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Attitudes towards animal study registries and their characteristics: An online survey of three cohorts of animal researchers
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Objectives Prospective registration of animal studies has been suggested as a new measure to increase value and reduce waste in biomedical research. We sought to further explore and quantify animal researchers’ attitudes and preferences regarding animal study registries (ASRs). Design Cross-sectional online survey. Setting and participants We conducted a survey with three different samples representing animal researchers: i) corresponding authors from journals with high Eigenfactor, ii) a random Pubmed sample and iii) members of the CAMARADES network. Main outcome measures Perceived level of importance of different aspects of publication bias, the effect of ASRs on different aspects of research as well as the importance of different research types for being registered. Results The survey yielded responses from 413 animal researchers (response rate 7%). The respondents indicated, that some aspects of ASRs can increase administrative burden but could be outweighed by other aspects decreasing this burden. Animal researchers found it more important to register studies that involved animal species with higher levels of cognitive capabilities. The time frame for making registry entries publicly available revealed a strong heterogeneity among respondents, with the largest proportion voting for “access only after consent by the principal investigator” and the second largest proportion voting for “access immediately after registration”. Conclusions The fact that the more senior and experienced animal researchers participating in this survey clearly indicated the practical importance of publication bias and the importance of ASRs underscores the problem awareness across animal researchers and the willingness to actively engage in study registration if effective safeguards for the potential weaknesses of ASRs are put into place. To overcome the first-mover dilemma international consensus statements on how to deal with prospective registration of animal studies might be necessary for all relevant stakeholder groups including animal researchers, academic institutions, private companies, funders, regulatory agencies, and journals.

Subject:
Applied Science
Biology
Health, Medicine and Nursing
Life Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
PLOS ONE
Author:
André Bleich
Daniel Strech
Emily S. Sena
Hans Laser
René Tolba
Susanne Wieschowski
Date Added:
08/07/2020
Atwater, Minnesota: 1934-1935
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CC BY
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Letters from Small-Town Minnesota

Short Description:
In August 1934, Corinna Stafford traveled from her home in Atwater, Minnesota, to Floral Park, New York, to care for her aunt and uncle’s children. During the year Corinna was in New York, her mother Ruth Stafford wrote her two or three times a week, with details of daily life in the village of Atwater and Kandiyohi County. This book is a compilation of those letters. [Cover design by Andrea McKennan.]

Word Count: 91537

ISBN: 978-1-7335927-0-3

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Subject:
History
Material Type:
Textbook
Provider:
Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project
Date Added:
01/07/2019
Authentic-Like Interactive Materials
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CC BY-NC-ND
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Misaki's Journal is an interactive Japanese Graded Reader. This means that each journal entry has printable materials and well as digital and intractable resources available for students to use alongside their reading experience.

Please also check out the Teacher's Notebook and Misaki's Journal in the OER Japanese Grader Reader (Misaki's Journal).

Subject:
Arts and Humanities
Education
Language Education (ESL)
Languages
World Cultures
Material Type:
Homework/Assignment
Interactive
Date Added:
05/02/2019
Automated anesthetic management and cognition outcomes
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CC BY
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This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Many older patients experience a kind of ‘brain fog’ following surgery, in which cognition is impaired from lingering effects of anesthesia. It’s temporary, but can still be disruptive. Now, there is early evidence that one way to prevent such problems is to automate more aspects of anesthetic management during surgery. That’s the preliminary finding from a new randomized controlled trial appearing in the journal Anesthesiology. Researchers at a hospital in Belgium tested whether automating three aspects of anesthetic management -- anesthetic depth, cardiac blood flow, and protective lung ventilation -- improved performance on cognitive tests post-op, compared to when an anesthesiologist is in manual control. Going in, the idea was that machines could do an even better job than humans at keeping parameters within the recommended ranges, and this might lead patients to have less post-op cognitive impairment..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Subject:
Applied Science
Health, Medicine and Nursing
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
Research Square
Provider Set:
Video Bytes
Date Added:
10/23/2020
Avoiding Predatory Journals and Questionable Conferences
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CC BY-NC-ND
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Purpose: The goal of this guide is to provide a clear overview of the topics of predatory journals and questionable conferences and advice on how to avoid them. This guide intentionally adopts a plain language approach to ensure it is accessible to readers with a variety English language proficiency levels. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted manually using Google and Google Scholar, along with a search of the University of Calgary library research databases. Search terms included predatory journals, predatory publisher, predatory conference, questionable conference and vanity conference. Three primary types of sources informed this report: (1) scholarly peer-reviewed articles; (2) reputable popular media such as established newspapers; and (3) grey literature such as blogs written by experts and scholars. Findings: Plain-language overviews of predatory publications and questionable conferences are provided to help researchers understand what these are and how to avoid them. A discussion of how to figure out where an aspiring author should publish their work is included, as well as a checklist for determining if a conference is worth the prospective presenter’s time and resources. Implications: There are implications for mentors of graduate students and early-career stage academics, as well as for institutions as a whole. The issue of questionable conferences and publications is so complex that early-stage academics require support and mentorship to cultivate a deeper understanding of how to share their work in a credible way. Additional materials: Contains 66 references and 2 tables.

