providence university college of management i ntroduction - reviewing previous research - advancing...

Providence University

College of Management

INTRODUCTION- Reviewing Previous Research- Advancing to Present Research

Wu-Lin Chen ([email protected])

Department of Computer Science and Information Management

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 2

Review the Setting

• Using Microcomputers in Teaching– During the past 40 years, the United States

has experienced the integration of the computer into society. Progress has been made to the point that small, inexpensive computers with expanded capabilities are available for innumerable uses. Many schools have purchased and are purchasing microcomputers for infusion into their directed learning programs.


Finishing Up Writing Introduction

• Stage II (already studied)– More specific statements about the aspect of the

problem already studied by other researchers• Stage III (investigation needed)

– Statement(s) that indicate the need for more investigation

• Stage IV (purpose)– Very specific statement(s) giving the

purpose/objectives of the writer’s study• Stage V (value)

– Optional statement(s) that give a value or justification for carrying out the study


Stage II Review of Literature

• Continue giving your readers background information needed to understand your research

• Familiarizing your readers with the important research that has been carried out in your area

• Establishing your study as one link in a chain of research that is developing and enlarging knowledge in your field


Citation

• Three ways to cite previous research– Information prominent citation (author’s names)– Information prominent citation (reference

number)– Author prominent citation


Information Prominent Citation (Author’s Names)

• In most deserts of the world, transitions between topographic elements are abrupt (Smith 1968).

Information + Reference


Information Prominent Citation (Reference Number)

• In most deserts of the world, transitions between topographic elements are abrupt (1,2,8,9).

Information + Reference number


Author Prominent Citation

• Leopold (1921) listed foods, but gave no quantitative data.

• Allen and Reiner [1] described graphically the differences between the various vibration scales.

Last name of author

+Date or

reference number

+ Information


Order of Citations

• From most distantly related to your study to those most closely related

• In chronological order– If you are describing the history of research in an area

• According to different approaches– If you are dealing with a large amount of citations as

in a thesis or dissertation– Each group can be ordered

• chronologically or• from general to specific


Order of Citations

Citations grouped by approach

One approach

Another approach

Still another approach

+

+

Citations ordered

from distant to close

Citations ordered chronologically

earliest

latest

OR OR


Citation Focus and Verb Tense

• When you decide using information or author prominent citations, you also determine the verb tense you will use in each citation


Tense in Information Prominent Citations

• The present tense is used when the information you are citing is generally accepted as a scientific fact

• For example: Reporting FactsTopic

Verb (present) Fact (Reference)+ + +

Nutrient resorption

isa common phenomenon in forest trees

(Kramer 1979).

The factors that control the concentration of aluminum in seawater

are poorly known [1].


Tense in Weak Author Prominent Citations

• The present perfect tense is used in citations where the focus is on research area of several authors

• For example: Several Authors IAuthors

Verb(present perfect) Topic (Reference)+ + +

Several researchers

the relationship between classroom adjustment and mobility (Madsen 1980; Biggs 1983; Randall 1985)

have studied


Tense in Weak Author Prominent Citations

• For example: Several Authors II

TopicVerb

(present perfect) Author (Reference)+ + +

The physiology of annual plants

by several authorshas been studied [3,7,13].


General Statements about the Research

• The present perfect tense is also used in general statements that describes the level of research activity in an area. These statements are often written without reference

• For example: Level of Research Activity

LevelVerb

(present perfect) Topic+ +

Little research on topic development on ESL students’ composition.

has been done


Tense in Author Prominent Citations

• The simple past tense is used if you use author prominent citations to report the finding of individual studies closely related to your own

• For example: Finding from Specific Studies

Authors THAT Findings+ + +

Allingtonfoundshowedreportednotedobserved

(1983)

ReferenceVerb(past) +

thatteachers allocated equal time to all groups.


Progression of Literature Review

Citation from

Beginning citations:Information prominent

Weak author prominentGeneral statements

Latest citations:Author prominent

Tense

Simple presentand

present perfect

Simple past


Attitude and Tense in Research Findings

• In author prominent citations your attitude towards the findings of the researchers also affects the complement verb forms.– When you believe the findings you are citing are fact,

use the present tense in the complement verb.– When you believe the findings are restricted to the

specific study you are citing, use the past tense in the complement verb.

– When the finding you are citing were seen by the original authors as tentative, or were only suggestions or proposals rather than findings, use tentative verbs for the verb of report, and a modal auxiliary with the complement verb.


Attitude Towards Findings: Accepted as a Fact

Author THATFindings(present)

+ + +

Sillenshowed

[1]

Reference number or

date

Verb of report +

thatAluminum in seawater is regulated by a thermodynamic balance.


Attitude Towards Findings: Results Limited to One Study

Author (s)Findings

(past)+ +Reference number or

date

Verb of report +

Abramson reported(1974)that mobile students had lower academic performance.

Henderson and Harris

found[7]that 34.6kg of nitrogen were cycled internally by trees.


Attitude Towards Findings: Tentative Findings

Van Bennekomproposedsuggestedhypothesized

[5]

Author THAT

Tentative findings(modal

auxiliary + verb)

+ + +Reference number or

date

Verb of report +

thataluminum may be common in diatom residues.


Advancing to Present Research

• Stages III, IV, and V of the introduction focus your readers’ attention on the specific research problem

• Stage III indicates an area that is not treated in the previous literature

• Stage IV announces the purpose of your research

• Stage V indicates possible benefits or application of your work


Writing Stage III: Missing Information

• Summing up previous literature review by pointing out a gap

• Pointing out this gap is an important research area that is not investigated by other researchers

• Accomplishing Stage III in only one or two sentence


Alternatives For Stage III

• You may indicate that the previous literature described in Stage II is inadequate because an important aspect of the research area has been ignored by other authors.

