How to write a research log

Step 1: Thinking Back to Research Log Project Part 1

Top of Form

A. Research Question

Record your research question from Research Project Log Part 1 (Step 1)

B. Original Boolean Search Statement

Record your original search statement from Research Log Project Part 1 (Step 3)

How will Step 1 be graded?

Step 1 will not receive a grade.

Step 2: UMUC Library Database Search

A. Database Search

Use the search statement you recorded in Step 1, Part B to search in one of the following UMUC library databases:

· Academic Search Complete

· MasterFILE Premier

Which database did you search?

Hint: Refer to Week 2 for a review of UMUC library databases.

B. Review Search Results

Review the search results from the database search you performed in Step 2, Part A and answer all of the following questions:

Were you able to successfully use the search statement from Step 1, Part B in the database, or did you receive an error/search failed message when trying your search?

Yes, I was able to successfully use the original search statement from Step 1, Part B in the database.No, the search was unsuccessful and I received an error/search failed message.

If you received an error/search failed message from the database, were you able to identify the problem with your search statement?

N/A—I did not receive an error/search failed message.Yes, I was able to identify why I received an error/search failed message.No, I was unable to identify why I received an error/search failed message.

Did you have to revise the search statement you created in Step 1, Part B in order to retrieve search results in the database search you performed in Step 2, Part A?

Yes, I had to revise the search statement in order to retrieve relevant search results in the database.No, I did not have to revise the search statement in order to retrieve relevant search results in the database.

Identify and list additional keywords that you may use to search further on this topic by reviewing article titles, article abstracts, subject headings, and the articles themselves.

Hint: Refer to Week 2 for a review of databases, including subject headings in databases.

C. Revised Search Statement

Review your instructor's comments from Research Log Project Part 1 for ways to improve your search statement. Review the additional keywords you identified in the box above (in Step 2, Part B). Based on this information, enter a revised search statement in the box below, using more effective search terms and techniques.

Hint: The revised search statement must be different in some way than the search statement that you used in Research Log Project Part 1 (Step 3) and recorded above in Step 1, Part B. Review the hints and examples in Research Log Project Part 1. For example, you might add, subtract, or change alternative search terms, or you might alter your use of truncation to discover more focused, relevant results. Refer to Week 1 for a review of Boolean operators, search statements, and advanced searching techniques.

How will Step 2 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0–2 points): Does not list alternative relevant keywords, or the search statement is not revised, or both.

Satisfactory (3–4 points): The revised search statement is adequate and demonstrates some appropriate advanced searching techniques correctly, but does not incorporate instructor feedback from Research Log Project Part 1 or choice of alternative keywords does not reflect careful review of search results.

Excellent (5 points): Lists alternative relevant keywords that demonstrate the student reviewed article titles, abstracts, subject headings, and articles. The search statement is effectively revised based on both instructor feedback from Research Log Project Part 1 and database search results from Step 2 and expertly demonstrates advanced searching techniques.

Step 3: Research Guide Search

Try your search statement in a different UMUC library database than the one you searched in Step 2, Part A. Consult a research guide on the UMUC Library website appropriate to your research question to help you identify the relevant databases in which to research your topic. Do not use UMUC OneSearch for this project.

A. Research Guide

What is the name of the research guide you used to locate an appropriate database in which to search?

Example: Guide to Economics and Finance

Hint: Refer to Week 2 for a review of research guides.

B. Database Name

What is the name of the database in which you searched?

Example: PubMed

Hint: This must be a different database than Academic Search Complete or MasterFILE Premier.

C. Boolean Search Statement

Enter the search statement you used to successfully search the database.

Hint: You can use the revised search statement that you recorded above (Step 2, Part C) or a new, further revised search statement. This must be the statement that you used to get the results recorded in Step 5 below.

How will Step 3 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0–2 point): The selected database is not new or from an appropriate research guide; the search statement did not work in the selected database.

Satisfactory (3–4 points): The selected database is from an appropriate research guide, and the search statement is adequate and produces results in the selected database.

Excellent (5 points): The selected database is from an appropriate research guide, and the search statement is effectively revised and produces results in the selected database.

Step 4: Select a Relevant Article

A. Citation Information

From the search results you retrieved in Step 3, select a full-text, in-depth article that is relevant to your research question. The article should not just be a brief overview of the topic but rather should address the key concepts of your research question and be as in-depth as possible, preferably written by an expert or credentialed author(s) in the field. Record the citation information in the spaces below.

Hint: Do NOT select newspaper or popular magazine articles, encyclopedia entries, or very brief journal articles (including editorials or letters to the editor), that would be useful only for background research. The article must be an in-depth article on your topic.

Article Title

Periodical/Publication Title (e.g., Harvard Business Review).

B. Article Type

Is the source (periodical/publication) of the article scholarly, trade, or popular?

Hint: Refer to table 2.4 in Week 2 for a review of periodical literature types. Consult the database Ulrichsweb Global Serial Directory for assistance if needed.

How can you tell?

Hint: Review the article itself to describe the characteristics of the periodical type in more detail.

C. Database

In which UMUC library database did you find the full text of the selected article?

How will Step 4 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0–2 point): The selected article is not relevant or is too brief to be useful for the topic, or the article type is not correctly identified.

Satisfactory (3–4 points): The selected article is relevant to the topic, and the article type is correctly identified.

Excellent (5 points): The selected article is both in-depth and highly relevant to the topic, and the article type is correctly identified and fully evaluated.

Step 5: Article Evaluation

A. Evaluate the Article Content

Using the general evaluation criteria described in Week 3, explain in the boxes below how the article you selected meets each of the criteria (authority, reliability, coverage, and currency). Describe each aspect of your selected article in detail.

Hint: Refer to the table 3.2, which describes authority, reliability, coverage, and currency.

Authority

Reliability

Coverage

Currency

B. Article Relevancy

Explain why you selected this particular article (Step 4) and how it is relevant to your research question. What are some specific points the article made that would assist you in writing a paper that addresses your research question? Your response must be at least two complete sentences.

Hint: Refer to Week 3 for information on analyzing sources and evaluating content.

How will Step 5 be graded?

Unsatisfactory (0–2 points): Does not answer all of the evaluation criteria questions, or satisfactorily answer the article relevancy question, or both.

Satisfactory (3–6 points): Minimally answers the evaluation criteria questions, or minimally answers the article relevancy question, or both.

Very Good (7–9 points): Answers evaluation criteria questions adequately but with little detail, or answers article relevancy question with little detail, or both.

Excellent (10 points): Thoroughly responds to the evaluation criteria questions with details about the selected article's authority, reliability, coverage, and currency, and thoroughly responds to the article relevancy question.

To save a draft of your work on this project to return to at a later time, use the Save Draft button below. The next time you return to Research Log Project Part 2, the fields you have entered will be retrieved and entered in the project form.

Note: Most fields require text entry. If a required field is left blank, your work will not be submitted. The empty fields will be marked with asterisks to make it easier for you to supply the missing information and resubmit the form. If there is no information to provide in a specific field, simply type N/A.

When you have completed this project, you can submit your work to your instructor by using the Submit Research Log Project Part 2 for Grading button below. Review your work before you do this; you will be unable to edit it further after submitting it.

Click the Submit button only once. The server may take some time to process your answer.