Читать книгу The Research Experience - Ann Sloan Devlin - Страница 39

As indicated in Chapter 1, research in science acknowledges the past as it looks to the future. These two views, one back and one forward, take the form of reviewing the literature (looking back) and then generating hypotheses that advance literature (looking forward). The research should enable us to answer the question, “What’s new and noteworthy here?” Thus, research combines tradition and innovation.

In building on a theme of Chapter 1, it is useful to try to generate some ideas before you consult the literature. Why? Because once you look at what other people have done, that information may influence how you think about a particular topic. In other words, consulting the literature as your first step may limit the range of ideas you consider. After you have generated possible research areas, consulting the literature is next.

This chapter will emphasize the “looking back” part of the process by discussing sources of ideas, techniques for tracking down articles about your ideas, and approaches to reading that literature once you obtain it (that is, how to identify what’s important). A significant portion of the chapter focuses on library resources and using them to locate and obtain articles.

The chapter will look forward by including examples of research questions that are broad versus narrow, considering the role of what are called third variables, that is, variables that are unmeasured and can undermine the relationships we seek to measure. A recommended timeline for conducting research in a single semester is provided. The chapter will conclude with a definition and discussion of academic fraud. Plagiarism, a particular kind of academic fraud, is covered in Chapter 13 in the context of writing up research.