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Decision maker’s objectives
Background of problem
Differentiate problem from symptoms
Determine unit of analysis
Identify relevant variables
State research question
Conduct exploratory research
Develop testable hypotheses
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Theoretical base for your research
Evaluative report of existing literature
Critical assessment of the current state of
knowledge
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Find out what has already been done
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Discover what has not yet been addressed
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Position your research
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Identify gaps or flaws in existing research
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Suggest methods you should use
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Provide support for your chosen methods
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Select topic
◦ Achievable, interesting, focused, important
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Determine what you want to know
◦ Break down into topic areas
 e.g. Student drinking: current behaviour, effects on
health, effects on functioning, motivations, etc.
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Identify key search words and synonyms
◦ e.g. Charity advertisements, charity appeals,
nonprofit advertising, not-for-profit advertising,
nfp, etc.
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Identify information sources
◦ Books, academic journals, popular press articles,
government documents, conference proceedings,
etc.
◦ ABI Inform is an important management database
 http://www.uleth.ca/lib/; Select “articles”; Select
“management”; Select “connect” for ABI Inform
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List of key search words
◦ What was useful, what wasn’t
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List of databases
◦ What was useful, what wasn’t
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Bibliography of citations
◦ Easier than tracking them down again later!
◦ Annotated: include short summary for later
review
◦ Use APA style from the start
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general and specific information
◦e.g. Recycling:
Overall recycling trends,
general consumer motivations for recycling,
specific local programs.
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peer-reviewed academic articles when
possible
◦other (gov’t reports, popular press, stats, etc.)
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Read abstract, introduction and conclusion
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Identify “classics”
◦ articles that are frequently cited
◦ (look at references)
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Identify authors active in the area
◦ Search by author name
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What are key points?
Does it relate to research question?
Assess source quality
◦ #1 blind peer reviewed (type of publication),
◦ #2 author (background/training), potential biases
(purpose)
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Is method sound? Appropriate?
Are there apparent flaws/weaknesses?
Are results consistent with other work?
◦ If not, why not?
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REVIEW
◦ What is the current state of knowledge in the
area?
◦ How have others approached the research area?
◦ What are the key concepts and theories in the
area?
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MOVING FORWARD
◦ What do we still need to find out?
◦ What is the best way to find that out?
◦ What would be the importance of your research?
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Literature review for your group topic
◦ Determine what you want to know
◦ Identify search terms
◦ Find several relevant articles
◦ Summarize these
◦ Write the lit review with references
◦ Submit via email to prof. and all group members