EAP Research and Source Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a research question in academic work?
- To summarize the findings of a study
- To focus the scope of investigation and guide the research process (Correct answer)
- To list the sources that will be used in the paper
- To introduce background information about a topic
Correct answer: To focus the scope of investigation and guide the research process
A research question defines what the study aims to investigate and helps keep the research focused and purposeful.
Question 2: What does 'currency' mean when evaluating sources for academic research?
- Whether the source is freely available online
- How recently the source was published and whether the information is up to date (Correct answer)
- How many times the source has been cited by other researchers
- Whether the source was published in the researcher's country
Correct answer: How recently the source was published and whether the information is up to date
Currency refers to the timeliness of a source; in fast-changing fields, recent sources are generally more reliable and relevant.
Question 3: What is meant by 'bias' in a research source?
- A source that takes a clear position on an issue
- An intentional or unintentional tendency to favor one perspective over another (Correct answer)
- A source that only includes data from one study
- A source that is written from a personal perspective
Correct answer: An intentional or unintentional tendency to favor one perspective over another
Bias in a source refers to a skewed presentation of information that may favor a particular viewpoint, affecting the objectivity of research.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a secondary source?
- A survey you conducted for your research project
- A diary written by a historical figure
- A textbook chapter summarizing research on a topic (Correct answer)
- Raw census data from the U.S. government
Correct answer: A textbook chapter summarizing research on a topic
A textbook chapter that summarizes and interprets existing research is a secondary source because it analyzes rather than generates original data.
Question 5: What is an academic 'database' in the context of research?
- A list of books available at the university library
- An organized collection of digital sources such as journal articles and dissertations (Correct answer)
- A website that publishes original research papers
- A government repository of public records
Correct answer: An organized collection of digital sources such as journal articles and dissertations
Academic databases like JSTOR, PubMed, and EBSCOhost provide access to organized collections of scholarly articles, dissertations, and other research materials.
Question 6: What does 'authority' refer to when evaluating sources?
- Whether the source has government approval
- The credentials and expertise of the author or publisher (Correct answer)
- How many people have read or cited the source
- Whether the source is published in a famous journal
Correct answer: The credentials and expertise of the author or publisher
Authority refers to the qualifications, credentials, and expertise of the author or the reputation of the publishing institution.
EAP Research and Source Evaluation 2
What is the purpose of a research question in academic work?