Write an exploratory research essay observing and studying people who try to stop smoking. Conduct research on a group of smokers who are all trying to quit. For the research, introduce products intended to help people quit smoking, such as patches, pills, gums and, as of 2010, electric cigarettes. Ask questions about why each individual feels he wants to stop the behavior but what seems to keep him from following through with his goal. Also obtain information about the group's preferred cigarette brands, the effect of cigarette advertisements and smoking in television and the movies.
Craft an essay that explores audience reactions to plays dealing with racism. After watching a play, or series of plays subtly dealing with racism, conduct exploratory research on the audience. Asking the audience to fill out a questionnaire or recording the audiences' responses to the play, in small groups, will act as primary research. Gather perceptions about the performances, the messages audience members received and what ideas they had about the director's main objectives in staging the play. In your essay, note how often audience members' attitudes change as they hear how other audience members respond.
In a marketing exploratory research project, a researcher develops potential reasons for a company's loss or increase in sales, shares or another problem, such as complaints, according to marketing researchers at the University of Dayton. Contact a company whose sales are declining for a certain product, such a cereal brand producer. Look at reasons why the product may be failing. Consider product design, health issues and customer responses to the cereal in the grocery store aisle. For example, you gather reactions to the cereal's design at the store compared with other competitor cereal brands. Hypothesize why you think the cereal is failing, but do not provide any conclusions; that is for the researcher who will follow your lead.
Look at an environmental issue that affects one community in your area or a nearby state. For example, in Salt Lake City, Utah, a group of mothers got together to limit the amount of pollution and carbon dioxide in the air adversely affecting their children. You could interview some members of "Utah Moms for Clean Air" and get their reactions to the problem. Or, speak with local government officials to gather responses to the health risk. You may also talk with residents who do not know that the pollution problem exists or is a major threat in the basin area. When the newspapers publish the "air quality" for the day, gather responses. Maybe people still go running on a "red" air day (which is dangerous for the lungs) or keep themselves, and their children, huddled inside the home on risk days. Including a wide sweep of opinions, causes and potential solutions to the issue will keep your essay unbiased.