How to do your own experiments in psychology and education
2a. Plan your Literature Search
Do NOT run off and search Google or PsycINFO to start your literature search!
Read the materials in this Task first.
There are basically three parts to planning a literature search:
• 2a(1). Start with your research problem (see below);
• 2a(2). Identify the kinds of information that you will need;
• 2a(3). Identify where you can find each kind of information
2a(1). Start with your research problem
You have done this already, for the last Task. A clear, specific research problem gives you several ways of focusing your literature search: you have a better idea of what you are looking for and you have a list of keywords to use in searching. Students who go back to look for more bibliography at the end of the semester are always surprised at how much easier it is to find relevant studies – that’s because they understand the research problem so much better.
Your formulation of the research problem specified the parts of your research problem. Use your Process, Sub-process, Factor1, Factor2, Population, and Materials use as keywords in searching. But don't start with your keywords yet! Read the other sections on planning and the sections on finding publications, first.
It is very important to note that
doing a literature search will usually make you reformulate or modify your initial research problem
and sometimes even change it completely.
That’s normal.
Read this topic next: Identify the kinds of information that you will need;.
Read the materials in this Task first.
There are basically three parts to planning a literature search:
• 2a(1). Start with your research problem (see below);
• 2a(2). Identify the kinds of information that you will need;
• 2a(3). Identify where you can find each kind of information
2a(1). Start with your research problem
You have done this already, for the last Task. A clear, specific research problem gives you several ways of focusing your literature search: you have a better idea of what you are looking for and you have a list of keywords to use in searching. Students who go back to look for more bibliography at the end of the semester are always surprised at how much easier it is to find relevant studies – that’s because they understand the research problem so much better.
Your formulation of the research problem specified the parts of your research problem. Use your Process, Sub-process, Factor1, Factor2, Population, and Materials use as keywords in searching. But don't start with your keywords yet! Read the other sections on planning and the sections on finding publications, first.
doing a literature search will usually make you reformulate or modify your initial research problem
and sometimes even change it completely.
That’s normal.
Read this topic next: Identify the kinds of information that you will need;.
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