Begin Research: Quiz: What Have You Learned?

1) What are the characteristics of a good topic?

It interests you..

It meets the requirements of your assignment.

it is broad enough to give you several search options.

It is focused enough that you are not overwhelmed with information.

All of the above

2) Which of the following research questions is the most specific?

Are pesticides bad?

Do video games cause violent behavior in adolescent males?

Are agricultural works in Mexico at a higher risk of health problems due to pesticide exposure because of lax government safety standards?

Is there a relationship between fast food and obesity?

3) What is the best way to focus on your topic?

Think about the discipline you are researching for.

Tailor your topic to the requirements of your assignment.

Talk to a librarian about the resources that are available for your topic.

All of the above

4) Pick the best set of keywords to begin searching for global warming.

Rising ocean levals, air polution greenhouse gases

Biodiversity, atmospheric temperature, ozone layer

Global climate change, greenhouse effect, atmospheric carbon dioxide

Environmental sustainability, alternative energy, biofuels

5) Why is it a good idea to use different words to describe similar ideas when you are beginning research?

A. Because there is only one right answer and you can find it by trial and error

B. Because using different words will help you cast a broader net than just using the same terms over and over

C. DIfferent researchers might use different terms to describe the same idea

D. You might spell some of the words wrong and not get any results

E. B and C

6) What is the most difficult aspect of beginning to research a topic that you don't know much about?

You don't know enough about the topic to know what is important and what is not.

You don't understand the technical aspects of the topic.

It takes a lot of time to do research.

All of the above