Research Skills

Question 1

What is ethical scholarship?

Answer 1

The practice of ethical scholarship is both a skill and an attitude needed for good
research.

It relates to how a researcher, or more broadly a scholar, ensures that their work is honest, fair, and safe.

Question 2

Practice ethical scholarship when referencing source material by:

Answer 2

 being honest about the source of information used

 acknowledging the words and ideas of others

 accurately listing all the sources used.

Question 3

Practice ethical scholarship when conducting research by survey or interview by:

Answer 3

 respecting each person’s right to make an informed decision about taking part

 respecting each person’s right to confidentiality or anonymity

 respecting cultural sensitivities

 presenting the results honestly by avoiding bias and acknowledging the limitations of the data.

Question 4

Questions for students to consider when identifying the origin of a source focus on:

Answer 4

 authorship

 date

 the nature of the source (eg primary/secondary, official/unofficial source)

 format (eg interview, news article, novel, photo)

 literary style (eg editorial, academic argument, etc).

Question 5

Questions for students to consider when identifying the purpose of a source focus on:

Answer 5

 intended audience

 the intended or stated purpose

 the intended message(s).

Question 6

Some aspects to consider and note when identifying the context of a source are:

Answer 6

 historical context

 religious context

 political context

 social/cultural/geographical context

 the ‘in text’ context of the ‘text’

 the context of the ‘text’

 the context of the ‘user’.

Question 7

What is reliability? How to test it?

Answer 7

Reliability is the degree to which a source accurately expresses the views it claims to represent.

 reliability of text material can be tested using the following questions:
 Is it authoritative? Who sponsored it? Who is the author?
 Is it consistent or contradictory?

• reliability of survey data can be tested using the following questions:
   Was the sample large enough and did it represent the population?
   Was the data comprehensive enough to reflect the views of the population?
   Was the methodology consistent with research principles?
   Were the questions fair or were they leading, ambiguous, presumptuous,
  potentially embarrassing, relying on opinion or on possibly faulty memory?
   Is the data from multiple sources consistent?
   Was the report free of bias and did it acknowledge any limitations?

Question 8

What is usefulness? How to test it?

Answer 8

Usefulness refers to the degree of relevance or the degree to which the source serves the intended purpose.

 informative - is it informative? Does it relate to the task? Is it up to date?

 meaningful - does it arrive at any conclusions?

 relevance - does it contribute anything to the course content?

Question 9

What is contestability? How to test it?

Answer 9

Contestable nature refers to the degree to which particular interpretations are open
to debate. This may be due to differing points of view or insufficient evidence. Such
debate will often not be resolved but remain open to the ongoing discussion.

 Does it critically question a held position?

 Do alternative views on the matter exist?

 Is there professional disagreement or a diversity of views on the subject?

Question 10

What are interpretations?

Answer 10

Interpretations: the differing ways a subject may be understood

Question 11

What is Point of view?

Answer 11

Point-of-view: how one sees or thinks of something. Point of view refers to an attitude, standpoint, position, or perspective of the creator or originator of the source
and the context or circumstances from which this point of view originates.

To make sense of point of view it helps to consider the message, how the message is
presented and techniques used.

Ask the question, “Whose ‘voice’ are we hearing?”
and “What do they want us to ‘hear’?”

The point of view expressed may be that of an individual. For instance, an atheist
may see only the visible evidence of a religious experience and discount any spiritual
effects.

Or the point of view may be that of a group such as a religion, a political party or other group in society.
The analysis and evaluation of interpretations and points of view should be alert to bias, misinformation or gaps, such as missing interpretations, ‘voices’ or point of
view

Question 12

Research

Answer 12

Overarching Questions - Focus question

• hypothesis
• body questions
• research and ethical considerations
• consolidation of information
• report and summary
• presentation of findings
• references