Research Guides: HDFS250: Intro to Research Methods: Evaluate your sources

Select relevant articles

Now that you know how to search a database, you have to figure out what information to use in your research paper.

Identify empirical articles

You may remember from CO150 or other courses that scholarly sources are peer-reviewed articles. But, you need to find empirical research articles. Do you know the difference?

An empirical article is one that describes an original research study based on an observation or experiment.

Features:

qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research methods
results based on observable or measurable data
original research—doesn't just report on other studies
peer reviewed

Not all peer-reviewed articles are empirical research articles. Some peer-reviewed articles review or analyze others' research. For your assignment, you want to focus on articles describing original research studies, rather than reviews of other studies.

Know the parts of an empirical article

Anatomy of a Scholarly Article (tutorial)

Read scholarly articles

Article sections

Abstract: a brief summary of the whole article; main points of the article and findings

Introduction: the purpose of the study and the main question to be answered; what’s already known and what’s to be found out

Literature Review: existing research on topic that frames how authors arrived at this question/topic

Body: the “nitty-gritty” details about the study (this is where most students get lost — most times the other sections will give you what you need)

Methodology: how the research was performed; subjects, testing conditions; controls; etc.
Results/Data: the numbers and the outcome; often presented visually with charts, graphs and formulas

Discussion: an extended summary of findings; was the original thesis or question proved or disproved; anything unexpected that arose

Conclusion: restates the findings and results; what was discovered and what still needs to be researched

References/Bibliography: previous research the authors used to formulate their study design and research questions; what has already been published on the topic; might point to more resources available on topic

Save time by hopping around the sections. Click through the tabs to see what sections to focus on depending on why you're reading the article.

Source: Brandeis University

Reading order/where the most energy should go	Why	Questions to keep in mind while reading
Abstract Introduction Conclusion Discussion Results	To get the main gist of the article, for a discussion board post or in-class discussions	How is this article relevant to course content? How will this article be used after I read it? What are some quotes/paraphrases? What's the main argument? Do I agree?

Reading order/where the most energy should go

Why

Questions to keep in mind while reading

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
Discussion
Results

To get the main gist of the article, for a discussion board post or in-class discussions

How is this article relevant to course content?

How will this article be used after I read it?

What are some quotes/paraphrases?

What's the main argument?

Do I agree?

Source: Brandeis University

Reading order/where the most energy should go	Why	Question to keep in mind while reading
Abstract Introduction Conclusion Discussion Results (may need to read article multiple times)	To get the main gist of the article, to have some paraphrases ready, to prepare how you will use the article in the essay	What are big questions I might be asked? Do I only need the main point(s) and results, or do I need very specific details?

Reading order/where the most energy should go

Why

Question to keep in mind while reading

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
Discussion
Results

(may need to read article multiple times)

To get the main gist of the article, to have some paraphrases ready, to prepare how you will use the article in the essay

What are big questions I might be asked?

Do I only need the main point(s) and results, or do I need very specific details?

Source: Brandeis University

Reading order/where the most energy should go	Why	Questions to keep in mind while reading
Abstract Conclusion ________________ Once you decide it is a match, read the whole article	These should be enough to decide if it is a match and a possible source to use _____________ Never reference/cite a paper that you haven't fully read or don't understand.	What is the author's argument or conclusion? Is it well supported? Is it a good match for my topic? How might this be used in my paper?

Reading order/where the most energy should go

Why

Questions to keep in mind while reading

Abstract
Conclusion

________________

Once you decide it is a match, read the whole article

These should be enough to decide if it is a match and a possible source to use

_____________

Never reference/cite a paper that you haven't fully read or don't understand.

What is the author's argument or conclusion? Is it well supported?

Is it a good match for my topic?

How might this be used in my paper?

Source: Brandeis University

Reading order/where the most energy should go	Why	Questions to keep in mind while reading
Abstract Introduction Conclusion Discussion Results Body (methods, etc.) References (may need to read article multiple times)	To identify research goal, what was proved, how it was proven, the variables, any gaps, future research to use	What's the author's argument/conclusion? Is it well supported? Is the research question related to my major or discipline? Does this support or raise questions for my research topic or argument? What wasn't studied? Where are the gaps or holes in the research around this topic?

Reading order/where the most energy should go

Why

Questions to keep in mind while reading

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
Discussion
Results
Body (methods, etc.)
References

(may need to read article multiple times)

To identify research goal, what was proved, how it was proven, the variables, any gaps, future research to use

What's the author's argument/conclusion? Is it well supported?

Is the research question related to my major or discipline?

Does this support or raise questions for my research topic or argument?

What wasn't studied?

Where are the gaps or holes in the research around this topic?

Source: Brandeis University

Determine methodology

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

There are two general types of research, qualitative and quantitative. All research articles can be classified as having a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods (using both methods) methodology.

Qualitative research: investigations which use sensory methods such as listening or observing to gather & organize data into patterns or themes
Quantitative research: investigations in which numbers are used to measure variables such as characteristics, concepts or things.

Research Type	Word Clues	Methods	Search Terms	Data	Researcher Role
Qualitative	ethnographic study field notes field research focus group observation open ended phenomenological	focus groups interviews recording behavior unstructured observation	qualitative studies (CINAHL) qualitative research (MEDLINE)	ideas interpretive narrative description text-based words	subjective: involved as a participant observer
Quantitative	case-control-study lab-experiment clinical trial cohort studies control group experimental group intervention randomized-controlled-trial statistical structured-questionnaire	develop hypothesis determines methodology collects data analyzes data uses mathematical and statistical techniques to analyze data	quantitative studies (CINAHL) MEDLINE uses headings for specific types of quantitative research; see examples listed under word clues	measurable numbers statistics	objective: separate, observes but doesn't participate

Research Type

Word Clues

Methods

Search Terms

Data

Researcher Role

Qualitative