Research Project Methods

Study Notes

Many researchers begin by looking in electronic databases because they are convenient to use.
Electronic databases are a collection of hypertext pages that offer information and links to trillions of pages.

Searching the Web requires a Web browser.
A search tool is a service that indexes, organizes, and often rates and reviews Web pages.
Use one search tool and master it, and read the FAQs, Help, and How to Search sections when connecting to a search tool for the first time.
Include specific keywords in search phrases to get relevant results.

Read the FAQs, Help, and How to Search sections of a search tool before conducting a search.

Plagiarism is the act of using others' ideas without proper documentation or by paraphrasing poorly.
Documenting data strengthens an argument, protects against plagiarism, and helps the reader pursue the topic further.

Documenting data is necessary even when information is put in one's own words.
Statements that need to be documented in a report include specific data or ratings, such as the Fujita-Pearson tornado scale.

A report should be organized using a logical order, such as chronological or topical.
The clearest way to show the organization of a report is by recording its divisions in an outline.

Graphics, such as tables, are useful in reports and should be referenced in the text.
The major advantage of line charts is that they show changes over time, thus indicating trends.

A formal report typically includes an introduction, discussion of findings, and a summary, conclusions, or recommendations.
The recommendations of a report may be placed in a separate section or incorporated with the conclusions.
A title page is a prefatory part of a business report, and a letter or memo of transmittal should be written using a direct pattern.

Regardless of the referencing format used, citations should include the author, title, publication, date of publication, page number, and other significant data for all sources used in the report.

Informal proposals are sometimes called letter proposals.
The proposal section discusses the plan for solving a problem.
The staffing section promotes the credentials and expertise of project leaders and support staff.

A database is a collection of information stored electronically so that it is accessible by computer and digitally searchable.
A search tool is a service that indexes, organizes, and often rates and reviews Web pages.
A blog is an online diary or journal that allows visitors to leave public comments.
Documentation is giving credit to information sources.
Primary data comes from firsthand experience, such as surveys, interviews, observations, and experimentations.
Plagiarism is using the ideas of someone else without giving credit, which is unethical.