research log 2-Introduction to research

Note: This project received faculty feedback on 31-May-15 04:27:50 PM EST.

Instructions: Work through each step of this log, answering each question as the directions indicate. Each step, except Step 1, will receive a grade, and the sum of these grades will constitute your total grade for Research Log Part 1. Refer to the section on how each step of the log will be graded for detailed grading information.

Most fields require text entry. If a required field is left blank, your work will not be submitted. If there is no information to provide in a specific field, simply type N/A.

Review your work before submitting it to your instructor for grading; you will be unable to edit it further after submitting it.

Note: Be sure to review the examples and hints provided with each step! Your answers should be similar to the examples.

Step 1: Select Your Research Question

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3. How does fast food contribute to obesity in children?

How will Step 1 be graded? Step 1 will not receive a grade.

Step 2: Select Your Search Terms

A. Identifying Key Concepts

List the three key concepts (words, phrases, or both) that best describe the main concepts of your selected research question from Step 1.

Key Concept 1	Key Concept 2	Key Concept 3
fast food	Obesity	children

Example: For the research question "How can marketing on the Internet be effective for a small business?" the key concepts are: marketing, Internet, small business

Hint: Refer to week 1 for key concepts.

Instructor Comments

Great job picking out the three key concepts!

Additional Comments

B. Brainstorming Alternative/Related Terms

Review the key concepts you listed in each of the boxes above (Step 2, Part A) and identify alternative terms/synonyms or related terms for each key concept in the appropriate box below.

Key Concept 1 Alternative/Related Terms	Key Concept 2 Alternative/Related Terms	Key Concept 3 Alternative/Related Terms
high calorie food, packaged food, nutrients, diet, nourishment	bulk, chubbiness, heaviness, overweight, size, fattening, unhealthy	kids, families, youth, adolescent, youngster

Example: For the research question example in Step 2, Part A:

· Key Concept 1: marketing

· Key Concept 1 Alternative/Related Terms: branding, advertising, promotion

Hint: Refer to week 1 for a review of identifying alternative/related terms (keywords) for key concepts.

How will Step 2 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0 points): Does not demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts of the research question or identify any relevant alternative/related terms or synonyms.

Satisfactory (1–4 points): Correctly lists the three key concepts from the research question in Part A and/or identifies at least one relevant alternative/related term or synonym for each key concept listed in Part B.

Excellent (5 points): Accurately lists three key concepts of the research question, thus demonstrating an understanding of the research question, and identifies two or more relevant alternative/related terms for each key concept, indicating some creative brainstorming.

Instructor Comments

Additional Comments

Pretty good job, but for this research question, the best terms for "fast food" would include drive-thru, "eating out," and restaurant. Phrases like "high calorie food" and "packaged food," as well as terms like nutrients, diet, and nourishment, are very broad and encompass much more than fast food, so if you include terms like these in your search you'll get a lot of results that are not relevant to answering your specific research question. The best terms related to obesity are overweight and unhealthy. The rest of your terms are not going to very useful in your search. Families is probably a bit too broad to be a good alternative term for children, but the rest of the terms you've chosen are quite good.

Step 2 Grade

4.5

Step 3: Create a Search Statement

Using all of the key concepts you identified in Step 2, Part A and some of the keywords (alternative/related terms) you identified in Step 2, Part B, create a search statement that effectively uses Boolean operators and advanced searching techniques (nesting, truncation, phrase searching).

Does continuous use of fast food bring obesity and related diseases amongst youngsters or if obesity and fast food are totally unrelated to each other?

Example: (marketing OR branding OR advertis*) AND (Internet OR Web) AND ("small business" OR entrepreneurship)

Hint: Refer to week 1 for a review of Boolean operators, search statements, and advanced searching techniques.

How will Step 3 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0–1 points): Does not construct a reasonable search statement.

Satisfactory (2–4 points): Constructs a basic search statement that effectively uses Boolean operators to connect key concepts.

Excellent (5 points): Effectively uses Boolean operators and advanced searching techniques (nesting, truncation, phrase searching) to construct a search statement with no spelling errors.

Instructor Comments

Overall: Please review search statements in week 1. Advanced Searching Techniques: Please review advanced searching techniques (nesting, truncation, phrase searching) in week 1. Boolean Operators: Please review Boolean operators (AND OR NOT) in week 1.

Additional Comments

Unfortunately, your search statement does not demonstrate an understanding of how to apply important concepts from Week 1. You should only ever use key terms in a search statement. With three key concepts in the original research question, you should have three sets of parentheses, and all alternative words related to each concept should sit inside each set.

Step 3 Grade

0

Overall Research Log Project Part 1 Comments

Please thoroughly review the comments I made to Research Log Project Part 1, as well as the course content, before attempting Research Log Project Part 2.

Additional Comments

When you start Research Log Project 2, you'll see that the first step is to record this search statement that you submitted for Research Log Project 1. The second step will be to revise the search statement that you originally submitted. To earn full credit for Step 2 in Research Log Project 2, you'll want to incorporate all of the key terms from your research question, nesting the most relevant alternative terms (specified in my previous comments for Step 2), and more effectively use truncation and phrase searching, where appropriate. It’s very difficult to complete Research Log 2 successfully if you don’t score well on the revision step, and Research Log 2 is worth 25% of your total course grade, so it’s important to do your best. If you haven't yet, please download the PDF file called "Creating Effective Searches," provided in the Week 1 course content, and follow those detailed directions. Then let me know right away if you have any questions about how to incorporate the changes I've recommended. Before getting too far into Research Log Project 2, you need to email me the revised search statement you plan to use for Step 2 Part C: [email protected]. Be sure to include your full name and your course and section number in the email

Research Log Project Part 1 Grade

4.5

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