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Research skills

Research skills. Use of different sources. Make a list of different sources that could help you in your research. Secondary sources. Library : books, magazines, newspapers, atlas… Internet TV / radio CD rom. Primary sources. Interviews Surveys Personal experiment or investigation

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Research skills

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  1. Research skills

  2. Use of different sources • Make a list of different sources that could help you in your research

  3. Secondary sources • Library : books, magazines, newspapers, atlas… • Internet • TV / radio • CD rom

  4. Primary sources • Interviews • Surveys • Personal experiment or investigation • Questionnaires…

  5. Example : Questionnaires • 2 basic types of questions • open-ended. No set answers to choose from. This produces mainly qualitative data • Closed questions / yes-no questions. This produces mainly quantitative data • Easy to create and interpret but sometimes limitations in depth of answers • Selecting samples may be difficult as well as formulating questions • Very good primary source. Could be an anonymous survey or a structured interview

  6. The difficulty of research • What is difficult is to separate facts and information from opinions (subjective vs. objective)

  7. What is objective? • Definition : “When you look at a topic area from an objective viewpoint, you are looking at it as an outsider or "third person". You are simply reporting what you see.” • Examples : figures, percentage, dates, what can be found in a history book for instance …

  8. Example of an objective text • The private party room was about the size of a small airplane cabin. Roger and Mabel were dancing together. Rita was eating a piece of chocolate éclair that she had cut into three bites. "This is amazing!" she said, licking the pudding from her fingers. A Labrador retriever was sleeping in the corner.

  9. What is subjective? • Definition : in a subjective standpoint the writer inserts his or her own interpretations and opinions on the facts presented. No longer is the reader invited to interpret the scene; instead, the writer does it for him or her.

  10. Example of subjective text • The private party room was cramped. Although Roger and Mabel managed to dance with one another, they looked as if their steps were uncomfortable and stilted. Poor Rita had to satisfy herself by eating. Though she said, "This is amazing," as she munched on an éclair, it was obvious she was being sarcastic. The party was so boring that the dog in the corner couldn't even stay awake!

  11. Selecting and analysing information • The PLUS model • Research analysis

  12. The PLUS Model • PURPOSE • What do you need to find out? • Keywords; break down your topic. • General> specific • Pose questions • Brain storm • Shape your thoughts: lists/bubble or spider diagram

  13. LOCATION • Where will you look for information? Investigate as many sources as you can. • Books: school and local libraries. Try their online catalogues. Order material. The School library catalogue can be viewed by clicking on the SearchStar icon on the library computers • Internet: be specific when you search, evaluate the Websites that you find; which Websites give quality, relevant information? • Newspapers and periodicals • Issues Online at www.independence.co.uk username: holmes password: 3551 • National and local organisations • People

  14. USE • Be selective. Read actively. Decide whether what you are reading is really useful for your topic. Be organised. Keep references. Structure your work: introduction, main points with examples, data and analysis, conclusion. • Avoid plagiarism. • Presentation. • SELF-EVALUATION • Have you found the answer to your question(s)? • How effective have you been as a researcher? • Is there anywhere else you could look for information?

  15. Research : analysis of secondary sources

  16. Making notes • Select key words and specialist vocabulary • Select key dates, figures and their explanation • Select key quotes (don’t forget to write down references) • Summarise the main information (avoid plagiarism)

  17. Possible activities - teachers • Give students a short text / article from a newspaper (could be current affairs) and ask them what the title is. If they can give a title, it means they can summarise the key idea in a few words • Practise on skimming and scanning • Practise on reformulating by giving them a short text that they need to reformulate without plagiarism

  18. http://www.explorewriting.co.uk/ObjectivityAndSubjectivity.htmlhttp://www.explorewriting.co.uk/ObjectivityAndSubjectivity.html

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