How Should Fresh Undergraduates Start Thinking About Research?

By Poornima Weerasinghe (EdD – Reading), Associate Dean - NCHS

Undergrads! Experience how knowledge is approached. It is called RESEARCH.

Here onwards, it is not just what you learn, but how you learn. For many of you coming from an exam-oriented education system, especially within the Sri Lankan context, this change can feel overwhelming. Until now, your success may have depended on how well you could memorize facts, repeat definitions, or give “the correct answer.”

 1. Research Is Not About Having the Answer – It’s About Asking Questions

In school, you were rewarded for having the right answer. In research, we start with questions. These questions are often open-ended, uncertain, and complex. For example:

• Why do some people believe in democracy?

• What factors affect access to healthcare in rural communities?

• How do social media platforms influence mental health in teenagers?

These are not simple yes/no questions. They require thought, analysis, and evidence. Good research begins with curiosity, so start by asking “Why?” “What if?” and “How?”

 2. Think of Research as a Journey

Imagine you are a detective. You have a puzzle in front of you, but the pieces are scattered in different places: books, academic articles, interviews, surveys, observations, and more. Your job is to find, organize, and analyze those pieces to make sense of the bigger picture.

This process takes time and effort. You may not find what you expect, and your ideas might change along the way. That’s not failure, it’s part of the learning.

 3. Critical Thinking is the Foundation

Research without thinking is like reading without understanding. To be a researcher, you must learn to question what you read, not just accept it.

Ask yourself:

• Who wrote this?

• Why should I trust this source?

• Is there another perspective?

• What assumptions are being made here?

These are critical thinking skills.

 4. Use Evidence, Not Opinion

In exam-based systems, you were often allowed to present your opinion as long as it matched expected answers. In research, opinions alone are not enough. You must support your claims with evidence, data, expert views, case studies, statistics, or examples.

Learning how to find credible sources, read academic papers, and interpret information will become key skills in your journey as a student and a future professional.

 5. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert. You Just Need to Be Willing to Learn

Many first-year students fear research because they feel they “don’t know enough. That’s okay. Research is not about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to learn, explore, and grow. Even the most brilliant researchers started by asking basic questions.

The sooner you start experimenting with ideas, discussing them with peers, and trying out small research tasks, the more confident you’ll become.

 Let Curiosity Lead the Way

This class will not give you fixed answers. Instead, it will give you tools to ask better questions, evaluate information critically, and learn independently. That’s the essence of research. And that’s what will make you not just a better student, but a better thinker, professional, and global citizen.

So, to all our fresh undergraduates: welcome to the world of research. Start with curiosity. Stay open-minded. And remember—this is just the beginning.