...Student’s guide to research: a four step process The first step to research is to know where to start… your library! Step 1: Define your topic Understand your assignment. Get an overview of your topic using general reference sources, such as text books, dictionaries and encyclopedias. List keywords for searches (e.g. names, places, people, dates, issues, ideas) Step 2: Locate and evaluate your resources Explore a variety of resources: o Books o Magazines, journals, newspapers – Using Article Databases, see page 3. o Internet Review your resources. Check for: o Authority (author’s expertise, reputable organization) o Point of view (bias) o Accuracy (verify the facts) o Dates (how current is it? does currency matter?) o Relevance (does the information address your topic?) Choose the best and most reliable sources Ask your school librarian Step 3: Searching Use your list of keywords in your searches Try synonyms (different words that mean the same) in your searches Organize your search results into a logical order Step 4: Document your sources When taking notes, photocopying, or printing, be sure to record: o Author o Title o Place of publication o Name of publisher o Page numbers used o Date of publishing o Last updated date (for websites) o URL (for websites) Use the MLA, APA, Chicago/Traditional bibliographic style guides to ensure proper format. Ask yourself: Have I answered the questions about my topic? Are the...
Words: 1257 - Pages: 6
...The first step in the students guide to research is to frame your research question. You must pose a question carefully and precisely. Whether you have noticed a problem that you think you could help fix or have a desire to understand something. You are forging the unknown. It’s important that you define your terms when coming up with a question so you know exactly what you are measuring, observing, and how to collect your data. When you evaluate your findings you must have a clear picture of what exactly you are looking for. The major assumptions and biases of the drug industry that underlie drug research is that the drug companies are for profit. So it is a huge conflict of interest and unethical for drug companies to be funding any research. Healthcare somewhere along the way got turned into a business, it is no longer about what is best for patients. Drug companies are only interested in making money and therefore they skew the research using varying tactics so that the public is none the wiser. They basically coerce everyone involved in the research process. They use manipulative PR tactics to cover up findings unfavorable to their research or products. To confuse and mislead the public. The offer varying degrees of truth on how the research is conducted, how they evaluate the findings, what they are and are not made aware of, and how exactly everyone involved is finically compensated. Another example of this would be paying for expert testimony in a trial...
Words: 613 - Pages: 3
...Should all cars be required to have backup cameras? Tanard Hill Professor Christian Faught English 215 March 13th, 2016 The government, in April 2014 passed a law that all cars built new after May 2016 must have backup cameras. Have backup cameras reduced accidental deaths? The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHITSA) reports that “58 to 69 lives are expected to be saved each year once the entire on-road vehicle fleet is equipped with rear visibility systems.” USA Today’s website listed an article written by Chris Woodyard (2015) who investigated that many automakers, responding to consumer demand, have gotten ahead of the regulation by putting standard or optional cameras on new models as they are redesigned, even on their smallest, most economical cars. Vehicles should not be required to have a backup camera because it is not always as clear of a picture as you may think, especially during weather and foggy days. (Woodyard, 2015 Administration, 2014). The backup cameras fog up in a little rain or any other precipitation, which causes the backup camera to be insufficient to use. Although having back up cameras has reduced the accidents by a large percentage; once it is completely abolished in 2018; will drivers attempt to only use the backup camera without the notion of looking behind them? In a 2010 report, the DOT's NHTSA said, “that each year 210 people die and 15,000 are injured in light-vehicle backup incidents, with about 31% of the...
