Research Methods Literacy Modules

Multimedia:

materials such as images, video footage, artwork, or sound recordings related to the issue or event

Primary source

Primary sources are first-hand accounts of events or research, including artifacts, autobiographies, or even photos.

You have conducted a search for Communism and received far too many results about Vladimir Lenin. Choose the logical operator that will exclude Lenin from the results. A. AND B. OR C. NOT D. ANY

C. NOT

Dictionaries, thesauri, and encyclopedias are considered what type of resource? A. Monographs B. Periodicals C. Reference works D. Guides

C. Reference works

Take a moment to think about each of the items below. Which one qualifies as a secondary source? A. A photo of Vincent Van Gogh's "A Wheatfield, With Cypresses" B. Original sketch of "A Wheatfield, With Cypresses" C. A critique of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, including "A Wheatfield, With Cypresses" D. A and C

D. A and C because Secondary sources describe or analyze information detailed in primary sources. This includes photos taken of an original painting as well as written critiques of the original painting. .

Disinformation

Disinformation is is a deliberately misleading statement spread to deceive a specific audience.

Fabricated claims

Fabricated claims are statements that rely on misrepresented or made up claims to present a skewed view of facts.

Misinformation

information that is false or inaccurate, causing the audience to be misinformed.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about peer-reviewed articles? A. Peer-reviewed articles help to build your knowledge base in a particular field. B. Using peer-reviewed articles to add credibility to your arguments generally is discouraged. C. The purpose of peer review is to ensure support of existing research. D. Peer-reviewed articles are the only venues where research is presented.

A. Peer-reviewed articles help to build your knowledge base in a particular field.

True or False: Trade journals are industry publications that rarely include research findings but contain technical language and jargon. A. True B. False

A. True, Trade journals rarely include research findings but contain technical language and jargon.

Which of the following statements regarding background research on your topic are TRUE? A. Background research helps you understand the lingo, keywords, and concepts that are used to describe specific topics. B. It is important to perform background research using encyclopedias, books, and the web before turning to journal articles. C. All of the above correct D. None of the above

C. A & B are correct

What are the key concepts in the following research question: "What is the impact of climate change on animal species?" A. Impact, climate change, species B. Climate, animals, impact C. Climate change, animals

C. Climate change, animals

Providing credit to a creator when referencing his ideas, checking an item's copyright status before using it, and utilizing the four factors test when applicable all are examples of:

Respecting intellectual property

Bibliographic databases provide: A. Descriptions of books or articles related to your topic. B. Full-text of all the entries in its index. C. Audio and visual materials.

A. Descriptions of books or articles related to your topic.

Why is identifying keywords important for research? A. Thoughtful keywords give you better search results. B. Instructors are impressed when you use keywords in your research paper. C. You have to have at least 5 keywords in order to search a library database.

A. Thoughtful keywords give you better search results.

Which term would allow you to search "pharmacy," "pharmacies," and "pharmaceuticals" simultaneously in one search? A. pharmatics B. pharmac* C. pharma$

B. pharmac* :To search for all of the terms at once, use the search term pharmac*. This is known as truncation.

For your geology term paper, you've planned to write about Sacred Dog Creek. Instead of finding results about this Texas stream, your searches are filled with records about dogs and other creeks. Which search technique would help you only find results about Sacred Dog Creek? A. Parentheses ( ) B. Quotation marks " " C. Wildcard *

B. Quotation marks " " In order to search for an exact phrase, put your phrase in quotation marks

What is the most effective way to begin your keyword search? A. Start with the most specific keywords you can find. B. Start with the broad concepts related to your topic and then add or try more specific keywords. C. Only use one keyword that you think will work the best.

B. Start with the broad concepts related to your topic and then add or try more specific keywords.

Which of the following statements about encyclopedias is TRUE? A. They contain word definitions and synonyms. B. They can contain either general or more specific subjects such as economics, history, or science. C. They only can be general in their subject matter. D. They contain in-depth, original research.

B. They can contain either general or more specific subjects such as economics, history, or science.

What is a periodical?

A periodical is any publication that comes out on a regular schedule, including newspapers, journals, and magazines.

True or False: As the research process is cyclical in nature, it is OK to step back and adjust your approach. If you struggle to find appropriate resources, it may be helpful to filter your results or try other search terms.

