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lib.msu.edu

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Caitlin’s Research Process*

*How I imagined the research process as a K-12 student.

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Start

What do I want to know? What does the assignment require?

Brainstorm possible topics

Find background information

Refine my topic/research question

Develop a search strategy

Find sources

Synthesize information (notes, outline, ect)

Write the paper (and cite the sources)

Get Feedback

Wait! I need more information! 😒

Ug! I hate this topic! 😠

I don’t understand this source. *jargon* 😖

I can’t find any good sources! 😢

Now I have new questions! 😁

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Padlet: Warm Up Activity

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Source Requirements

For this project you will be tasked with finding and evaluating different sources materials. For this paper you will create an annotated bibliography with a minimum of THREE sources.

  • One source must be from disciplinary or professional journal
  • One source must originate from work in a magazine or website that represents a discipline or profession
  • One source must come from work in a popular magazine or website that discusses or reports on the discipline or professional community

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Is this a scholarly article?

  • Author- Scholars in an academic or professional field (i.e. doctors, lawyers, educators)
  • Audience- Scholars or professionals in a particular discipline, field of study, or trade (psychology, medicine, law, etc.)
  • Purpose- Original research (such as scientific experiments, surveys and research studies), Critical analysis of topics relative to the profession Charts, diagrams, and/or tables showing data or experiment results are often included

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Appearance and writing style can help you uncover the purpose and intended audience of an article.

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Examples of Scholarly Articles

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Publishing in a Magazine

Author

Editor

Published!

I like it!!

It just needs a couple of edits.

Here is my article!

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Peer Reviewed Journals

Your sample size is small!

Fix it!

Editor

This has potential.

Author

Here is my article!

Peer Reviewers

(Referees)

What about XYZ Theory?

How did COVID impact this?

Published!

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Is this a trade article?

  • Author- Experts in the field or staff writers
  • Audience- Practitioners in a field (any field not just “the trades”)
  • Purpose- Conveys quick updates for busy professionals, information about upcoming events, tips and tricks, updates on best practices, opinion pieces, current issues.

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Appearance and writing style can help you uncover the purpose and intended audience of an article.

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Examples of Trade Articles

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Comparing Article Types

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Scholarly

Trade

Popular

Author

Scholars/researchers

Often have advanced degrees

Staff writers, practitioners in the field

Often journalists, but could be anyone

Audience

Other scholars

People working in their field

anyone

Purpose

To share original research

To share news about the field, to share information about events, equipment, new best practices, ect.

To inform

To entertain

To make money

Look and Feel

Long, lots of citations, lots of jargon, “wall of text,” images and graphics convey information

Not as long (1-6ish pages) some jargon, may include eye-catching graphics, may include some citations

Written to be easily understandable by the public, may include clickbait title, may include eye catching graphics.

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Padlet: Source Type Activity

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From the Project 3 Instructions:

“This project functions in part as a research paper. This paper is not asking you participate in conversations within the professional community you choose or to evaluate what these works do. Instead, it is asking you to use research to analyze what it takes to be a successful member of that field.

This project is intended to help you as individuals to learn more about what it means to be a participating member of the profession you are hoping to pursue in a way that can help you succeed in the future.”

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Step 1: Database Filters

Look for filters/limiters in the database to help you limit your search results to a specific source type.

  • Need a scholarly article? Look for terms like peer-reviewed, scholarly, or refereed.
  • Be aware sometimes the “magazines” filters will give you trade journals too!

The database filters are not enough to get you what you need. You must still evaluate the source using your own best judgement!

  • Evaluate the article. Does it have the features of the source you are looking for?
  • Investigate the periodical. Who is their audience? What is their publication process?
  • Investigate the author. What is their background? What do they typically write about?

Step 2: Evaluate the Article

Finding Specific Source Types

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Worksheet

(& Demo Searches)