Words: 1784 - Pages: 8
...The first step in the students guide to research is to “Frame Your Research Question.” Framing a good research question is the most important step toward having a successful research project. Your research question should use multiple sources to back up your own distinctive argument and it should be developed accurately and carefully avoiding questions that can be answered in just a few statements. One of the major assumptions of the drug industry is the fact that all research is accurate and the results are true. In fact the results may not even be valid on the research of humans. Some companies that want to promote their product will sometimes add generalizations to the research criteria so that the results will look good in their favor. These research studies are being done by employees of the drug companies and/or parties that are being financially compensated for their input. Companies that are doing this are actually putting the consumer at risk for many other medical problems or even death, all for the sake of making money. My opinion about the drug industry is that these companies are so hungry for money that they just don’t care that they are endangering other people’s lives. They are willing to let money get in the way of having a trustworthy and reliable company. They must not forget that some of their own family members may one day be prescribed the exact medicine that they have falsely claimed is safe with minimal side effects. I would recommend that...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...Assignment 1: Evaluating Bias in Research By: Andrew Snyder Professor: Dr. Belinda Hartnett Introduction to Sociology 23JAN2016 Assignment 1: Evaluating Bias in Research By: Andrew Snyder The first step in the Students Guide to Research is to frame your research question. In order to frame your research question properly you need to be formulating the research question precisely and carefully, which makes this one of the most important steps toward ensuring a successful research project. I would say that in order to accomplish this step I would need to build my research question by defining the subject of the research and then proceeding to explain as to how I would measure or evaluate it in order to answer the question at hand. In identifying the major assumptions and biases of the drug industry that underlie drug research you can pretty much find out that the research has been rigged to favor the drug itself and or the drug company. The reason being is that the research will one way or another point to the manufacturer of the drug paying off the people that are reviewing the drug so that the article will favor the drug company and will lead to the company making more money. These companies favor money far more than helping people. As a consumer, I feel pretty much the same way about what the article speaks about. I feel that the only reason why we don’t have cures for many diseases in this day and age is because the greedy chief executives of these pharmaceutical...
Words: 417 - Pages: 2
...tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com Assignment: Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing Sources Resources: Finding, Evaluating, and Utilizing Credible Information; Appropriate Style Guidelines; the Axia College Writing Resources Web Site; Appendix D; and Appendix E Due Date: Day 7 [Individual forum] Review How to Work with Information from Sources at the Axia College Writing Resources Web site at http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/researchroom/sources regarding when and how to quote, summarize, and paraphrase sources. Practice note-taking techniques by quoting a source you plan to use for your research paper, summarizing a second source, and paraphrasing a third source. Follow APA style guidelines at the Center for Writing Excellence to cite your sources: http://www.apollolibrary.com/cwe/pdfs/AXIASampleAPAReferences.pdf Use Appendix E to complete this activity. Answer the following questions: How do you decide what information is noteworthy and what is not? How do you determine whether to quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source? Post Appendix E as an attachment ------------------------------------------------------------ ENG 102 Assignment: Bias, Rhetorical Devices, and Argumentation (UOP) For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com Assignment: Bias, Rhetorical Devices, and Argumentation Resources: American Rhetoric Web site and Bias, Rhetorical Devices, and Argumentation Due Date: Day 7 [post to the Individual forum] Listen to the speech at http://www...
Words: 654 - Pages: 3
...DeMetria Beasley Assignment 1: Evaluating Bias in Research Kish Sociology 001 April 25,2015 After reading the article “As drug industry influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias”, raises the question can drug testing be trusted? The article raises key elements to why industries are now biased and why not all drug companies can be trusted with there experiments for drug testing. The article outlines how industries are withholding records and test results to ensure sales and to pass FDA (Food and Drug, Administration) laws. The article also outlines how the people in the work place are now bias no matter the outcome of the drug, or the dangers to the public people, and the drug consumers. The first step in student research is Identifying your research question. Can drug testing be trused? Insuring that your research question is accurate forms great research. A few assumptions and bias of the drug industry is the workers for the company are those that are being used for the testing, so there results will seem as they are not flawed. Companies are not doing fully researched experiments. In my own personal opinion the first steps to student research first finding a great subject to research, then forming a research question. Finding an ongoing subject, where you can have multiple articles on your subject. Being able to research a subject where you can find your own data if need be. I as a consumer question drug sales, especially new drugs. Testing...
