Identify what problem you would like to solve or test. This can be as easy as trying to see what type of plant food works better. Limit your problem to one that provides ample but not overwhelming results. If you find that your problem is too extensive to handle within a certain period of time, consider setting limits.
Formulate a hypothesis for your research design. A hypothesis is an initial guess of what results your research project will yield. Your hypothesis should include reasons for your guess, explaining what initial presumptions you have for predicting the project's outcome.
Read any published material on the subject, if available. This will help you fine-tune your research and formulate a project that has never been done before, if that is your intention. If another researcher has already done your project, you can add another element to your project that will distinguish it from his.
Define what type of data you will be collecting and analyzing. By focusing on just the defined data, you will be able to ignore any non-related data and avoid being sidetracked and prolonging your project unnecessarily.
Identify what variables you will use for your project. Variables are factors in an experiment that will be measured and manipulated. They are a more defined version of your data. For example, in a plant food experiment, variables include how much plant food you will be using and the total length that a plant has grown over the course of the experiment. Most variables are quantifiable.
Create a method for recording your variable data. Record your data during a set time daily or weekly, to ensure consistency and the highest degree of accuracy.
Record the results of your experiment and analyze them to determine why you received certain outcomes and what factors contributed to them. Match your results to your hypothesis.