Subject:
Education
Higher Education
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
University of Calgary
Author:
Sarah Elaine Eaton
Date Added:
01/09/2018
BA 111 - Introduction to Practical Accounting I
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CC BY
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This course covers the fundamental principles of double-entry accounting, use of the general journal and general ledger, simple financial statements, the accounting cycle, control of cash, and an introduction to payroll accounting, purchases and sales.

Course Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the double-entry accounting system.
2. Manually complete the entire accounting cycle for a service- based sole proprietorship on the accrual basis.
3. Prepare basic financial statements for a service-based sole proprietorship.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of control of cash processes and bank reconciliations.
5. Calculate basic payroll and payroll tax activity.
6. Prepare simple federal quarterly and annual payroll tax forms.

Subject:
Accounting
Business and Communication
Material Type:
Full Course
Provider:
Linn-Benton Community College
Author:
Linn Benton Virtual College
Date Added:
07/09/2020
BA 112 - Practical Accounting II
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CC BY
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This course continues Practical Accounting I with more detailed explanations of the accounting cycle. Covers special journals, ledgers, business forms, including vouchers. Emphasizes accounting for partnerships.

Course Outcomes:
1. Complete the entire accounting cycle for a merchandising company.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of accounting for bad debts.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of accounting for notes receivable and notes payable.
4. Compute the cost of fixed and intangible assets and natural resources.
5. Prepare basic depreciation, depletion and amortization calculations.
6. Describe the characteristics of partnerships and basic partnership accounting.

Subject:
Accounting
Business and Communication
Material Type:
Full Course
Provider:
Linn-Benton Community College
Author:
Linn Benton Virtual College
Date Added:
07/09/2020
BC Reads: Adult Literacy Fundamental English - Course Pack 4
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CC BY
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Short Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 4 (roughly equivalent to grades 4.5 to 6 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 400 and 500 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Long Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 4 (roughly equivalent to grades 4.5 to 6 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 400 and 500 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Each chapter includes pre-reading questions that can be used for individual reflection, journalling or class discussion, vocabulary-building exercises, a word attack strategy, comprehension questions, grammar lessons and practice exercises, and a writing task.

This course pack makes use of a number of graphic organizers to help students order their thoughts in a visual way. In the appendix, there are: a list of all graphic organizers and forms used in the course pack, writing assessment checklists, and recommended films about the people discussed in the course pack and reader. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Word Count: 18853

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Subject:
English Language Arts
Reading Foundation Skills
Material Type:
Textbook
Provider:
BCcampus
Author:
Shantel Ivits
Date Added:
03/11/2015
BC Reads: Adult Literacy Fundamental English - Course Pack 5
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CC BY
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Short Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 5 (roughly equivalent to grades 6 to 7.5 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 500 and 800 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Long Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 5 (roughly equivalent to grades 6 to 7.5 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 500 and 800 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Each chapter includes pre-reading questions that can be used for individual reflection, journalling or class discussion, vocabulary-building exercises, comprehension questions, spelling lists and exercises, grammar lessons and exercises, and writing tasks.

