Research and Inquiry Skills Flashcards

A student is researching the effects of pollution on Iowa rivers for a science report. Which source would be MOST credible?

Answer: A report published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Government agencies like the Iowa Department of Natural Resources publish peer-reviewed, official data, making them highly credible sources for environmental research.

When a student copies a paragraph from a book and puts it in a report without quotation marks or a citation, this is called:

Answer: Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using someone else's words or ideas without giving them proper credit, which includes failing to use quotation marks or citations.

A primary source is best described as:

Answer: An original diary written by a Civil War soldier

A primary source is an original, firsthand document or artifact created during the time being studied, such as a diary written by someone who experienced the events.

Which search term would MOST likely return the most specific results when researching the history of Iowa's state capital?

Answer: Des Moines Iowa capital history

Using multiple specific keywords like 'Des Moines Iowa capital history' narrows the search to return results directly relevant to the topic.

A student reads two articles about school lunch policies. One says healthy lunches improve grades; the other says there is no proven link. What should the student do?

Answer: Look for additional sources to compare and evaluate the evidence

When sources disagree, researchers should seek additional sources to gather more evidence and make a better-informed conclusion.

Which of the following is an example of a fact, NOT an opinion?

Answer: Iowa became the 29th state admitted to the Union in 1846.

The date Iowa became a state (1846) and its order of admission (29th) are verifiable historical facts, unlike subjective opinions about beauty or taste.

To properly credit a website in a works cited list, a student should include:

Answer: The author's name, title of the page, website name, and date accessed

A complete website citation typically includes the author's name, article title, website name, and the date it was accessed, following standard citation formats.