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Now that you have selected some articles, read each one carefully
to ensure that the information is pertinent to your topic.
Consider the types of scholarly or professional material you
have gathered and what each can add to your understanding
of the discipline (subject area) and your topic. Write detailed
annotations for each source to limit your reliance on direct
quotations.
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Research Articles & Reports
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Research articles include
statements of the problem to be investigated, literature review,
methodology, data analysis and conclusions. Look for information
about sample size and population, statistical data, previous
studies, restatement of the investigated problem, and a summation
verifying the conclusions. The same elements can be found in
research reports. |
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Books and review articles provide a retrospective survey
of research covering an issue or broad area of investigation.
The bibliography in a recently published review article can
be a valuable source for accumulate studies on your topic.
It can also help you understand the current consensus (or
lack of consensus) among scholars and experts in the discipline.
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Doctoral dissertations
are sometimes cited, but difficult to acquire for free. They
are usually to specialized for undergraduate research, but graduate
level students may find them useful. If you find a dissertation
that is perfect for your topic, contact
a librarian about purchasing a copy through UMI Dissertation
Express. |
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If your research will rely on statistical reports, verify
that survey questions and populations surveyed are pertinent
to your topic and cover a relevant time period. Ask yourself
whether there is a logical connection between the data and
your topic. Then ask your professor or study group for support
with statistical analysis.
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