Mastering Your Research:4 Steps to Successful Research

Doing ResearchWhen presented with a research task, everybody–including professors, doctors, lawyers and undergraduates-go through four stages:

1. Getting your Assignment2. Selecting your Topic3. Finding your Focus4. Digging In

1. Getting Your Assignment

Getting Your Assignment

When given a new research assignment, it is normal to feel uncertain about what is expected of you, or what you should be writing or presenting about.

A. True B. False

Getting Your Assignment

When given a new research assignment, it is normal to feel uncertain about what is expected of you, or what you should be writing or presenting about.

A. True B. False

Getting Your Assignment

If a research assignment isn’t clear or doesn’t make sense it’s the professor’s fault, in which case you should research and write about whatever you want.

A. True B. False

Getting Your Assignment

If a research assignment isn’t clear or doesn’t make sense it’s the professor’s fault, in which case you should research and write about whatever you want

A. True B. False

Getting Your Assignment

Embrace your uncertaintySeek clarification early and oftenReflect on the purpose of the assignmentDon’t settle on the topic right wayTake time to familiarize yourself with a

number of possible general topics first.

Getting Your Assignment

Resist relying on the Internet:Looking for a quick answer online is a cop-out. You

are defeating the purpose of the assignment.By relying on the Internet, you are more likely to

plagiarize and Less likely to learn anything.Initially, it can be hard to tell between good and

bad information online.

2. Selecting your General Topic

Selecting your Topic

When selecting a topic for your research, which of the following should you keep in mind?

A. The topic is appropriate to the assignment B. The interests you. C. You can find information about the topic. D. You can get the research done in time. E. All of the above

Selecting your Topic

When selecting a topic for your research, which of the following should you keep in mind?

A. The topic is appropriate to the assignment B. The interests you. C. You can find information about the topic. D. You can get the research done in time. E. All of the above

Selecting your TopicYou have just been asked to write a research paper about Great Britain. Where is the best place to begin your research?

A. The Internet B. A newspaper article. C. A magazine article. D. An encyclopedia

Selecting your TopicYou have just been asked to write a research paper about Great Britain. Where is the best place to begin your research?

A. The Internet B. A newspaper article. C. A magazine article. D. An encyclopedia

Selecting your TopicYou have just been asked to write a paper about the recent political unrest in Great Britain. Where is the best place to begin your research?

A. A news website B. A newspaper article. C. A book. D. A or B

Selecting your TopicYou have just been asked to write a paper about the recent political unrest in Great Britain. Where is the best place to begin your research?

A. A news website B. A newspaper article. C. A book. D. A or B

Selecting your TopicFor your psychology paper, which likely is the best resource for finding a definition of “depression”?

A. The Internet. B. A general encyclopedia. C. A subject encyclopedia. D. All of the above

Selecting your TopicFor your psychology paper, which likely is the best resource for finding a definition of “depression”?

A. The Internet. B. A general encyclopedia. C. A subject encyclopedia. D. All of the above

Selecting your TopicFamiliarize yourself with major terminology,

concepts and themes of your topic.Don’t assume that you know and don’t ever consider writing about something you haven’t researched.

Selecting your Topic

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias help get you up to speed fast… General Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Address a broad range of topicsProvide introductory coverage

Subject Dictionaries & EncyclopediaFocus on a particular subjectProvide specialized/detailed coverage

Selecting your Topic

Consider the timing of possible topics when deciding how to begin your research:

3. Finding your Focus

Finding your FocusCongratulations, you have decided on your topic, “Hinduism ”. Unfortunately, your enthusiasm is short-lived because you cannot write about the entire movement in one paper. What do you do next?

A. Panic, go online and copy a website B. Reflect on your initial research and select one or two angles that can take on the topic. C. Look for more detailed sources on your topic that might reveal an interesting angle. D. B and C

Finding your FocusCongratulations, you have decided on your general topic, “Hinduism”. Unfortunately, your enthusiasm is short-lived because you cannot write about the entire movement in one paper. What do you do next?

A. Panic, go online and copy a website B. Reflect on your initial research and select one or two angles that can take on the topic. C. Look for more detailed sources on your topic that might reveal an interesting angle. D. B and C

Finding your FocusWhen looking for something to focus on within your topic, which of the following is a good strategy?

A. Look for an interesting issue, person or event around which you can frame your discussion. B. Look for disagreements or debates about your topic. C. Narrow your research down to one central idea or concept and investigate it in great detail. D. All of the above

Finding your FocusWhen looking for something to focus on within your topic, which of the following is a good strategy?

A. Look for an interesting issue, person or event around which you can frame your discussion. B. Look for disagreements or debates about your topic. C. Narrow your research down to one central idea or concept and investigate it in great detail. D. All of the above

Finding your Focus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uDGJ2CYfY9A

Finding your Focus

Searching Databases:Don’t type out your whole questionFocus on keywords: nouns and adjectivesUse “quotation marks” for exact phrasesUse AND & OR to control resultsDon’t give up too quickly – try lost of different

searches!

Find your Focus Start with what you know and look for an angle:

People, places and events Central ideas or concepts Central debates Role of /impact on different people or groups

Expand what you know by looking at more detailed sources: What is important? What isn’t? What additional ideas or issues are raised Who or what is being argued for or against?

4. Digging In

Digging InWhen digging into research, it usually is a good idea to look for several different kinds of resources, including newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, books and websites.

A. True B. False

Digging InWhen digging into research, it usually is a good idea to look for several different kinds of resources, including newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, books and websites.

A. True B. False

Digging In

Including trustworthily dictionaries, encyclopedias, periodical articles and books in your initial research will make you a better judge.

A. True B. False

Digging In

Including trustworthily dictionaries, encyclopedia, periodical, articles and books in your initial research will make you a better judge.

A. True B. False

Digging InWhen looking for website, which is least important for deciding whether a website is appropriate for your assignment?

A. The information on the website has a trustworthy and identifiable author. B. The website is published by a trustworthy and identifiable organization C. The website is popular and showed up first in a Google search. D. The information on the website has recently been updated and includes a date.

Digging InWhen looking for website, which is least important for deciding whether a website is appropriate for your assignment?

A. The information on the website has a trustworthy and identifiable author. B. The website is published by a trustworthy and identifiable organization C. The website is popular and showed up first in a Google search. D. The information on the website has recently been updated and includes a date.

Digging InMost research topics require more than one kind of

source…

Reducing STDs among American

Women

Encyclopedia Articles on STDs and their

transmission

Medical website

articles on STD

Prevention

Scholarly articles on STDs among white American

women