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The Research ProcessThe Research Process

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

The 10-Step ProcessThe 10-Step Process1. Formulate Your Question2. Get Background Information3. Focus Your Search Topic4. Consider Your Resource Options5. The Tools Available/Select the Appropriate

Tool 6. Use the tool7. Gather Your Materials8. Evaluate Your Sources9. Organize and Write10.Compose Your Bibliography

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Formulate Your QuestionFormulate Your Question

• What’s the assignment• Guidelines given by

professor• Question(s) to answer

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Get Background InformationGet Background Information

• Gain general knowledge of subject

• Helps formulate your research question

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Focus Your SearchFocus Your Search

• Is it too broad or narrow?• Should I limit topic to a time

period, geographical location, etc.?

• What disciplines/subjects are covered with topic?

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Broad to NarrowBroad to Narrow

• BROAD: Eating Disorders • NARROW: Anorexia Nervosa• NARROW: Bulimia

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Broad to NarrowBroad to Narrow

• BROAD: Drug Abuse• NARROW: Marijuana and

drug abuse• NARROW: Marijuana/Hemp/

Cannibus and health/medicine

• NARROW: Drug Abuse and Health

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Broad to NarrowBroad to Narrow

• BROAD: Obesity• NARROW: Obesity and food• NARROW: Obesity and

nutrition• NARROW: Obesity and

eating disorders

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Consider Resource OptionsConsider Resource Options• Books• Magazine/Popular articles• Newspaper articles• Scholarly/Peer reviewed articles• Reference books• Websites• Surveys/opinion polls• Statistical sources, government

publications

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The Tools AvailableThe Tools Available

• GCC Website

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The Flow of InformationThe Flow of Information

• Consider Your Resource Options

• The Tools Available

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The Flow of InformationThe Flow of InformationReport of Event Time Frame Access InfoRadio/TV/Web Seconds/Minutes Internet

Newspapers Day/Days+

Magazines Week/Weeks

Journals 6 months+

Books 2 years+

Reference Sources -Encyclopedias,

dictionaries, etc.Ave. 10 years

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Search StrategySearch Strategy

• Boolean Logic--AND

  AND = Narrower Search

ANDnorth carolina 

and prohibition

items containing "North Carolina" and "prohibition." AND narrows a search, resulting in fewer hits.

04/22/23 Created byTracy Hull 2002

Boolean Logic--ORBoolean Logic--OR

OR = Broader Search

OR zimbabwe 

or rhodesia

items containing either "Zimbabwe" or "Rhodesia" or both. OR broadens a search, resulting in more hits.

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Boolean Logic--NOTBoolean Logic--NOT

NOT = Elimination

NOT mexico 

not new mexico

items containing "Mexico" but not "New Mexico." Caution! It's easy to exclude relevant items.

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Popular vs. ScholarlyPopular vs. Scholarly  Popular Magazines Scholarly Journals

Overall AppearanceGlossy paper, ads,heavily illustrated - attractive in appearance

Sober and serious, may contain graphs or charts – will not find glossy pages or photographs

Audience General Public Scholars and students

Authors Reporters Scholars in the field

Documentation Sources sometimes cited for news articles, but rarely

Cite sources in footnotes orbibliography

Purpose Provide general information Report on original research or experimentation

Article AcceptanceProcedure

Articles written by hired reporters, edited by magazine editors, and published

Often undergo a "peer-reviewed" process -- reviewed by other scholars in the field before being published -- sometimes these journals are called "refereed journals"

04/22/23 Created by Tracy Hull 2002

Popular vs. ScholarlyPopular vs. Scholarly

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QUIZ!QUIZ!• What sources would be used

to answer the following questions…

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Hmmm!! Let’s See!Hmmm!! Let’s See!

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Question:Question:

What has been the reaction of the labor market to the

four-day week and "flextime" scheduling?

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Answer: Answer:

Surveys/opinion polls

Newspaper articles

Magazine articles

Scholarly articles

04/22/23 Created by La Loria Konata 2002

Question: Question:

How has the World Health Organization changed its structure to deal with the

current health crisis in Africa?

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Answer: Answer:

Newspaper articles

Website

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Question:Question:

What would happen if marijuana were made a

prescription drug?

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Answer: Answer:

Surveys/opinion polls

Newspaper articles

Scholarly articles—could include criminal justice

aspect or medical