This course pack makes use of a number of graphic organizers to help students order their thoughts in a visual way. In the appendix, there are: a list of all graphic organizers and forms used in the course pack and writing assessment checklists. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Word Count: 21043

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Subject:
English Language Arts
Reading Foundation Skills
Material Type:
Textbook
Provider:
BCcampus
Author:
Shantel Ivits
Date Added:
03/11/2015
BC Reads: Adult Literacy Fundamental English - Course Pack 6
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CC BY
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Short Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 6 (roughly equivalent to grades 7.5 to 9 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 500 and 1,000 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Long Description:
This course pack is designed to meet the learning outcomes for Adult Literacy Fundamental English Level 6 (roughly equivalent to grades 7.5 to 9 in the K-12 system). Every chapter includes a level-appropriate, high-interest reading of between 500 and 1,000 words. The readings are freely available in a separate reader with convenient links to the readings in each chapter of this course pack. Each chapter includes pre-reading questions that can be used for individual reflection, journalling or class discussion, vocabulary-building exercises, comprehension questions, grammar lessons and practice exercises, and writing tasks.

This course pack makes use of a number of graphic organizers to help students order their thoughts in a visual way, as well as a Digital Story Progress Sheet and Paragraph Writing Checklist. In the appendix, there are: a list of all graphic organizers and forms used in the course pack and writing assessment checklists. Font size and line spacing can be adjusted in the online view, and have been enhanced for the print and PDF versions for easier reading. This course pack has been reviewed by subject experts from colleges and universities.

Word Count: 20414

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Subject:
English Language Arts
Reading Foundation Skills
Material Type:
Textbook
Provider:
BCcampus
Author:
Shantel Ivits
Date Added:
03/11/2015
BIO 013: Writing in the Sciences - Evolutionary Themes, syllabus
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Some Rights Reserved
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The Syllabus for Bio. 013, Writing in the Sciences - Evolutionary Themes, is a College Writing 2 course that develops student skill in science writing for different audiences: Scientists writing for themselves (the Field journal); Scientists writing for other scientists (the Review article); and Scientists writing for students/ society ( an Essay for a periodical that utilizes analogy/metaphor). To inform this writing, students read and discuss Darwin's original works and the writings of more contemporary evolutionary theorists, including E. Mayr and S.J. Gould. This course is appropriate for incoming students as well as more advanced biology students.

Subject:
Arts and Humanities
Biology
Life Science
Material Type:
Syllabus
Provider:
CUNY Academic Works
Provider Set:
Queens College
Author:
Muehlbauer, Esther
Date Added:
06/16/2022
BURN - Biosciences Undergraduate Research at Nottingham
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CC BY-NC-SA
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This is a module framework. It can be viewed online or downloaded as a zip file.

Research produced 2006 - 2009.

BURN brings final year undergraduate research work to public view in a professional and relevant way. The students represented here have risen to the challenges of doing rigorous research and presenting their work to a wider audience. Their articles show the distance they have travelled during their studies. They also demonstrate the inquiry and critical thinking skills that have been developed. As graduates, they will be able to exploit these valuable skills in their careers, whether they continue in science or whatever path they may choose.

Suitable for undergraduate study

Coordinated by Dr Martin Luck, School of Biosciences

Dr Martin Luck is Associate Professor of Animal Physiology at the University of Nottingham. After reading Animal Physiology at Nottingham, he moved to the University of Leeds to complete a Masters in Steroid Endocrinology and a PhD in Physiology. He carried out post-doctoral research at the University of Southampton and then moved to Hamburg, Germany where he led a research group investigating ovarian follicular development. He returned to Nottingham as an academic in 1990. Dr Luck also has a BA in Mathematics, is a Fellow of the Society of Biology and the Higher Education Academy and is Chair of the Management Board of Bioscience Horizons, the National Undergraduate Research Journal. He has held teaching advisory posts at the University and been a consultant for the Quality Assurance Agency and Higher Education Academy.

