{"id":432,"date":"2021-03-30T17:48:02","date_gmt":"2021-03-30T17:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-englishcomp2\/?post_type=chapter&p=432"},"modified":"2022-01-06T00:03:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T00:03:33","slug":"internet-research-first-steps","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-englishcomp2\/chapter\/internet-research-first-steps\/","title":{"raw":"Internet Research: First Steps","rendered":"Internet Research: First Steps"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nDescribe strategies for beginning Internet research\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nAn important thing to remember is that searching is an iterative process: we try search statements, take a look at what we found and, if the results weren\u2019t good enough, edit our search statements and search again\u2014often multiple times. Most of the time, the first statements we try are not the best, even though Google or another search tool we\u2019re using may give us many results.\r\n\r\nIt pays to search further for the sources that will help you the most. Be picky.\r\n

Identify Main Concepts<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2868\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"A For searching, the main concepts are usually nouns<\/strong>. Remember, a noun names a person, place, or thing.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nIdentify the main concepts in your research question by selecting nouns<\/strong> important to the meaning of your question. Leave out words that don\u2019t help the search, such as adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and, usually, verbs. Nouns that you would use to tag your research question so you could find it later are likely to be its main concepts.\r\n\r\nFinding the main concepts in a research question is a lot like finding the main idea in an essay or story. Often the main idea is in the first paragraph, but not always. Sometimes it\u2019s in a later paragraph or even in the conclusion. The same is true with research questions\u2014the main concepts can be at the beginning, middle, or end. Stick to the nouns and only what\u2019s necessary<\/strong>, not already implied. Don\u2019t read in concepts that are not really there. Be alert to words that may have connotations other than the concept you are interested in.\u00a0For instance, if you identify depression as a main idea, be aware that the search engine won\u2019t automatically know whether you mean depression as a psychological state or as a condition of the economy or as a weather characteristic.\r\n
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Examples<\/h3>\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"490519\"]What are the main concepts in this working research question: \"How are birds affected by wind turbines?\"[\/reveal-answer]\r\n\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"490519\"]\r\n\r\nThe main concepts are birds<\/strong> and wind turbines<\/strong>. Avoid vague terms like affect (except the noun) and effect as search terms, even when you\u2019re looking for studies that report effects or effectiveness.\r\n\r\n[\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"98049\"]What are the main concepts in this search question: \"What lesson plans are available for teaching fractions?\"[\/reveal-answer]\r\n\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"98049\"]\r\n\r\nThe main concepts are <\/span>lesson plans<\/strong> and\u00a0<\/span>fractions<\/strong>.\u00a0Stick to what\u2019s necessary. For instance, don\u2019t include: children\u2014nothing in the research question suggests the lesson plans are for children; teaching\u2014teaching\u00a0isn\u2019t necessary\u00a0because lesson\u00a0plans imply teaching; available\u2014if they're not available, you won't find them (by definition)!<\/span>\r\n\r\n[\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Try It<\/h3>\r\nInstructions:<\/strong>\u00a0Pick the main concepts from the following topics. Choose 2-3 terms per statement. (Hint: They are usually nouns).\r\n\r\n