Key Terms
How to build a keyword list
1. Limit your topic to one or two sentences or a question 2.
Ask
Who created this and why?
Steps
1. Think about your research question — what field sources would strengthen it?
After observing
Review notes and record your speculations separately. What questions does this raise?
IMPORTANT
Research involving human participants may require approval from your university's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Alwa
Database
Organized collection of information, searchable by keyword or subject
Fieldwork
Primary research conducted in the real world; data collected in the subject's natural environment
LCSH
Library of Congress Subject Headings; used for subject searches in academic library catalogs
Participant observer
A researcher who takes part in the activity being observed
Nonparticipant observer
A researcher who observes without influencing the situation
Peer-reviewed
Reviewed by other experts in the field before publication; highest reliability standard for scholarly sources
Research log
Organized record of all sources consulted; includes bibliographic information, notes, connections to thesis, and synthes
Synthesis
Combining information from multiple sources to form a new or deeper understanding
DOI
Digital object identifier; a stable alphanumeric code assigned to online sources; more reliable than a URL
IRB
Institutional Review Board; university body that monitors ethical treatment of human research participants