Subject:
Life Science
Material Type:
Syllabus
Provider:
University of Nottingham
Author:
Dr Martin Luck
Date Added:
03/23/2017
Badges for sharing data and code at Biostatistics: an observational study
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CC BY
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Background: The reproducibility policy at the journal Biostatistics rewards articles with badges for data and code sharing. This study investigates the effect of badges at increasing reproducible research. Methods: The setting of this observational study is the Biostatistics and Statistics in Medicine (control journal) online research archives. The data consisted of 240 randomly sampled articles from 2006 to 2013 (30 articles per year) per journal. Data analyses included: plotting probability of data and code sharing by article submission date, and Bayesian logistic regression modelling. Results: The probability of data sharing was higher at Biostatistics than the control journal but the probability of code sharing was comparable for both journals. The probability of data sharing increased by 3.9 times (95% credible interval: 1.5 to 8.44 times, p-value probability that sharing increased: 0.998) after badges were introduced at Biostatistics. On an absolute scale, this difference was only a 7.6% increase in data sharing (95% CI: 2 to 15%, p-value: 0.998). Badges did not have an impact on code sharing at the journal (mean increase: 1 time, 95% credible interval: 0.03 to 3.58 times, p-value probability that sharing increased: 0.378). 64% of articles at Biostatistics that provide data/code had broken links, and at Statistics in Medicine, 40%; assuming these links worked only slightly changed the effect of badges on data (mean increase: 6.7%, 95% CI: 0.0% to 17.0%, p-value: 0.974) and on code (mean increase: -2%, 95% CI: -10.0 to 7.0%, p-value: 0.286). Conclusions: The effect of badges at Biostatistics was a 7.6% increase in the data sharing rate, 5 times less than the effect of badges at Psychological Science. Though badges at Biostatistics did not impact code sharing, and had a moderate effect on data sharing, badges are an interesting step that journals are taking to incentivise and promote reproducible research.

Subject:
Psychology
Social Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
F1000Research
Author:
Adrian G. Barnett
Anisa Rowhani-Farid
Date Added:
08/07/2020
Badges to Acknowledge Open Practices: A Simple, Low-Cost, Effective Method for Increasing Transparency
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CC BY
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Beginning January 2014, Psychological Science gave authors the opportunity to signal open data and materials if they qualified for badges that accompanied published articles. Before badges, less than 3% of Psychological Science articles reported open data. After badges, 23% reported open data, with an accelerating trend; 39% reported open data in the first half of 2015, an increase of more than an order of magnitude from baseline. There was no change over time in the low rates of data sharing among comparison journals. Moreover, reporting openness does not guarantee openness. When badges were earned, reportedly available data were more likely to be actually available, correct, usable, and complete than when badges were not earned. Open materials also increased to a weaker degree, and there was more variability among comparison journals. Badges are simple, effective signals to promote open practices and improve preservation of data and materials by using independent repositories.

Subject:
Biology
Life Science
Psychology
Social Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
PLOS Biology
Author:
Agnieszka Slowik
Brian A. Nosek
Carina Sonnleitner
Chelsey Hess-Holden
Curtis Kennett
Erica Baranski
Lina-Sophia Falkenberg
Ljiljana B. Lazarević
Mallory C. Kidwell
Sarah Piechowski
Susann Fiedler
Timothy M. Errington
Tom E. Hardwicke
Date Added:
08/07/2020
Battle of Gettysburg Inquiry Journal
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CC BY
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This is an online inquiry assignment that ecourages students to be intentional about how they search, consume and reflect on information online.  Students who complete this assignment will gain new information about the Battle of Gettysburg and learn about their own online inquiry practices. This unique assignment utilzes a free Chrome Extension called ThinkingApp which allows students to record and submit a record of their online activity back to their teacher.  The activity could be used as a blended learning activity or inclass assignment.  

Subject:
Social Science
U.S. History
Material Type:
Homework/Assignment
Interactive
Lesson
Author:
Gregory Cottrell
Date Added:
12/02/2019
Be Credible
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
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Information Literacy for Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing Students

Short Description:
This book teaches college-level journalism and strategic communication students to become information experts. If you use or adapt this book in your classroom please let us know, and tell us about your experience.

