planning and research

Select a Research Question….1. What kind of treatment is available for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder?2. What effect does violence in the media have on children?3. How does fast food contribute to obesity in children?4. Another research question may be used with prior approval from the instructor.

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.

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 a review of key concepts.

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.

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.

Step 3: Create a Boolean 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).

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.

To save a draft of your work on this project, use the Save Draft button below. The next time you return to Research Log Project Part 1, the fields you have entered will be retrieved and entered in the project form.

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When you have completed this project, you can submit your work to your instructor by using the Submit Project Part 1 for Grading button below. Review your work before you do this; you will be unable to edit it further after submitting it.