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How does a good idea grow into a research paper?

When you were taking English in high school, you probably were asked to write essays and reports on various topics. For example, if you were writing a report on microwaves, in your report you would describe how they work.

To write the report your first step would be to look up microwaves in an encyclopedia such as HOW IT WORKS: THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLGY, read the information, and write about what you learned.

You might include some illustrations that show graphic examples of the use of microwave technology.

You searched for information, you found a reliable source, you presented the facts in your report. This is not a research paper!

Let's say that since writing the report you've become interested in buying a microwave oven and you want a good one. You talk with friends who have microwaves and you look up microwave ratings in Consumer Reports.

You do the research and you narrow the field to two microwaves that have decent ratings and are within your price range. Along each step of the way you are finding more and more information to help you make a good decision about the best microwave oven for your needs. But this is still not a research paper topic!

After you purchase your microwave oven, a friend asks you if you are aware of the environmental and biological hazards of microwave technology.

Now you are curious and begin to search for information about microwave technology. You are surprised to discover that the "wireless" society, the mobile Internet that computer folks and others are talking about, is based on microwave technology. You begin to wonder about the ways that microwave technology/science may shape our future.

You ask the questions: What is the future of microwave technology? How will microwave technology improve our lives? How might it endanger our health, our environment? THIS IS A RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC!