Transcript An Introduction to Research Techniques

The Basics of Doing Research
ENG 305
Academic English
Survival Skills II
Introductory Unit (pp. 16-26)
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“Research is formalized curiosity.”
Zora Neale Hurston
“Research is to see what everybody else has
seen, and to think what nobody has thought.”
Albert Szent-Gyorgy
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What is a research paper?
• A research paper is a presentation of the results of your
investigation on a selected topic.
• Based on your own thoughts and the facts and ideas you
have gathered from a variety of sources, a research paper is
a creation that is uniquely yours.
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• The experience of gathering, interpreting, and documenting
information, developing and organizing ideas and
conclusions, and communicating them clearly will prove to
be an important and satisfying part of your education.
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WHY DO RESEARCH?
• To become familiar with topical vocabulary (e.g. key concepts,
jargon*, terminology)
• To gain insight into the topic, facts, opinions, and theories
• To be aware of inconsistencies* or shortcomings* in one’s
knowledge and understanding
*jargon (n.): special words and phrases which are used by particular groups of people, especially in their
work:
e.g. military/legal/computer jargon
*inconsistency (n.): difference or contradiction; not being the same in different sources:
e.g. There are a few inconsistencies between his earlier and current story of the accident.
*shortcoming (n.): a fault or a failure to reach a particular standard:
e.g. Like any political system, capitalism has its own shortcomings.
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WHY DO RESEARCH?
• To support and enrich ideas
• To increase credibility
• To become familiar with gaps in the literature
(lacking, inconclusive*, contradictory, and limited
evidence)
And most importantly;
• TO CREATE KNOWLEDGE
*inconclusive (adj.): not giving or having a result or decision:
e.g. The evidence is inconclusive.
The medical tests were inconclusive, and will need to be repeated.
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WHY DO RESEARCH?
What kind of information to look for?
Definitions
Description
Statistics
Facts
Authorities’
opinions
WHAT?
Examples
Research
results
Explanations
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Where to do research?
•
•
•
•
Magazines
Anthologies*
Journals*
Textbooks
•
*Anthology (n): a collection of artistic works which have a similar form or subject, often those considered
to be the best:
e.g. an anthology of modern quotations/American verse
This Bob Dylan anthology includes some rare recordings of his best songs.
*Journal (n.): a serious magazine or newspaper which is published regularly, usually about a specialist
subject:
e.g. a medical/trade journal
•
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Where to do research?
•
•
•
•
The Internet
Books
Theses and Dissertations
Newspapers
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Where to do research?
• Reference books:
-almanacs*
-encyclopedias
-atlases
-dictionaries
-fact books
*almanac (n.): a book published every year that contains facts and
information such as important days, times of the sun rising and going
down or changes in the moon
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RESEARCH SKILLS
For a university student, it is very
important to do research carefully, since
unfortunately, it will not always be very easy
with too much information and too many
ways to find it.
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General steps to follow while doing research:
/ determine keywords
1. Identify
_______________________that
may assist
you in your research. Try to narrow them
down to avoid irrelevant information.
TASK 1 (p. 17)
Identify keywords to find a focus for the topic
“globalization”
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TASK 1
imperialism
powerful nations
increasing
communication
the Internet
disappearing
borders
GLOBALIZATION
international
trade
different cultures
domination of
nations
globalization + economy
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General steps to follow while doing research:
2. Search these keywords in the library or on the
Internet to find sources such as books, articles, and
journals.
3. Select relevant sources and evaluate the
information: Select which of the sources are more
relevant to your focus. Evaluate given information for
its accuracy and objectivity, coverage of the topic,
and usefulness to your essay.
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Imagine that you are writing an essay on the topic of
“the negative effects globalization on culture”.
Analyze the given sources in your book and decide
whether they are relevant to your essay or not.
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Source 1:
- Might NOT be relevant because
the title suggests that the book
is in favor of globalization and is
proposing suggestions to reap
positive effects out of
globalization rather than
negative effects
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Source 2
- Might be relevant as can be seen from chapter
and subtitle headings, especially chapter 2.
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Source 3
- Might be relevant as the title
suggests.
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Source 4
- Might be relevant because the text seems to focus
on effects of globalization on culture.
• Source 5
- Might NOT be relevant because the source is related
to the financial aspects of globalization
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TASK 2 (p. 18-19)
• Source 6
- Might NOT be relevant because the
source is related to the financial
aspects of globalization.
• Source 7
- Might be relevant because the book is
probably about negative aspects of
globalization.
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General steps to follow while doing research:
4. Access to sources:
Obtain books, and/or get copies of articles;
take notes, print, or photocopy them.
