04 Finding and Reading sources Flashcards
(17 cards)
Primary Source
A primary source is one where the author is the source of origin for the
information
secondary source
is one where the author summarizes
a series of primary sources.
Types of Sources
Handbooks/Edited collections
Academic Books/Monographs
Academic Journal Articles
References/Bibliography
Collections/Archives
Measurement collections
Statistical Sources
Government Documents
read strategically
Step 1: Read the abstracts.
Step 2: Read the introduction.
Step 3: Read the methods.
After Steps 1-3 decide whether the article is still worth keeping.
Step 4: Read the discussion.
Step 5: Read the conclusion.
Taking notes
Highlight while you read, but also take notes about how you are going to piece
things together.
Focus on themes and patterns.
Construct the narrative.
Piece pieces of information into an outline. Take notes on which article’s
information fits into the outline.
A review of literature
is a comprehensive survey of what researchers have already done of the topic you want to study.
Research is like a conversation
The conversation has already arrived but we will be adding to it
You’re finding your sources that you will use for your studies
Academic books or monographs
Single author who is an expert on the topic
Seen as the best sources
Academic journal articles
Reporting vehicle for social sciences
Up to date research on stuff
References or bibliographies
Bibliography is like a paragraph about each source
References is just the citation
Collections and archives
Good for historical research
Collections are related to a certain thing and you have to go to the area that has it.
Qualitative research
methods include gathering and interpreting non-numerical data.
Qualitative Research Examples
Interviews
Focus groups
Documents
Personal accounts or papers
Cultural records
Observation
Quantitative studies
require different data collection methods. These methods include compiling numerical data to test causal relationships among variables.
Quantitative Research Method Examples
Experiments
Questionnaires
Surveys
Database reports
Qualitative researchers seek to learn
from details of the testimonies of those they are studying, also called their informants.
Over the course of a study, conclusions are drawn by compiling, comparing and evaluating the informants’ feedback and input. Qualitative research is often focused on answering the “why” behind a phenomenon, correlation or behavior.
quantitative data are analyzed numerically to develop a statistical picture of a trend or connection. Such statistical results may shed light on
cause-and-effect relationships.
They may either confirm or disprove the study’s original hypothesis. Whether positive or negative, the outcome can spark awareness and action. Quantitative research is often focused on answering the questions of “what” or “how” in regards to a phenomenon, correlation or behavior.
