Page 260 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Find sources for a college research assignment
• Discuss the difference between primary and secondary sources
• Evaluate the sources you find
• Correctly document sources in your written assignments
• Explain your college’s academic honesty policies
• Present research findings to your classmates
• Use research for personal purposes

READING

The Purpose of Research

One of the goals of a college education is to enter into
the “conversation” currently going on in your field. If
you are in a program for diesel mechanics, you may
need to know what the current thinking is on corn-
based ethanol. If you are in nursing, you may need to
know about the current research on pain management.
As we will emphasize in the section in Chapter 11 on
writing an argumentative essay, you need to be informed
about the current research on a topic to truly form your
own opinion on that topic. Once you have analyzed
the current thinking on a topic, you can add your own
thoughts.

Researching is also a foundational skill for a college education. Writing instructors will most likely ask
you to do some kind of research-based essay, but they are not the only instructors who will expect you to
have research skills. As we have just mentioned, knowledge in all fields is based on quality research. You
will most likely be asked to do some kind of research in your professional life, as well.

You probably do research all the time without thinking of it as “research.” Did you check out the college
you are enrolled in before you applied for admission? Did you look at any consumer reports before you
bought your car? Have you looked at the projected salaries in the field you are considering? Did you talk
with other students about good places to find a job or rent an apartment? All of this is research. Research
is, most simply, finding answers to your questions.

254 Foundations of Learning