TIPS FOR RESEARCH LOG 2

The link for Research Log 2 is at the top left of Course Module 4.

Saving and Submitting Your Work
Use the SAVE button at the bottom of the log to save a draft of your work as you go along.  When you have completed the log and checked your work and are ready to submit it for grading, use the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the log.

After you have submitted the log and I have graded it, you will see the grade in your Portfolio. Then you should go back into the log (simply click on the link for the log in Module 4) to see the comments I wrote to you and how I graded each section of your log.

Step 1: Thinking Back to Log 1

A: Research Question
B. Original Search Statement Simply
These two steps are self-explanatory

C. Revised Search Statement
Sometimes your revised statement may actually be shorter and less complicated than your original one; sometimes it might be longer and have more search terms in it. It all depends on what you decide is an improvement to your original search statement.

Take my comments to you in Research Log 1 into account.

If your original search statement was effective and I suggested no improvements to you in my Research Log 1 comments, it is fine to just repeat your original search statement with no changes.

Step 2: UMUC Library Database Search
All of Step 2, parts A, B, and C, are pretty self-explanatory.

Step 3: Select a Relevant Article
Follow the instructions for Parts A, B, and C carefully.

Make sure the article you pick is on-topic for your research question. That is, actually read the article and make sure it relates to your research question; don't just pick the article because a few of your search words happen to be in the article title.

In Part C, do list the database in which you found the full text of the article. You might have started your search in PsycINFO, for example, but then used Find It to get the full-text of your article in ScienceDirect. If so, list ScienceDirect as the database in which you found the full-text.

Step 4: Evaluate the Article Content
Answer each question. Your answers don't have to be very long, but they should show that you've evaluated the article according to each factor: authority, reliability, coverage, and currency.

Step 5: Cite the Selected Article
Many databases have tools that will generate an MLA citation for you. It is fine to use such a tool, but then you must check the MLA citation the database created to make sure it is correct. When creating an MLA citation the database will frequently get details wrong, such as not capitalizing the article title correctly, or not putting something in italics that should be, and so on. Use the guidelines in our course modules for MLA citations, and use the library's MLA citation guides to make sure your citation is correctly formatted.

Step 6: Reflection
Follow the directions, remembering to write at least two complete sentences for each part: A, B, C, & D.

In part A, as part of your answer, try to write about one or two key ideas or facts that you learned from the article and that you could use in a research project. That shows me that you really read the article and are able to use it. Library database searching is only the first step in research: you have to read, understand, and be able to use the information you've found.

Good luck! Take your time, check your answers before submitting the log for grading. Let me know if you have any questions.