• You may indicate that there is an unresolved conflict among the authors of previous studies concerning the research topic. This may be a theoretical or methodological disagreement.

• You may indicate that an examination of the previous literature suggests an extension of the topic, or raises a new research question not previously considered by other researchers in your field.


Stage III: Missing Information

Gap Research topic+

However, the effects of computer assisted instruction.

few studies have reported on

But, the air flow rates on simple flat plate solar collectors.

there is little information available on


Stage III: Signal Words

• Signal words are used for helping transition from Stage II to Stage III.

• The connector (signal word) is followed immediately by a gap statement in the present or present perfect tense, which often contains modifiers such as few, little, or no.


Stage III: Signaling Missing Information

Gap(present or present perfect tense)

Research topic+

However,

But

the effects of air flow rates on simple flat plate solar collectors.

few studies have been done onlittle literature is available onvery little is known aboutno work has been done on

Signal word +


Stage III: Signaling Missing Information

Previous work(present or present perfect tense)

Gap + Topic+

Although

While

little information is available on Y.

some literature is available on X,many studies have been done on X,much research has been devoted to X,

Signal word +

X = Previous workY = Research topic


Writing Stage IV: The Statement of Purpose

• State as concisely as possible the specific objective(s) of your research report

• The statement of purpose answers the need expressed in Stage III for additional research in your area of study


Statement of Purpose

• The orientation of the statement of purpose may be– towards the report itself– towards the research activity


Statement of Purpose: Report Orientation

Report orientation Research question+

is to determine whether an automatic measurement system can be applied to educational settings.

The purpose of this thesisThe aim of the present paperThe objective of this report


Statement of Purpose: Research Orientation

Report orientation Research question+

was to determine whether or not genetic differences in germination exist at low temperatures in pepper species.

The purpose of this studythis investigationthis researchthe research reported here


Stage IV: Orientation and Tense

• If you choose the research orientation you should use the past tense, because the research activity has already been done.

• If you choose to use the report orientation, use the present or future tense.


Stage IV: Verb Tenses Research Orientation

Main verb(past) Research question+

The purpose of this study to investigate the effect of computer-assisted instruction on the computer literacy of fifth grade children.

was

Research orientation +


Stage IV: Verb Tenses Report Orientation

Main verb(present or future) Research question+

This paper the results of surveys conducted in Honduras to determine the distribution of manatees in that country.

describespresents

Report orientation +

This thesis the implementation and operation of an automatic measurement system appropriate for classroom and laboratory demonstrations.

will deal withwill discuss


Stage IV and Your Research Question

• Stage IV should be directly related to the research question upon which you based your study.

• The statement of purpose should be written so that your reader can infer the research question behind your study.

• If the implied research question is a yes or no question, the connecting words whether or if are used in Stage IV, and a modal auxiliary like would or could accompanies the verb.


Stage IV: Questions in the Statement of PurposeYes or No Questions

Research question Purpose (implied question)

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if an automatic measurement system would be suitable for classroom and laboratory demonstration.

Is an automatic measurement system suitable for classroom and laboratory demonstrations?


Stage IV: Questions in the Statement of PurposeInformation Questions

Research question Purpose (implied question)

What is the distribution and status of manatees in Honduras?

This paper reports the results of surveys and interviews conducted in order to determine the distribution and status of manatees on Honduras.

This paper reports on the distribution and status of manatees in Honduras.


Writing Stage V: The Statement of Value

• Stage V is not included in every introduction.• It should be included in your introduction when

you write a thesis, dissertation, or a thesis proposal.

• It is also commonly included in research reports written to describe a project conducted with money from outside sources.

• It is often omitted in report written up as journal articles.


Points of View of the Statement of Value

• Practical orientation– This research may provide an alternative to the problem of

manually demonstrating instrumentation principles in classroom environments.

– The results of this study could be useful to educators responsible for planning course work in consumer education.

• Theoretical orientation– Both of the factors under investigation in this study may be of

importance in explaining the irregular occurrence of this disease.– Results of this study may suggest a broader hypothesis for

further research into the effects of atmospheric chemical on rubber.


Stage V – Modal Auxiliaries and Tentativeness

• Stage V is usually written in a way that suggests an attitude of tentativeness or modesty on the part of the author.

• You should not sound too sure of the benefits, either practical or theoretical, of your work.

• It is conventional to sound more cautions.• Modal auxiliaries, principally may, are

used for this purpose.


Stage V: Statement of Value Using Modal Auxiliaries

Modal auxiliary Value+

The application of the strategies described here

increase the proportion of drug abusers who can be identified.may

should

Your research +

The system described here

serve as the basis for a study of automatic measurement systems in an instrumentation course.

could

This study lead to a better understanding of phosphorus in natural systems.

may


Selecting the Best Modal Auxiliaries for Use in Stages IV

Stage IV:

no doubt about the future

no doubt about the future, assuming certain conditions

(SURE)

WILL

WOULD

(TENTATIVE)

Stage IV:

The data contained in this report will supplement that presented in our earlier publication.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of home computers would improve the math scores of third grade children.


Selecting the Best Modal Auxiliaries for Use in Stages V

Stage V:

reasonable expectation about the future

some doubt about the future

more doubt about the future

(SURE)

SHOULD

COULD

(TENTATIVE)

Stage V:

This alternative method should simplify the analysis procedure.

Both of the factors studied here may be of importance in explaining the occurrence of this disease.

Results of this study could have considerable impact on estimates of land values.

MAY

providence university college of management i ntroduction - reviewing previous research - advancing...

Documents