5. Write down reference information:
Note reference information from the source
so that you can cite it in your essay and access
to it again if necessary.
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Reference Information Chart
For a Book
Name of Author / Editor
Name of Translator
Title and Subtitle
Publisher’s Name
Place of Publication
Date of Publication
Call Number
Edition
For an Article /
Chapter in a Book /
Journal
Name of Author
Name of Editor
Name of Translator
Title and Subtitle of Article
Title of Periodical (Journal)
Date of Issue
Page Numbers of Article
Issue and Volume Number
For Electronic Sources
(e-articles / e-books)
Name of Author / Organization
Title
Publication Date for e-books and earticles
Date of Release, Online Posting, or
Latest Revision
Date of Retrieval
URL, Electronic Address
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Task 3 (p. 19-20)
• Examine the given pages and fill in the charts
with reference information.
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Types of Research
p.21
What are the main ways of finding
information?
1. Research in the library
2. Research on the Internet
3. Field Research
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Research in the Library
• What is the benefit of
learning how to use the
library?
– You will be able to use your
time on productive study and
research rather than aimless
wandering about in the hope
of finding random bits of
information.
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Library Related Vocabulary
•
Task4. Match the library related vocabulary with
the explanations.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Format
Bibliography
Citation
Call number
Abstract
Keyword
Journal
Periodicals
Magazine
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Sources in the Library
• Libraries have three kinds of holdings
– A general collection of books
• Most of the books that are available for general
circulation.
– A collection of reference works
• Encyclopedias, dictionaries, indexes, directories,
handbooks, yearbooks, atlases, and guides.
– A collection of periodicals, bulletins, and
pamphlets.
• Scholarly journals and magazines are pediodicals.
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While conducting a research...
• writers rely on articles from scholarly journals
rather than popular magazines.
• There are differences between them.
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Appearance
• Scholarly Journal
– Is sober and serious
– May contain graphs and
charts
– Does not have glossy
pages or photographs.
• Popular Magazine
– Has an attractive
appearance
– Has advertisements
– Is heavily illustrated
– Has glossy paper
Audience
• Scholarly Journal
– Scholars and Students
• Popular Magazine
– General Audience
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Authors
• Scholarly Journal
– Scholars in the field of
study
• Popular Magazine
– Reporters, usually not
experts on the subject
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Documentation
• Scholarly Journal
– Sources cited in
footnotes and/or
bibliography
• Popular Magazine
– Sources not cited or
cited informally
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Purpose
• Scholarly Journal
– Reports the results of
original research or
experimentation
• Popular Magazine
– Provides general
information
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Article Acceptance Procedure
• Scholarly Journal
• Popular Magazine
– Many scholarly journals are
“refereed journals” –they
undergo a process called “peerreview” where other scholars in
the field examine the articles
before they are published
– Written by hired
reporters, edited by
magazine editors, and
published.
Tips for Library Research
• Note down the call number.
Call number indicates
the book’s exact
location.
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• Go to the relevant section by following the
alphabetical labels that are posted on the
shelves.
Alphabetical labels
• When you find the location of the book you
are searching for, check the other sources on
the relevant shelf.
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• Do not take notes on the pages of the book as
they are available for common use.
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• Return the books on the due date.
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Research on the Internet
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• Some information is high quality, highly
reliable and relevant to the research problem.
Yet, some information is low quality, is
irrelevant and may even be described as junk.
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Misconception
• It is a source of free
information about
everything
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Before you begin researching on the
Internet.....
• Think about the topic you are researching. Is it
likely to find reliable information for free?
• Decide whether a printed or an electronic
source would be quicker or more appropriate.
Decide whether it is better to use a research
engine.
• Find different keywords that would best
describe your subject. Try to be as precise as
possible.
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Library vs. The Internet
• Uses universal
cataloging
systems that
classify and
organize all
sources.
• Online sources
can be accessed
24 hours a day, 7
days a week
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Library vs. The Internet
• Sources can be
checked out by
other people
and, therefore,
may not always
ve available.
• Has no system
that catalogs and
organizes all
sources.
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Evaluation of Sources on the Internet
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On the whole, the webpage is of value
to your research, if....
• Your page lists authors and institution that published
the page and provides a way of contacting him/her.
• Your page lists author’s credentials and its domain
(.edu, .gov, .mil etc.)
• Your page provides accurate information with limited
advertising and it is objective in presenting the
information.
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On the whole, the webpage is of value
to your research, if....
• Your page is current and updated regularly and the
links are also up-to-date.
• You can view information properly –not limited to
fees, browser technology, or software requirement.
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3.Field Research
• To collect first hand data
– Interviews
– Questionnaires
– Observations
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