Guided Practice
Learning Objectives
In this guided practice lesson, you will:
- Apply research question development skills to sample topics
- Practice evaluating sources for credibility and relevance
- Develop note-taking strategies for research
- Build skills in synthesizing information from multiple sources
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of research fundamentals. Click to reveal each answer.
Question 1: Which research question is most appropriate for a 5-7 page research paper?
Best choice: "How has social media use affected teen mental health in the past decade?"
Explanation: This question is focused enough to be manageable but broad enough to find sufficient sources. It specifies a population (teens), a timeframe (past decade), and a clear relationship to investigate.
Question 2: A researcher finds an article from 2005 about current computer technology. What is the main concern with this source?
Answer: The source is outdated for discussing "current" technology.
Explanation: Technology changes rapidly. A 2005 article about current technology would be nearly 20 years old and likely contains obsolete information. Currency is a key criterion when evaluating sources.
Question 3: What distinguishes a primary source from a secondary source?
Answer: A primary source provides firsthand, original evidence, while a secondary source analyzes or interprets primary sources.
Explanation: Examples of primary sources include diaries, interviews, original research, and historical documents. Secondary sources include textbooks, review articles, and documentaries that discuss primary sources.
Question 4: Why is it important to use a variety of source types in research?
Answer: Using varied sources provides multiple perspectives, strengthens arguments with different types of evidence, and demonstrates thorough research.
Explanation: Combining scholarly articles, books, interviews, and data helps create a well-rounded understanding of a topic and makes your argument more credible.
Question 5: What is the CRAAP test used for in research?
Answer: The CRAAP test evaluates sources based on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Explanation: This acronym helps researchers systematically evaluate whether a source is appropriate and reliable for academic work.
Question 6: How should you handle a source that contradicts your thesis?
Answer: Address the contradicting evidence directly by acknowledging it and explaining why your argument is still valid, or revise your thesis if the evidence is compelling.
Explanation: Strong research papers acknowledge counterarguments. Ignoring contradictory evidence weakens your credibility.
Question 7: What is the purpose of an annotated bibliography?
Answer: An annotated bibliography summarizes and evaluates each source, explaining how it relates to the research topic.
Explanation: Annotations help organize research, track the usefulness of sources, and demonstrate understanding of how each source contributes to your argument.
Question 8: What is the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
Answer: Quoting uses exact words with quotation marks; paraphrasing restates specific ideas in your own words; summarizing condenses main ideas from a larger section.
Explanation: All three require citations, but they serve different purposes. Quote for powerful language, paraphrase for specific ideas, and summarize for broad overviews.
Question 9: Why should researchers avoid using Wikipedia as a cited source?
Answer: Wikipedia can be edited by anyone and may contain inaccuracies. However, it can be useful as a starting point to find primary sources listed in its references.
Explanation: Academic research requires verifiable, authoritative sources. Wikipedia's references section can lead you to credible sources.
Question 10: What is a "research gap" and why is it important?
Answer: A research gap is an area where existing research is incomplete or lacking. Identifying gaps helps justify why your research matters.
Explanation: Good research questions often address gaps in existing knowledge, contributing new insights to a topic.
Next Steps
- Practice applying the CRAAP test to sources you find
- Create sample research questions for topics that interest you
- Move on to text analysis when ready