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A presentation for the National Day of Writing event at the University of Nebraska Kearney on November 9, 2011. Presenters: Jon Ritterbush and Ron Wirtz of UNK's Calvin T. Ryan Library.
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RESEARCH BASED WRITINGNOVEMBER 9, 2011
Jon Ritterbush & Ron WirtzCalvin T. Ryan Library – University of Nebraska Kearney
Steps of the Research Process
STEP 1: Define a Topic STEP 2: Plan the Search STEP 3: Find Information STEP 4: Evaluate What is Found STEP 5: Cite Your Sources
STEP 1: Define a Topic
Try stating the research topic as a question. For example:
“What is the effect of television violence on children?“
OR
Try defining the research topic as a thesis statement in one or two sentences. For example:
"Watching television with too much violence can have a negative impact on children.“
With a research topic question or statement in mind, planning a search strategy (Step 2) will be easier!
STEP 1: Define a Topic
Choose a topic that is interesting and relevant to the assignment.
Choose a topic that is accessible to you. Choose a topic with an appropriate scope. Here
are some ways to narrow a broad research topic: Population, ethnic or age group. A particular geographical area or environment. A particular theory or approach. A methodology such as field experiments, research studies, or
naturalistic observations. A certain author, movement, or historical event.
STEP 2: Plan the Search
Identify key words or concepts within your topic, and consider other similar terms that may be relevant.
If you're having trouble thinking of key words, ask a librarian for assistance!
STEP 2: Plan the Search
These key words will be helpful in building sophisticated search queries.
STEP 2: Plan the Search
Using "OR" will usually broaden or increase the number of search results.
Using "AND" to combine terms will usually narrow or decrease the number of search results.
Using an asterisk (*) at the end of a partial word will broaden or increase search results by including multiple word endings.
STEP 3: Find Information
Having a well-defined research topic and a search plan can improve the quality of your research.
Knowing the right tools to use can expedite the research process.
STEP 3: Find Information
Print Encyclopedias & Online Reference
ToolsGreat for background/
introductory info
Article Databases
Newspaper & magazine articles, peer-reviewed
journal articles
Library Catalog
Books, e-books, gov’t documents, videos
Internet search engines
Websites of gov’t agencies or non-profits; some free
online news sources; may link to UNK Library
resources*
STEP 4: Evaluate What is Found
Evaluate your information using the CRAAP Test: Currency – Is this information up-to-date? Relevance – Does this source address your topic in
sufficient detail? Accuracy – How reliable and valid is this
information? Does the author list his/her sources? Authority – What are the author(s) qualifications?
Who produces this publication or hosts this website?
Purpose – Is the information presented objectively? *Modified version of CRAAP Test created by Meriam Library at California State University, Chico.
STEP 5: Cite Your Sources
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense! When in doubt, you should always give credit where credit is due.“You are plagiarizing if you: Quote directly from a book or periodical without using quotation
marks and a note to indicate that the material is not yours.
Paraphrase an author, sentence by sentence, without acknowledging the author as the source of the material.
Use, without acknowledgement, an idea put forward by an author when you can’t find the same idea in two or more independent sources."1
1. Badke, William B. (2004). Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog (pp.123). New York: iUniverse.
STEP 5: Cite Your Sources
Common knowledge is factual information which requires no citation or verbal credit in the body of a research paper.
Examples of common knowledge include: The moon is 225,745 miles from the earth.
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1-3, 1863.
Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
STEP 5: Cite Your Sources
Remember: UNK subscribes to SafeAssign, an online tool which assists faculty in screening papers for plagiarism.
To avoid plagiarism: Start your assignment early!
Note your sources during your research stage
Cite your sources in your writing
Citation and proofreading help is available at the UNK Writing Center in the Learning Commons (Library 2nd floor)
For more research assistance…
Connect with a librarian at Ask Us 24/7 www.unk.edu/library/askus/
Find online research guides at:guides.library.unk.edu
See the Library Research Tutorial at bit.ly/kQZ3NN
Q&A
Ron WirtzCoordinator of User [email protected]
Jon RitterbushE-Resources and Serials [email protected]