Essential Study Skills and Research Methods for Students

Essential Study Skills

Skills Highlighted by Dr. Wagner

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Collaboration and Influential Leadership

• Information Access and Analysis

• Effective Oral and Written Communication

• Agility and Adaptability

• Imagination and Curiosity

• Initiative and Entrepreneurialism

Understanding Arguments

Key Concepts

• Assumption:

  An unstated reason crucial to the conclusion's validity.

• Inconsistency:

  A contradiction within the reasoning.

Expertise and Sources

• Expertise:

  Experience, skills, and qualifications in a specific field.

• Primary Source:

  Original, unaltered source from the time of an event.

• Secondary Source:

  Uses or adapts information from primary sources.

Annotated Bibliography Criteria

• Citation
• Introduction and Source Type
• Aims and Research Methods
• Scope/Range of Information
• Usefulness to Topic/Research
• Limitations
• Conclusions
• Reflection on Relevance to Topic/Research

Secondary vs. Tertiary Sources

• Secondary Source:

  Uses or adapts information from primary sources.

• Tertiary Source:

  Compiles information from various sources (e.g., encyclopedias, textbooks). Often lacks identifiable authorship (e.g., Wikipedia).

Evaluating Statistical Evidence

Key Questions

• Currency of Information
• Data Collector
• Data Collection Method
• Meaning of Survey/Questionnaire/Study
• Vested Interests
• Sample Size
• Data Collection Date

Journal Reference Format

• Author, Year, Article Title, Journal Title (Italicized), Volume, Edition, Page Numbers
• [Online]: Access Date, [Online] Available at: <URL>

Refuting Opposing Arguments

• Refute and Rebut:

  Terms for disproving opposing arguments.

Policy-Based Evidence

Policy created before gathering and considering relevant evidence.

Informal Writing Characteristics

• Contracted Words
• Colloquial Language/Slang
• Active Tenses
• Personal Opinions (I think, I believe)
• Idioms and Informal Expressions
• Simple Vocabulary