Doing Your Own Research

Topic: A Focus for the Study Is the topic likely researchable, given time,

resources, and availability of data? Is there a personal interest in the topic in order to

sustain attention? Will the results from the study be of interest to

others (e.g. in the state, nation)? Does the study (a) fill a void, (b) replicate, (c) extend,

or (d) develop new ideas in the scholarly literature? Is the topic likely to be publishable in a

scholarly journal? Will the project contribute to career goals?

A Paradigm for the Study Quantitative

– Experiments True Experiments Quasi Experiments

– Surveys Cross-sectional Longitudinal

Qualitative– Grounded Theory– Case Studies

Purpose of the Literature It shares with the reader the results of other

studies that are closely related to the study being reported.

It relates a study to the larger, ongoing dialogue in the literature about a topic, filling in gaps and extending prior studies

It provides a framework for establishing the importance of the study with other

findings.

A Priority for Reviewing the Literature Begin with journal articles in respected,

national journals, especially those that report research studies. Start with the most recent studies about the topic and then work backward in time.

Next review books related to the topic. Follow this search by reading recent

conference papers on a topic. Look at the abstract of dissertations.

A Good Summary of A Journal Article Mention the problem being addressed State the central purpose or focus of the study Briefly state information about the sample,

population, or subjects Review key results that relate to the study Depending on whether or not the review is a

methodological review, point out technical and methodological flaws in the study.

Objectives of the Introduction

Create reader interest in the topic Establish the problem that leads to the study Place the study within the larger context of the

scholarly literature Reach out to a specific audience

Key Components of the Introduction

Establishing the problem leading to the study Casting the problem within the larger

scholarly literature Discussing deficiencies in the literature about

the problem Targeting an audience and noting significance

of the problem for this audience.