PACT Research Skills Flashcards

Which step should come FIRST in the research process?

Answer: Identifying and narrowing a research topic or question

Defining a clear, focused research question directs all subsequent steps, including source selection and argumentation.

A student finds conflicting statistics from two sources on the same topic. The best course of action is to:

Answer: Consult additional authoritative sources to determine which is more reliable

Cross-referencing multiple credible sources helps resolve conflicting data and strengthens the validity of research conclusions.

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable way to incorporate a source into a research paper?

Answer: Copying sentences verbatim without quotation marks or citation

Copying text without quotation marks and a citation misrepresents the work as your own, which is plagiarism regardless of whether other citations exist nearby.

In APA format, where is the in-text citation typically placed?

Answer: Immediately after the borrowed information, within the text

APA in-text citations appear parenthetically right after the referenced information, including the author's last name and publication year.

What makes .gov and .edu websites generally more reliable than .com websites for academic research?

Answer: They are maintained by government agencies and educational institutions, which are accountable for accuracy

Government and educational domains are operated by institutions with formal accountability standards, making them more likely to publish verified information.

A 'working thesis' is best described as:

Answer: A preliminary claim that may be revised as research progresses

A working thesis is a tentative claim used to guide early research; it is expected to evolve as the researcher gathers and analyzes evidence.