Through research projects, educators can push students to expand their knowledge on a given topic. Proper researching requires students to read a number of texts and gain a wider perspective. Good research draws on several sources in order to avoid heavy bias and to account for multiple perspectives on the topic. By doing the research themselves, students pay attention to the details and nuances of a topic, rather than passively accepting a lecture or textbook overview.
Another advantage to completing a research project is it can help the researcher develop strong, formal communication skills. Whether you are writing a paper or delivering an oral presentation based on your findings, a research project requires you to communicate effectively. The presentation is a formal mode of communication that differs from exchanging an e-mail or having a conversation with a friend or relative. Learning to communicate information in a concise, precise and formal manner is a transferable skill and an advantage when preparing to write other documents such as a resume or a cover letter. A research project also requires you to learn to communicate using the terminology of a specific field or discourse.
Finding resources can be a barrier while working on a research project, particularly when working on a text, issue or event that is recent. Some topics have limited published scholarship, which means that many researchers run into the barrier of not being able to find enough resources. Look for a variety of source types such as books, journal articles -- both online and print, interviews, newspaper articles, government publications and documentaries. Some research projects will rely more on data gained through experiments conducted by the researcher. Other researchers can look to statistical research or conduct interviews to gather the information they require to complete research on a given topic.
Another barrier that many researchers run up against is feeling overwhelmed with the scope and amount of material on a given topic. While having a wealth of research material is important in order to get a good grasp on the topic, too much can also be a barrier to the researcher's ability to understand and communicate key points about the topic. Luckily, this barrier can often be overcome by working to narrow the topic. Instead of researching a broad topic like the French Revolution, try narrowing the topic to something that you can manage in your given time frame or page limit, like America's role in the French Revolution.