Mastering the Research Process and Citation

Understanding the Research Process

The process for a research paper involves interpreting the results of research and then proving or disproving a hypothesis.

Crafting Your Research Question

What are you interested in? What do you need to know about it?

Narrowing Down Research

To summarize, focus only on what is relevant to your topic.

Importance of Citing Sources

Citing sources gives you credibility and avoids legal issues and plagiarism.

Steps in the Research Process

1. Research Question
2. Background Information
3. Hypothesis
4. Design Experiment
5. Collect Data
6. Analyze Results
7. Publish Findings

Preparing for Research

The process needed to prepare for research involves:

• Define
• Explore
• Identify
• Relate

Information Processing Skills

Requirements to effectively process information:

• Analyze/Evaluate
• Sort
• Synthesize
• Test

Developing Critical Thinking

Explain the process in order to think critically:

• Question the relevance of the information
• Question the accuracy
• Question the authority
• Question the point of view
• Question the fairness

Key Research Terminology

Jingoism

Nationalism in an aggressive form.

Critical Path

Commonly used with all forms of projects.

Research

The systematic investigation of all areas.

Perspective

A way that individuals look at something.

Global Significance

Important in international affairs.

Essential Research Skills

When you put your ideas back together, you RECONSTRUCT the information to have a clear perspective of the subject.

To REFLECT, you must first have deep thought and observation.

It is important to COLLABORATE with your peers in order to achieve better results.

To COMMUNICATE properly, the information must be clear and understandable.

Usually, it is to DECONSTRUCT ideas by breaking down their meaning and significance.

Citing Different Source Types

Book

• Required: Author, Title, Institution, Publication Date
• If Applicable: Edition

Chapter from Book

• Required: Author, Chapter Title, Book Title, Institution, Publication Date, Page Number
• If Applicable: Edition, Editor

Online Book

• Required: Author, Title, Institution, URL, Publication Date
• If Applicable: Edition

E-Book

• Required: Author, Title, Institution, Publication Date, E-reader
• If Applicable: Edition

Newspaper

• Required: Article Title, Periodical Title, Publication Date, Page Number
• If Available: Author

Journal Paper

• Required: Author, Article Title, Periodical Title, Publication Date, Volume, Page Number

Electronic Newspaper

• Required: Article Title, Periodical Title, Publication Date
• If Available: Author, Page Number
• If Applicable: Database, E-reader

Electronic Journal Paper

• Required: Author, Article Title, Periodical Title, URL, Publication Date, Volume
• If Available: Page Number
• If Applicable: Database, E-reader

Web Page

• Required: Article Title, Website Title, URL
• If Available: Publication Date, Author
• If Applicable: Institution

Internet Site

• Required: Website Title, URL, Date Accessed
• If Available: Author, Publication Date
• If Applicable: Institution

Video

• Required: Title, URL, Date Accessed
• If Available: Author, Publication Date
• If Applicable: Institution

Blog

• Required: Author, Article Title, Blog Title, URL, Date Accessed
• If Available: Publication Date