Words: 342 - Pages: 2
...Evaluating Bias in Research J. Ward Lucy Rabenda-Bajkowska, Ph.D. SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology January 25, 2015 The first step in the student’s guide to research is to frame your research question. The process of formulating a research question has to be precise. Research projects come from many sources which can include empirical data. In the first step you also have to define your terms and how the terms will be measured. The student’s guide to research first step is to frame your research question. The question has to be precise if not it will mess up the entire project. You have to have many sources to base your question off of the information in order to have accurate information to form the question. Defining your terms and measurements will set up the research project by giving the sociologist a guide to work the question that has been presented. To frame your research question you have to be precise, have many sources, and have definitive terms and measurements if all of these things don’t work together you will not have an accurate question to start the project. In the article “As drug industry’s influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias” they explained how drug companies can make there drug look better in order for it to sell better. The New England Journal of Medicine features articles that the pharmaceutical companies and employees have influence over creating bias against the drugs. There is an assumption that there pharmaceutical...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...Evaluating Credibility and Validity of Sources: We learned that it is important to evaluate the credibility of the source and make a judgement on its relevance to our topic/argument. Credibility can be validated based off on the background of the author, impartiality, style and tone of article and currency. For instance for an argument on animal rights as described in…, the argument can be presented in different ways depending on the specialization of the author. A phychologist, philosopher or economist might present the argument in different style. Also, the author’s personal interest to the subject might affect the an author’s opinion or treatment to the subject. For instance, an author who is vegetarian is likely to argue against using animals for food and may present argument in a way that’s less than impartial. The publication Alongwith the author’s background, it is also important to validate the author’s personal interest associated to the subject ; We also learned that a special interest or preference might affect an author’s opinion or treatment to subject. In the simplest terms, a declared vegetarian is likely to argue against using animals for food and may present those arguments in a way that’s less than impartial. The writing style and tone is another way to form credibility and validity of sources of information. You should determine whether the tone is professional or not. If it is indeed professional and the tone is for the targeted audience...
Words: 3442 - Pages: 14
...Essays are an essential element of learning, particularly at an undergraduate level. With a well-written essay comes the power to change minds, to influence thinking and create new perspectives. When evaluating the claims presented by a source in an academic essay, a critical and reflective thinker does not simply accept arguments as ‘fact’. Nor do they create arguments based on innuendo and bias. This essay will contend that for students at university level to be taken seriously they must use critical and reflective thinking to write an effective academic essay. The following points will be addressed; what constitutes a credible essay, what is critical thinking and reflective practice, what is the importance of these skills in developing arguments, the benefits of thinking critically and reflectively, the use of critical reflective thinking in evaluating sources and the importance of recognizing those sources correctly for the work to be considered credible. So what constitutes a credible essay? The purpose of the essay is to forward knowledge, to tackle an already existing argument and build on it using sound evidence and research. “Essays are a document of your learning; they show proof of your understanding of the topic and your ability to communicate that understanding convincingly” (Germov 2011, 2). An essay must put forth an argument then break it down to prove or disprove the thesis. The statement needs to be dissected and the main points need to be analysed. What...
Words: 1240 - Pages: 5
...Evaluation of Research Today with a lot of information available in different format and forms it is very critical to have it evaluated properly in order to present credible research. To provide reliable, relevant, and bias free information the students should carefully review research to ensure that it meets the guidelines for writing. To make sure that the information is credible or reliable the students should pay attention “to proof of facts” (Litman, 2011, p. 7). Credibility of information depends on facts, statistics, and evidence; also, the students have to make sure that information agrees with personal knowledge and with other specialists in the field. In addition it is very important to see the publication of the source, either it “scholarly or peer-reviewed” (Litman, 2011, p. 7). According to Bell (2009), these article are written by researches and practitioners in particular subject areas and information includes footnotes, bibliography, or references. Another important aspect on searching is making sure that the information bias free. The students have to make sure that this “information has balanced presentation of opposing perspectives” (Litman, 2011, p. 7). In any publicity the author should not make any point of view critically. The reader should be responsible making his or her own decision on a particular topic. To make sure that the author uses proper tone of language in publication also make a major role on bias free information (Bell, 2009). Not appropriate...
