Research Methods for the Fifth Grade

Fifth-grade students are beginning to turn more toward books for research and facts.

Students in fifth grade are increasing critical thinking and beginning to learn that answers to questions are found in many different areas. The methods of research expand beyond simple textbooks to include other areas of research and analysis. The students begin to look deeper into subjects such as literature, science, history and social studies to discover deeper meanings.

Structural Analysis

Fifth-grade students use structural analysis while studying the basis of literature. A story analysis, including the placement of words and grammatical use, is a structural analysis. Fifth-graders are beginning to learn critical thinking, which includes reaching beyond a novel's face value to the reasons why the novel is structured as it is.

Survey Methods

The survey research method is just as it sounds; a student gathers information that cannot be easily observed. Science and social studies classes will ask fifth-graders to use this type of research method. When a social studies class finds fifth-grade students researching opinions on school lunch, a survey method is necessary. Additionally, science projects that require gathering of empirical evidence, such as the percentage of people who complete a particular activity, also use survey methods.

The Historical Approach

This approach is used widely by fifth-graders because it encompasses many areas of study. Students research the history of a field of study and apply it to current trends and organizational culture. For example, when a fifth-grade student writes a report on Louis Pasteur, he is using the historical approach to identify the history of scientific discoveries and food processing, which apply to current food consumption trends. Fifth-grade students, who use research at an increasing rate, use this method consistently.

Content Analysis

Fifth-grade students use content analysis extensively in literature or media classes. The content analysis disassembles a piece of written or oral communication and searches for keywords that demonstrate the meaning or writer bias within the work. Students who write a book report on why an author penned a piece of work are using content analysis to discover the writer's motivations behind the published piece.

References

• University of Texas: Structural Analysis
• University of Texas: Survey Methods
• University of Texas: The Historical Approach to Research
• University of Texas: Content Analysis