Word Count: 94398

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Subject:
Applied Science
Business and Communication
Communication
Information Science
Journalism
Material Type:
Textbook
Provider:
Unversity of Kansas
Author:
Karna Younger
Peter Bobkowski
Date Added:
08/20/2018
The Beauty of Data Visualization
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CC BY-NC-ND
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David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that tease out unseen patterns and connections. Good design, he suggests, is the best way to navigate information glut -- and it may just change the way we see the world. A quiz, thought provoking question, and links for further study are provided to create a lesson around the 18-minute video. Educators may use the platform to easily "Flip" or create their own lesson for use with their students of any age or level.

Subject:
Business and Communication
Journalism
Material Type:
Lecture
Provider:
TED
Provider Set:
TED-Ed
Author:
David McCandless
Date Added:
08/23/2010
Begin Your Research
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CC BY-NC
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Begin Research“Where Do I Start?”Do you have an assignment to write a research paper but you’re not sure where to start? Take a deep breath and begin by carefully reading the assignment requirements. This will help you understand the work you need to do.First, let’s think about what we mean when we say “research.”HOW MUCH DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?What makes a good topic?It is broad enough that you can find enough information on the subject.It is focused enough that you are not overwhelmed with too much information.The topic is interesting to you.All of the above.If you don’t know much about your topic, what resources would be most helpful when you being your research?Encyclopedias and websitesScholarly articlesNewspapers and magazinesStatistical informationIt is always a good idea to brainstorm different words for similar ideas when you first begin to research your topic.TrueFalseWhat statement below is generally true about beginning research?It is pretty easy to find information on any topic.As long as you have a good topic, researching for it will not take a long time.No matter t he assignment, good research takes time and effort.None of the above.ANSWERSAll of the above.2.1True4.3Read Your Assignment CarefullyBefore you can even begin your research, though, you need to read the assignment instructions carefully—more than once! This will help you understand the work you need to do.Highlight topic guidelines, required length, and the types of information sources allowed.Let’s take a look at a sample assignment.UNDERSTAND YOUR ASSIGNMENTLily is taking a University Studies class and must complete this assignment:In this paper, you will analyze the scientific aspects of a known environmental problem and identify and discuss at least two proposed solutions.Now, analyze this assignment step by step.Find the words that tell you what to do (think verbs!): analyze, identify, and discuss.Find the limits of the assignment: scientific aspects and two proposed solutions.Find the key theme: a known environmental problemBy reading the assignment carefully, we know that Lily has to analyze an environmental problem and identify and discuss at least two proposed solutions.Pick a Good TopicLily’s assignment is broad enough to give her some choices when picking a topic. So, what makes a good topic?It interests you! You’ll enjoy it and do a better job.It meets the requirements of your assignment.It’s broad enough to give you several search options.It’s focused enough that you’re not overwhelmed with information.HOT TIP!Explore the library’s databases to get you started.Browse newspapers and news sources.Talk to your instructors and fellow students.Consult with a librarian.TOO BROAD, TOO NARROW, OR JUST RIGHT?Air pollution in urban areasToo broadToo narrowJust rightRespiratory diseases in children in high-density urban areasToo broadToo narrowJust rightEnvironmental consequences of California’s October 2007 forest firesToo broadToo narrowJust rightPolar bear adaptation to global warming in the ArcticToo broadToo narrowJust rightRenewable energy in the United StatesToo broadToo narrowJust rightThe design and implementation of Cal-Cars—the California Cars InitiativeToo broadToo narrowJust rightANSWERSToo broad. You’d need to identify an aspect of air pollution to narrow down the scopeJust right! This is a good topic. You’ll continue to refine your ideas as you learn more about the topic.A bit narrow. It will be hard to find information on just one event. Look more broadly for information on forest fires in California or the West.Just right. There should be just enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your ideas as you learn more about the topic.Too broad. This is a good starting place, but you’d want to focus the topic by selecting a specific renewable energy like solar power or wind.Too narrow. It’s going to be difficult to find information on such a narrow topic. Broaden the focus to look at initiatives like this one that are