True

It is a good idea to use library databases for research, because: A. Databases are cost-effective for the school. B. Google searches never return relevant results. C. Databases provide access to scholarly results and better search options than those found on the open web

C. Databases provide access to scholarly results and better search options than those found on the open web.

Which of the following traits DOES NOT apply to popular press publications? A. Little to no editorial evaluation B. Focus on profits C. A lot of advertising D. Significant fact-checking

D. Significant fact-checking

Concept maps are effective for choosing a research topic, because: A. Concept maps are brainstorming tools that help you make connections between ideas and keywords. correct B. Concept maps essentially are outlines of your research paper. C. Concept maps provide fact-based evidence for your thesis statement.

A. Concept maps are brainstorming tools that help you make connections between ideas and keywords. correct

You are conducting research for a course on Dutch cinema. You would like to use nesting to receive as many relevant results as possible. Choose the appropriate combination to fill the blanks below. A. (Dutch OR Netherlands) AND (film OR cinema) B. (Germany AND Dutch) NOT popcorn C. (Movie OR film) AND Holland D. (Germany OR Dutch) ANY cinema

A. (Dutch OR Netherlands) AND (film OR cinema)

Which of the following is NOT a trait of scholarly journals? A. Editors always review articles. B. There is a lot of advertising. C. Authors' names and credentials are present. D. Articles include references and citations.

B. There is a lot of advertising.

Analytical Sources:

sources that offer an in-depth historical, economic, or social review of an issue or event after the fact

The first step in the process of going from a research assignment to a thesis statement is: A. Start with a description of the topic. B. Consider different aspects of your topic. C. Start with a general area of interest.

C. Start with general area of interest

Which of the following types of sources is not a periodical? A. Magazine B. Scholarly journal C. Textbook D. Newspaper

C. Textbook

You find a relevant article for your research paper. Where should you look to identify keywords for additional searches? A. Synonyms, title, citations B. Abstract, citations, diagrams C. Title, abstract, subject headings

C. Title, abstract, subject headings

Secondary Source

Secondary sources describe or analyze information detailed in primary sources. Examples include biographies, documentaries, and reviews.

Boolean Operators

AND, OR, and NOT used in search strings to refine the scope of the search

True or False: Library databases NEVER provide the full-text of a book or article. A. True B. False

B. False

Which of the following is the best example of a thesis statement? A. Social media is a popular way to find and connect to people. B. Social media has a negative effect on society and individuals because social media perpetuates cyberbullying. C. Social media has a negative effect on society and individuals.

A. Social media is a popular way to find and connect to people.

Why are peer-reviewed journals considered the "gold standard" for research projects? A. Because articles are written by scholars and reviewed by other scholars in the field. B. Because the articles are reviewed by members of the public before they are published. C. Because they are published only once a year. D. Because they cover current events.

A.Because articles are written by scholars and reviewed by other scholars in the field.

Which type of database is best for locating background information on your research topic? A. Bibliographic B. General reference C. Subject-specific database

B. General reference databases are best for locating background information on your research topic as they contain reference resources such as subject-specific dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Even though you were the more experienced candidate, your boss promoted the new reporter because they went to the same university. This is an example of: A. Communal reinforcement. B. Ingroup bias. C. Confirmation bias. D. Social bias.

B. Ingroup bias.

Select the appropriate source type for the example: The New York Times Book Review. A. Primary B. Secondary C. Tertiary

B. Secondary

What are the key concepts in the following research topic: "Fast food restaurants are responsible for obesity"? A. Obesity, restaurants, responsible B. Obesity, fast food C. Fast food restaurants

B. Obesity, fast food

Your environmental studies professor has assigned a research paper about dams in North America. At least 2 of your sources must be primary. Which of the following is an example of a primary source? A. PBS documentary about major dams B. Photos taken of Lake Powell in 1955 before the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam C. A manual published in 2012 about maintaining original electrical systems in dams D. All of the above

B. Photos taken of Lake Powell in 1955 before the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam

Complete the following statement: Being biased means ______. A. Being aware of prejudices influencing your actions. B. Tending to favor one way of thinking over another. C. Trying to understand alternative points of view. D. Entering situations without preconceived opinions.

B. Tending to favor one way of thinking over another.

Read the following titles carefully. Which one is an example of a primary source? A. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac B. The New Concise History of the Crusades by Thomas F. Madden C. The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie by Andrew Carnegie D. 1776 by David McCullough

C. The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie by Andrew Carnegie because it's a firsthand account of the event

Which of the following sentences about thesis statements is accurate? A. Thesis statements come at the end of your paper and sum up what you have discussed in your paper. B. Thesis statements should be specific but they do not need to be debatable. C. Thesis statements need to answer your research question and explain how or why. correct

C. Thesis statements need to answer your research question and explain how or why.

Which of the following terms refers to the subject of the article? A. Controlled Vocabulary B. Subject Headings C. Tags D. Index Terms E. Descriptors F. All of the above

F. All of the above

True or False: Once you decide on a research question, you must stick with it, because you can never repeat steps of the research process.

