source directly relates to your topic.

• Authority: Check the author's credentials and expertise.

• Accuracy: Verify the information against other reliable sources.

• Purpose: Understand the intent behind the information—informative, persuasive, or biased.

This evaluation method is commonly known as the CRAAP test.

The research process explained in 7 steps:

Step 1: Understanding the assignment

Before starting your research project, it's essential to fully understand the assignment and its requirements. Start with the instructions, key directives, and expectations of the project. Identify the core focus of the project, and don't hesitate to ask your teacher for further explanation on any unclear points.

Step 2: Choosing a research topic

Selecting the right topic sets the foundation for a successful project. Try to:

• Pick something interesting and manageable: Choose a subject that captivates you and is feasible within the given timeframe.

• Narrow down broad topics: Refine expansive subjects to more specific aspects. For instance, instead of "Space," focus on "The Formation of Black Holes."

• Ensure availability of reliable sources: Confirm that there is sufficient credible information on your chosen topic.

Step 3: Start gathering information

Collecting accurate and relevant data is the cornerstone of your research.

1. Start with background research

• Utilize general resources like textbooks, encyclopedias, or reputable websites to gain an overview of your research topic and build an idea of the direction your research will take.

• Make a note of key facts and essential information.

2. Find reliable sources for your preliminary research

These can include:

• Library books and research databases: Access in-depth and peer-reviewed materials on resources like Google Scholar or the Library of Congress.

• Educational websites: Prioritize sites with domains like .edu, .gov, or .org, which are often more trustworthy.

• Reputable news outlets: Use articles from established newspapers and magazines for current information.

3. Take organized notes

Maintain a research journal where you document findings systematically, digitally or in a notebook. Paraphrasing your notes in your own words ensures comprehension and helps you avoid any kind of plagiarism. Take care to record all necessary citation details as you gather information, as this will come in handy when it is time to cite sources in the final draft.

Step 4: Organize your research

Once you’ve gathered all your information, you need to organize it in a way that makes sense. A structured approach helps you see connections between different pieces of information and makes writing your final paper or presentation easier.

1. Categorize your information

Instead of dealing with a massive pile of notes, break down your research into smaller sections based on themes or key points. Here’s how:

• Identify major topics – Look at your notes and identify broad categories. For example, if your project is on climate change, you might have sections like "Causes of Climate Change," "Effects on the Environment," and "Ways to Reduce Carbon Emissions."

• Use color coding or labels – Highlight or mark different topics in different colors to quickly see how your research is divided.

• Sort your notes under each category – If you are using digital notes, you can create folders or separate documents for each section. If using physical notes, organize them in separate stacks.

2. Create an outline

An outline is like a roadmap for your research project. It helps ensure that your project flows logically. A good outline should include:

• Introduction – A brief overview of your topic and its importance.

• Main Points – These should be the key sections of your research (e.g., background, causes, effects, solutions).

• Subpoints – Specific details, facts, and examples under each main point.

• Conclusion – A summary of your findings and final thoughts.

3. Use a graphic organizer

If a traditional outline doesn’t work for you, try a graphic organizer like:

• Mind Maps – Draw a central idea in the middle of a page and connect subtopics with lines.

• Tables or Charts – Create a table with different sections for key points, supporting evidence, and sources.

The goal is to create a clear structure that makes writing your research paper easier.

Step 5: Writing and presenting the research

Now that your research is organized, it’s time to organize everything into a well-written report or presentation.

1. Writing your research paper

Your paper should have three main sections:

Introduction

• Start with a hook – an interesting fact, a question, or a short story related to your topic.

• Provide background information to help your audience understand why your topic is important.

• End the introduction with a thesis statement – a sentence that summarizes your research's main argument or purpose.

Main body

This is where you present your research findings in a logical order.

• Each paragraph should focus on one main idea – Support it with facts, statistics, and examples.

• Use transitions between paragraphs – Words like "However," "For example," and "In addition" help connect ideas smoothly.

• Avoid copying directly from sources at all costs – Instead, rewrite information in your own words and cite sources properly (more on this below).

Conclusion

Your conclusion should wrap up your research by:

• Restating your main points – Summarize what you learned.

• Explaining why your topic matters – How does it relate to real life?

• Suggesting areas for further study – What else could be researched about this topic?

2. Creating a presentation

If your project requires a presentation, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a simple, easy-to-read format – If using slides, limit the text and use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.

• Add visuals – Charts, graphs, and images can help explain complex ideas.

• Practice speaking – Rehearse your presentation several times to make sure you sound confident.

• Engage your audience – Ask questions or include interesting facts to keep people interested.

Step 6: Reviewing and editing

Before you turn in your project, review and improve it.

1. Check for errors

Read through your work carefully and check for:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes – Use spell-check tools like Grammarly and read your work out loud to catch errors.

• Clarity and readability – Does each sentence make sense? Are ideas explained in a logical order?

• Strong arguments – Do your facts support your points? Did you include evidence for each claim?

2. Get feedback

It’s always helpful to have someone else review your work. Ask:

• A teacher – They can check if you followed the assignment correctly.

• A parent or sibling – They can point out unclear sections.

• A classmate – They can tell you if your project is interesting and easy to understand.

3. Make revisions

Based on the feedback, make changes to improve your research. This might mean rewriting sections, fixing grammar mistakes, or adding more details to strengthen your argument.

Step 7: Citing sources

Citing your sources is an important part of research. It shows where you got your information and gives credit to the original authors. Citations help you:

• Avoid plagiarism – Copying someone else's work without credit is unethical.

• Make your research credible – Readers can check your sources to verify the information.

There are different ways to cite sources, but the most common formats are:

• MLA (Modern Language Association) – Used for humanities and English research.

• APA (American Psychological Association) – Used for science and social studies projects.

– Creating a bibliography or works cited page

• List all the books, articles, and websites you used.

• Use online tools like EasyBib or Cite This For Me to format citations correctly.

• Arrange sources alphabetically by the author’s last name.

A simple MLA citation for a website looks like this:Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Name of Website, Date Published, URL.

Example:Smith, John. "The History of Space Travel." NASA, 5 June 2022, www.nasa.gov/history-space-travel.

Final thoughts

Doing research for a middle school project may seem overwhelming at first, but if you follow these steps, your project should be on the right track:

• Understand the assignment – Know what is required.

• Choose a focused topic – Pick something interesting and manageable.

• Gather reliable information – Use books, websites, and articles from trusted sources.

• Organize your research – Categorize notes and create an outline.

• Write and present effectively – Use clear, logical arguments and visuals.

• Review and edit your work – Fix mistakes and improve clarity.

• Cite your sources properly – Give credit to the original authors.

Completing your own research project is a rewarding experience that will leave you better prepared for future academic endeavors and strengthen your academic profile.

One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! 

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.