Words: 437 - Pages: 2
...Waldron SOC100 Edward Hernandez April 24, 2016 Evaluating Bias in Research The first step in the student’s guide to research is to frame your research question. Whether you have noticed a problem that you think you could help fix or have a desire to understand something, you must pose a question carefully and precisely. It is important that you define your terms when coming up with a question so you know exactly what you are measuring, observing, and how to collect data. When you evaluate your findings you must have a clear picture of what exactly you are looking for. Knowing how and where to search efficiently and effectively is vital in order to find the best information for the research process. This involves determining the sources for finding information that would be useful in the research process. A research that has no valid sources is not likely to yield the desired results. After reading the article “As drug industry influence over research grows, so does the potential for bias”, raises the question can drug testing be trusted? The article raises key elements to why industries are now biased and why not all drug companies can be trusted with their experiments for drug testing. The article outlines how industries are withholding records and test results to ensure sales and to pass FDA (Food and Drug, Administration) laws. The major assumptions and biases of the drug industry that underlie drug research is that the drug companies are for profit. So it is a...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...Running head: SUBTLE BIAS SHARED WITHIN AN AMERICAN SOCIAL CONSTRUCT Subtle Bias as a Social Construct In America May 28, 2012 Abstract An understanding of the subtle bias that affects our society is a form of humanistic deception. Although the norms in America appear to be uniform; we will see that biases are influenced by various social factors such as stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, and labeling including the Attribution Theory. This paper will compare and contrast scientific literature to gain more insight into the subtlety of this social construct. I am seeking not to understand the reason why we as social beings are bias, but to simply show that this distorted truth exist. Subtle Bias as a Social Construct In America My theory of unconscious bias along with the self-affirmation process that accompanies it clouds our worldview in our present society. We all do it no matter how accepting we appear to be or even claim to be. Irrational thoughts are usually based on a worldview that illustrates our interpretation of the world we live in (Wilson, 2001). This worldview is a set of assumptions and beliefs that we hold on to that guide our behavior. It helps us to make sense out of our lives. It determines what we think about human nature, causes of emotional issues, and where bias comes from (Entwistle, 2004). There is always some form of discriminatory behavior or covert prejudice prevailing within our essence. Unfortunately, there is a strong manipulative...
Words: 2423 - Pages: 10
...Assignment 1: Evaluating Bias in Research Kaneidra McKinney Professor Williams Sociology 5/8/15 The first step in a student’s guide to research is to understand the key building blocks of a good sociological research. Sociological research seldom follows a formula that would indicate exactly how to proceed. They often have to feel their way as they go, responding to the challenges that arise during a research and adapting new methods to fit the circumstances. The first step of research in my own words would be almost the same as a student’s guide to research. Meaning, I would first have to have a good understanding of the topic being discussed. I would do research finding out different information on the target topic of the research. One of the major assumptions and bias of the drug industry does not fall in the upper half of the best performing sectors. A majority of the companies within the drug industry are ranked as average; these are companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer. Other companies that are ranked below the average industry standard include AstraZeneca, Novartis and Eli Lilly. The companies that are ranked in the top half of the best performing sectors include Actavis and Valeant. This is an important factor for investment purposes as good financial performance drives the investment opportunities within the best performing industries. The Drug industry has registered positive financial performance in the third quarter of 2014 having registered tremendous...
Words: 387 - Pages: 2
...How to assess the validity of online information Executive summary Starting with an answer on question “Why to evaluate?” this document explains techniques and methods of evaluation of online information through two similar approaches. It does not compare and it does not suggest better way of evaluation either. However, it raises the importance of evaluation but it is up to the reader himself/herself what will do with information covered here. Introduction The World Wide Web provides information from all around the world. There is extremely wide variety of material, different in its reliability, accuracy and value. No one has to approve the content before publishing like in more traditional form (books or magazines) and everyone can publish. Internet by its nature was designed to provide unrestricted information. There are no rules or standards as far as quality of information which writer can put on the internet are concerned. This information can be found in a large variety of kinds and was created for different purposes. Each of these different kinds and purposes has various levels of quality, credibility and reliability. Purpose of this report is to discuss how to assess validity of online information and most appropriate methods of evaluation. Discussion 1. Why to evaluate online information The nature of the web itself and the fact that anyone can publish or even change content of some...
Words: 2060 - Pages: 9