less regional.Identify Potential IdeasNow it’s time to really focus your topic. Browse a few resources for ideas and identify different aspects of the topic.Remember, if you pick a subject that interests you, you’ll enjoy the research process much more!Customize Your TopicLet’s say your assignment is to research an environmental issue. This is a broad starting point, which is a normal first step.One way to customize your topic is to consider how different disciplines approach the same topic in different ways. For example, here’s how your broad topic of “environmental issues” might be approached from different perspectives.Social Sciences: Economics of Using Wind to Produce Energy in the United StatesSciences: Impact of Climate Change on the Habitat of Desert Animals in ArizonaArts and Humanities: Analysis of the Rhetoric of Environmental Protest LiteratureTurn Your Topic into a QuestionWhen you’ve chosen a topic, it’s time to ask some questions. Using “environmental issues” as our general research interest, let’s ask some questions about environmental issues and agriculture.How: How do government agricultural subsidies impact the price of food?  How does the use of pesticides affect food safety?Who: Consumers, farmers, farm workersWhat: Food safety, pesticides, food prices, genetically modified food, organic farmingWhere: United States, developing nations, European UnionWhy: Why does the European Union ban the sale and distribution of genetically modified food?What’s Your Angle?Let’s say that the most interesting question that emerged from the last exercise was: “How does repeated pesticide use in agriculture impact soil and groundwater pollution?”Find Your KeywordsNow that we have our sample research question, we need to identify the key concepts and their related keywords.Using our research question, “How does repeated pesticide use in agriculture impact soil and groundwater pollution?” we might consider these keywords:A SYMPHONY OF SYNONYMSLet’s examine our research question again:How does repeated pesticide use in agriculture impact soil and groundwater pollution?Now analyze this assignment step by step:Find important words and phrases that describe this topic (you can ignore common words that don’t have a lot of meaning, such as prepositions, articles, and adjectives): pesticide, agriculture, soil, and pollution.Now, think of some synonyms for the keywords you found:pesticideagrochemicals, pest management, weed management,diazinan, malathionagriculturefarming, food crops, specific types of cropssoilclay, organic componentsgroundwater watershed, water resources, water table, aquaticspollutionenvironmental impact, degradation, exposure, acid rainWhy are synonyms necessary? You’ll often need to search for different words relating to the same concept.Dive Into a Sea of Resources!Browse through general sources to get familiar with your topic. You will find many sources for locating background information. Remember our point from earlier in this tutorial: the source you select will determine what you find. Make sure you spend your time looking in the right places.HOT TIP!Is there enough info on your topic? If not, review the earlier steps for starting your research. It’s normal to refine and revise your topic multiple times.What Do You Know?Once you’ve established your focused topic, you need to get familiar with it by doing some reading. Start with more general sources and then work up to more specific and detailed sources. Where you go next depends on how much you know.So, just how much do you know about your topic?Not All That MuchI’ve Got the BasicsI’m Ready for DetailsSounds like you need the type of information typically found in encyclopedias and websites.Sounds like you’ve got a basic understanding of your topic and just need to learn more. Check out books, magazines, and newspapers.Specific information is what you need. You’ll want to find relevant scholarly articles, statistical sources, and government publications.Matching Resources to Your Information NeedNewspaper: Current regional or local informationScholarly journal article: Detailed analysis of a complex problem.Book or book chapter: Summary of what is known about a topic.Encyclopedia or website: Factual information like names, dates, and definitions.TEST YOURSELF: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?What are the characteristics of a good topic?(Select all that apply) It interests you.It meets the requirements of your assignment.It’s broad enough to give you several search options.It’s focused enough that you’re not overwhelmed with information.Rank the following questions in order from most general to most specific (1 being the most general):Are pesticides bad?Do video games cause violent behavior in adolescent males?Are agricultural workers in Mexico at a higher risk of health problems due to pesticide exposure because of lax government safety standards?Is there a relationship between fast food consumption and obesity?What is the best way to focus  your topic?Think about the discipline that you are researching for.Tailor your topic to the requirements of your assignment.Talk to a librarian about the resources that are available for your topic.All of the above.Pick the best set of keywords to begin searching for information on global warming.Rising ocean levels, air pollution, greenhouse gasesBiodiversity, atmospheric temperature, ozone layerGlobal climate change, greenhouse effect, atmospheric carbon dioxideEnvironment sustainability, alternative energy, biofuelsWhy is it a good idea to use different words to describe similar ideas when you are beginning research?