Conducting Preliminary Research

Summary

This video script offers insights on conducting preliminary research for AP Capstone projects. It emphasizes the importance of preliminary research in refining research questions and enhancing the quality of the final project. The script advises on quick and effective preliminary research techniques, such as skimming books and articles, and using resources like Wikipedia for initial exploration. It also outlines different types of preliminary research, including topic generation, concept connection, body of knowledge development, and topic narrowing, highlighting the significance of credible sources for building a robust research argument.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Preliminary research is essential for building a strong foundation of knowledge and refining research questions.
• 📚 It helps to narrow down topics, identify what's feasible based on constraints, and understand specific aspects of a topic.
• ⏱️ Preliminary research should be conducted quickly and efficiently, focusing on identifying more focused concepts.
• 📖 For books and journals, start with the index, then the table of contents, and if needed, skim through the introductory chapter.
• 🌐 For articles and web pages, read the first three and last three paragraphs to gauge their relevance.
• 📝 Skimming and speed reading are acceptable methods during preliminary research to save time.
• 🤔 There are different types of preliminary research, including topic generation, concept connection, body of knowledge, and topic narrowing.
• 🚫 Wikipedia is useful for early-stage general knowledge development but should not be used as a citable source.
• 🔗 Wikipedia can be a valuable tool for source mining, directing you to credible and citable sources through its references.
• 📝 Preliminary research should provide useful information for knowledge building, but for academic research, rely on credible and academic sources.

Q & A

Why is preliminary research important before starting a full research project or paper?

Preliminary research is crucial as it informs your body of knowledge, helps refine research questions, and contributes to developing a stronger and more robust research project.

What are the benefits of conducting preliminary research early in the research process?

Early preliminary research helps in developing better research questions, understanding the existing body of work, and guiding the direction of more detailed reading and inquiry.

How can preliminary research help in narrowing down a research topic?

Preliminary research helps to identify existing work on a topic, understand what is doable based on research parameters, and guides the researcher to more specific aspects of the topic.

What is the recommended approach to conduct preliminary research quickly and effectively?

The approach includes skimming through books or journals by checking indexes, tables of contents, and introductory chapters, and for articles or web pages, reading the first and last three paragraphs along with the first sentence of each paragraph in between.

What should be the focus of preliminary research when using articles or web pages?

The focus should be on reading the first three paragraphs and the last three paragraphs to gauge the usefulness of the source, and if promising, proceed to read more specifically, using speed reading and skimming techniques.

Why is it suggested to look at the first sentence of each paragraph when conducting preliminary research on articles or web pages?

The first sentence of each paragraph often summarizes the main idea of the paragraph, which helps in quickly building an understanding of the author's argument and determining the relevance of the source.

What are the different types of preliminary research mentioned in the script?

The types include topic generation, concept connection, body of knowledge, and topic narrowing, each serving different purposes in the early stages of research.

How does preliminary research for topic generation differ from that for concept connection?

Topic generation preliminary research is done when unsure of the topic, aiming to find interesting concepts, while concept connection research helps develop a deeper understanding and find new research avenues within a general topic.

What role does Wikipedia play in the preliminary research stage?

Wikipedia is useful for building general knowledge in the early stages but is not a citable source in academic research. However, its references and footnotes can lead to citable sources and quality information.

Why is it important to use academic and credible sources for building a research argument and project?

Academic and credible sources provide the necessary reliability and authority to support research claims, ensuring the validity and integrity of the research project.

How should preliminary sources be utilized in the context of academic research?

Preliminary sources, while not always academic, should be used to build initial knowledge and formulate questions. However, for the actual research argument and project, academic and credible sources are essential.