English

>>>>>(What is the most effective way to stimulate productivity and learning for children from low socio-ecocomic backgrounds?)

What Does Our Question Ask?

Once a researcher has settled on preliminary question / topic, they need to examine the question for bias (factors that might influence the research). Then They need to develop a Research Plan, an intentional process for how they will find information on their topic.

Using the research question / topic our class selected, let’s see if we can answer the following questions to better understand what we are researching.

1. Write down the class’s starting research question here (We’ll revise this question as we learn more about it.):

2. Words matter. In academic research, exact and intentional language is needed to make sure readers know what researchers are thinking and saying. In particular, academic research tries to be objective, or unbiased; this means thinking about questions and ideas from perspectives outside of your own. Identifying these biases, assumptions, and unintentional language in a question can help a research better understand their topic and how to progress with it. Use the following prompts to discuss your research question:

Are there words or phrases that seem biased to you?

Are there other synonyms or other words that could be used to change the question, making it more intentional and/or less biased?

One of the best ways to get past bias is to work with others. Working with your surrounding peers, share and discuss your answers from above and provide at least three different versions of the question. The wording does not have to be exact, but you should be developing these together.

•

•

•

3. Using the discussion with your peers, create your own version of the class research question. Place that question below.

4. Considering your discussion with your peers and the questions y’all generated, rewrite your question to better detail what you want to know. (Take some time here. Getting a strong question early in the research process can be helpful. Also, know that the question will likely evolve as we collect more information and become informed on our topic.

6. Finding information is all about having the right search terms. The right term is like a key that can unlock a lot of information on a topic; however, it can be hard to find the terms that experts in a field use to discuss the issue. For now, make a list of at least 5 search terms and phrases you think would bring your results on the topic. Keep this list handy. We’ll use it in our next class.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

7. For homework, find one broad or general source of information on the topic and answer the following questions about that source.

Be sure that the source contributes to your group’s question. Don’t be afraid to look at “bad” sources like Wikipedia for this. While open-content sources should not be included in an academic project, they are great for familiarizing ourselves with a new subject.

Information on the Source:

What you found?

Who wrote/posted/manages it?

Where you found it? (be specific: If it’s a website, name the site and include the URL.)

What you learned about the subject?