(Select all that apply) Because there is only one right answer and you can find it by trial and error.Because  using different words will help you cast a broader net than just using the same term over and over.Different researchers might use different terms to describe the same idea.You might spell some of the words wrong and not get any results.What is the most difficult aspect of beginning to research a topic that you don’t know very much about?You don’t know enough about the topic to know what is important and what is not.You don’t understand the technical aspects of the topic.It takes a lot of time to do research.All of the above.For you, what the most difficult part about beginning your research?ANSWERSA good topic will incorporate all these characteristics.1 = Are pesticides bad?2 = Is there a relationship between fast food consumption and obesity?3 = Do video games cause violent behavior in adolescent males?4 = Are agricultural workers in Mexico at a higher risk of health problems due to pesticide exposure because of lax government safety standards?The more a research question incorporates the concepts of Who, What, When, Where, Why, and  How the more specific it will be.All of the above.4.3; think carefully about which terms are closely related to global warming.5.2 and 5.3; there may be many ways to describe a single topic. Using as many related words as possible will help you find the most information!All of the above; remember that research takes time and energy and isn’t an easy thing to do!No matter what, coming to the library and talking to a librarian will help you get started. Finding information effectively and efficientlyLevel 2 teaches you how to structure a search for the information you need to write a paper, for example. You will learn the following:how to construct a search strategy using the aspects defined in level 1how to perform a smart search using the information sources available at TU Delft LibraryDetermining search termsNow it is time to do an actual search! In level 1 you divided the search topic into its different aspects. What’s next? Are you going to use Google and type in all the aspects, like you probably do every day? What will you do with all the search results? Are you going to study them all? No, there is a smarter way!Exercise 1Plug in your earphones or turn down the volume and watch the clip ‘Web Search Strategies Explained in Plain English‘ by Commoncraft about smart searching on the web.Searching the web is very similar to searching other information sources such as Worldcat Discovery. Doing the following exercise will teach you how to apply the aspects of your search topic in a smart search. Complete the exercise on how to find suitable search terms matching the aspects of the search topic. Determining search strategyNow you are going to convert the synonyms you have found into a smart search strategy. You have to use search operators to use all the synonyms properly.Exercise 2Study the TUlib module Search operators.If you want to perform a smart search, you must combine your search terms. Complete thisexercise on combining search terms with Boolean operators.Towards information sourcesNow you have formulated a search strategy, which you will use to search the various information sources. But where to start? How do you choose which information source you want to use? This table gives an overview of the differences between Worldcat Discovery, Scopus and Google Scholar and helps you determine when to use each one.Exercise 3Watch the first two sections (“Basic searching” and “Retrieving documents”) of this video about searching in WorldCat Discovery (which includes the TU Delft Library catalogue).Watch this video with an example of a search strategy carried out in article database Scopus.Complete the exercise on carrying out your search strategy in various information sources.Now you have learned how to convert the aspects of your search topic into a search strategy and how to apply this strategy in a number of information sources.You can find other relevant information sources for your subject area in the “Useful links” overview in the section “What’s next”.

Subject:
Information Science
Material Type:
Module
Author:
Mark McBride
Date Added:
11/17/2016
Beginning Journalism
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

This online educational resource is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of journalism in a society that expects immediate, accurate and useful information. The goal of this resource is to prepare students to become practicing journalists and to increase media literacy even among those who do not intend to pursue journalism as a career. 

Subject:
Journalism
Material Type:
Textbook
Author:
Nathan McIntire
Date Added:
06/01/2022