Research Quiz

What do we mean by "peer-reviewed"?

A piece of work (research paper) that has been evaluated by other experts in the same field who asses its quality, validity, and relevance before it's published.

Introduction includes..

Background, Lit Review, Gap

Method, Process, or Approach includes...

Explanation (how did you do it) and justification (the best way to answer your research)

Results, Product, or Findings include...

Present findings: Quantitative and Qualitative data

Discussion, Analysis, and/or Evaluation include...

Significance of results and connections to original goal (defend and evaluate)

Conclusion and Future Directions include...

New understanding, implications, areas for future research, reflect on research process

Bibliography includes...

In-text citations match bibliography (APA: References, MLA: Works Cited, etc.)

Order of a Research Paper

Intro-> Method -> Results -> Discussion/Analysis -> Conclusion -> Bibliography

Quantitative Data

Data that includes numbers, statistics, relationships between variables

Qualitative Data

Data that includes patterns in narratives or themes, evaluating words, things you cannot apply a number to

Mixed Data

Data that has both qualitative and quantitative and usually starts with qualitative then uses some statistical methods to develop quantitative (EX: case studies, content analysis, etc.)

Primary Source

Closest to origin/firsthand AND/OR you gather data

Secondary Source

Data collected by others/previous studies, easier/faster, must find a new way to analyze it

MLA Style

Used for Humanities (english, philosophy, linguistics, world languages, theatre)

In Text Example: Though he clearly expressed concern with respect to the gap between science and religion, several of Darwin still found himself being asked questions about theology (Darwin 156).

Bibliographic Example: “Works Cited”

Darwin, Charles. Evolution: selected letters 1860-1870. Eds. Frederick Burkhardt, Alison Pearn, Samantha Evans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print.

APA Style

Used for Social Sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, education)

In-Text Example: In a letter to Hooker in 1865, Darwin himself comments on Fitzroy’s suicide, suggesting that it perhaps was not unexpected (Darwin, 2008).

You do not include the page number unless it is a direct citation.

Bibliographic Example: “References”

Darwin, C. (2008). Evolution: selected letters, 1860-1870 (F. Burkhardt, A. Pearn, & S. Evans, Eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Used for Humanities (history, journalism)

In-Text Example: Darwin himself commented on the American civil war, in a letter to Asa Gray in 1862.1

In footnote:

1. “I cannot bear the thought of the Slave-holders being triumphant…” C. Darwin, Evolution: selected letters 1860-1870, eds. Frederick Burkhardt, Alison Pearn, and Samantha Evans. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 2008). 43.

Bibliographic Example: “Bibliography”

Darwin, C. Evolution: selected letters, 1860-1870. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt, Alison Pearn, and Samantha Evans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.

How Can Anchor Papers Be Used?

To determine what style you should sued for your field and help set the background for your inquiry

Explore RQ

Looking into a phenomenon/event/thing and look for themes, variables, and trends (this usually takes place when variables, trends, and/or themes are not known or not well understood)

Explain RQ

Trying to find connections between and patterns within phenomena, events, variables (this usually takes place when variables about a phenomena are known but the connections between them are not).

Create RQ

Making or designing a solution to a problem (this could be a new understanding
under "explore" or "explain" but in this sense, it's meant to be a process, design,
or additional piece of scholarly work as a result of the research).

What are the 6 areas to consider when developing your research question?

Focus/Scope, Context, Variables, Purpose, Value, Feasibility

Focus/Scope

How narrow is the focus of your question? What is the scope?

Context

What time period, geographic location, population of people to use to establish limits for your inquiry

Variables

What is measurable and observable, what data points are you looking for?

Purpose

How does this research advance the study of the subject and will your research change anything regarding the study of the subject (explore, explain, create)

Value

The so what or why anyone would care

Feasibility

Can the study be done with the resources in your vicinity and in the time frame permitted?