Study Skills

Carrying out Effective Research

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Background

Effective research WILL help with time management, good quality essays and coursework.

For example, A level & BTEC courses, coursework can account for a large part of your final mark.

Maximum marks could take you through the two grade boundaries. Minimum marks could therefore drop you from an A to C.

Improve your writing skills.

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Aims

Maximum marks for least time

and work.

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Keys to Success

Successful students ..check that the information they require is easily available.Remember there are no marks for time spent searching for information. High quality information needs to be

Accurate Up to date Aware of bias

Have a range of effective search strategies.Effectively use a variety of resources.Cited sources and have an accurate and complete bibliography.

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Causes of failure and under

achievement

PlagiarismPoor time management

Too much time spent finding information

Equal time needs to be given to using the information

Insufficient sources of information.

Inability to evaluate the quality of the information.

Weaker candidates tend to over use the internet.

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Keywords

Help you with search terms, including synonyms

Help you find similar articlesGive you an immediate

sense of the main thrust of the article

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TaskDoes increased physical activity reduce obesity in teenagers?

Keywords and synonyms in

action ..

Does increased physical activity reduce obesity in teenagers?

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Weight management interventions targeting young women

School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18

Emerging adulthood: a critical age for preventing excess weight gain?

Interventions for treating overweight and obesity in adolescents

Task

Look at the resources on the tables and identify The benefits and advantages of each resource?Why might this resource be useful?Which type of resource would be the most suitable for your courses?

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Books – the starting point?

Authors, editors and referees recognised as experts in their field.

Have an unbiased view point.Examiners will be familiar with

standard works.This underpinning work will

clarify your understanding and enable you to evaluate information you find on the internet more effectively.

Ensure that you include the standard works in your bibliography.

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Using books

Recap basics – dewey number & …

Eclipse.NETKindles & e-lending platformLocal libraries

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Using the internet

It is up-to-date.There is a wealth of

information presented in a variety of ways.

You are the editor! This means you have to decide

whether the author / organisation responsible for the information is credible.

You need to look for bias. You need to check that the

information is up to date and accurate.

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Evaluating websites

Wikipedia, Real Madrid CF Look at the ..

URL DatesAuthor

Contact detailsStatements of purposeStyle Content does it seem credible? Does it fit with what you know? Can you verify it from print sources or

other web sites?

Use the advanced search option ..Search using language option format option

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Evaluating websites

When you have a chance, have a look at this:

http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html

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Journals

There are different types of journals with different audiences & purposes.

We subscribe to several both print and on-line.

Magazines.On-line journals.

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Free on-line journals

Google Scholar

PubMedEuropean versionAmerican platform

Directory of Open Access Journalswww.doaj.org

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The role of the bibliography

To show the sources of all ideas which are not uniquely your own or common knowledge

All sources cited must be included in a bibliography

All sources consulted but not cited must also be included in a bibliography

Avoid padding the bibliography with sources you have not read

Alphabetical order by author for humanities

Sciences and Humanities have slightly different orders.

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Books in a bibliography

How: Second name, first name, year of publication,

title of book (underlined, in bold or italics), place of publication, publisher

Example:BRIDE, M., 1996. Teach Yourself HTML Publishing on the World Wide Web. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

HARRAR, H.J., 1975. Photographs, pictures and prints. In: GROVE, P.S. (ed), Non-print media in academic libraries. Chicago: American Library Association. pp. 173-192.

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Internet websites in a bibliography

NICHOLAS D, 1998. Hacking the net. Ariadne (Web version) Issue 16, July. http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue16/cover [Viewed 22-9-98].

HM TREASURY, 1997. EMU Practical information for business. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pub/html/docs/emubus/main.html [Viewed 22-9-98].

HMSO, 1998. Data Protection Act. C29. http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts1998/19980029.htm [Viewed 22-9-98].

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Task

To help when you need to find information ..

Find the dewey number for your subject area.

Find these books in the library.

Find a useful website for ones of your subjects.

Have a look at Eclipse.NET and Google Scholar.

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Summary

Use a variety of resources for your information.

Record ALL the resources you use and include them in your bibliography.

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