Category: 04 – Research Skills
-
Collecting the Right Information
Need to record the appropriate information about the source during research. Books The author’s or editor’s name (or names) The year the book was published The title of the book If it is an edition other than the first The city the book was published in The name of the publisher Journals The author’s name…
-
The Harvard Referencing System
Two stages to referencing work using author-date or Harvard system: Refer to work in writing (in text citation). Provide full details of source in bibliography/references. Example: The requirement that feedback is received by students while it still matters to them was raised by Gibbs & Simpson (2004). This supports the view of Kulik (1980) who…
-
When Should I Reference a Source?
Work should be referenced when you: paraphrase the work of another author summarise the work of another author quote the work of another author refer to the ideas or theories of another author
-
What is Referencing
Allows credit to be given to sources for work used in your writing. Supports arguments and gives factual basis to work. Demonstrates research has been carried out. Provides shortcut to source.
-
Other Sources
Vast amount of material published each day, from sources such as: newspapers magazines televisions radio reports Can be useful, e.g. looking into an historical event. Above sources unlikely to report anything useful with regards to computing research. If they do, most likely will be reported from academic publication, therefore should go to the source. Can…
-
Research Activity: Review a White Paper
Critical review of What Do Consumers Want from Public Wi-Fi? A Cisco white paper by Stuart Taylor and Tine Christensen. Quotes Cisco’s own research but also that from ABI Research. Cisco survey of only a small number – 620. Age group and employment status of public Wi-Fi users is not supported by referenced research. There…
-
Are White Papers Credible?
Somewhat credible, refer back to Hierarchy of Credibility. Protect reputation – unlikely to publish something that is wrong. Have to sell their products – unlikely to publish anything negative towards it. No independent peer review of white paper. Reviewed and edited by internal personnel. Triangulation required to rule out bias. Do not always have named authors.…
-
Manufacturers
Computer equipment manufacturers do a lot of research and are responsible for major contributions to computer technology. Also fund research in universities and other organisations. Manufacturers sometimes publish their findings in academic journals and conferences. Peer review applies. Research is credible. In-house publications known as white papers. Are white papers credible?
-
The Internet (Web)
Internet/Web not a source, only method of delivery. Need to identify where the information has come from before being available on the Internet. Example 1 – an academic paper you found via the Internet Archives such as those provided by IEEE and ACM make published academic papers available via the Internet. The paper will be…
-
Research Activity: Author credibility
Does the author know what they’re writing about? It is always a good idea to check who the authors of text books are. For example, if you are reading a book on TCP/IP by Douglas Comer, then you should find out who Douglas Comer is to see if he is a suitable person to write a…