False. The research process is cyclical, which means you always can go back and repeat steps if necessary. You may need to change your research question based on the information that you find, and that is OK.

Reese seeks out proof that a gluten-free diet will make him smarter. Even though scientific evidence suggests otherwise, he values sources that reinforce his beliefs. This is an example of: A. Ingroup bias. B. Confirmation bias. C. Conscious social bias. D. Unconscious social bias.

B. Confirmation bias.

Choose the item that is NOT true regarding your thesis statement. A. A thesis statement can appear in either the introduction or the conclusion of your paper as long as it provides a summary of your topic. B. A thesis statement is the main idea of your paper and should preview what your paper will cover. C. A thesis statement should raise an issue that is specific to your topic and is debatable. D. It is NOT OK to introduce your thesis statement in later paragraphs following the beginning of your paper.

A. A thesis statement can appear in either the introduction or the conclusion of your paper as long as it provides a summary of your topic.

Which of the following is the best strategy for locating the most useful library databases for your research topic? A. Consult library research or resource guides. B. Locate the list of databases on the library website and use the first database listed. C. Conduct a Google search for library databases.

A. Consult library research or resource guides.

Which of the following sources for a research assignment about the 1968 Democratic National Convention would be considered secondary? A. A poster from the convention B. A book of nonfiction published in 2014 exploring the legacy of the events C. Photographs of the protests at the Convention D. An interview with one of the convention delegates

B. A book of nonfiction published in 2014 exploring the legacy of the events. Secondary sources are written after the event being studied, and analyze or describe the original event

Which of the following is an example of a conscious bias? A. A runner who tends to frequent a track that stays open late at night B. An Asian studies professor who only assigns books by American authors C. A judge who declares a defendant innocent based on forensic evidence D. A football coach disqualifying a player because of their low grades

B. An Asian studies professor who only assigns books by American authors

Which of the following materials is an example of a tertiary source? A. Video check-ins from a crew circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered sailboat B. An encyclopedia entry about solar-powered vehicles C. A news broadcast reporting on the event D. B and C

B. An encyclopedia entry about solar-powered vehicles

Choose the answer that correctly outlines the order of the steps in the research process. A. Choose a topic. > Create your research question/thesis. > Search for information regarding your topic. > Evaluate your information. > Write your paper. B. Determine your project requirements. > Choose your topic. > Perform background research. > Create your research question/thesis. > Search for information regarding your topic. > Evaluate your information. > Synthesize the information and write your paper. C. Choose your topic. > Determine your project requirements. > Perform background research. > Search for information regarding your topic. > Evaluate your information. > Write your paper. D. Determine your project requirements. > Choose your topic. > Create your research question/thesis. > Perform background research. > Search for information regarding your topic. > Evaluate your information.

B. Determine your project requirements. > Choose your topic. > Perform background research. > Create your research question/thesis. > Search for information regarding your topic. > Evaluate your information. > Synthesize the information and write your paper.

Assessing your personal biases will help you: A. Reinforce the beliefs you already follow. B. Argue with people who have different opinions. C. Better related to like-minded people. D. Make informed decisions based on evidence.

D. Make informed decisions based on evidence.

Once an author submits his or her paper to a journal, _____ evaluate the paper. If they determine that it may be a good candidate for publication, the paper is sent to several experts, or _____, for review. If an editor agrees with their recommendation to _____ the paper, the editor and author work together to revise the paper for publication, usually based on feedback from the referees. A. children, peers, hide B. editors, non-experts, throw out C. readers, non-experts, publish D. editors, peers, publish

D. editors, peers, publish

What makes a good thesis?

Good thesis statements are debatable and explain the how or why of the research question. It provides a preview of what your paper will cover.

Tertiary sources

Tertiary sources compile and summarize information from primary and secondary sources. They can be almanacs, dictionaries, and in this case, encyclopedia entries

True or False: If you are having trouble narrowing down a topic for your research, it can be helpful to look at a general area of interest, break it down by listing subjects that fit within the area, choose one point and consider different aspects of it, and finally formulate one issue into a description of your topic.

True