Unit 5: What information is needed?
Different types of research require different levels of information, and often using different types of resources. The following table gives some examples.
Review a play:
Objectively analyse the relative success or failure of the given production. |
- A limited review of information.
- Reading the play before you go to the production to develop a sense of what the characters might look like, suitable set design and appropriate costuming.
- Interviewing a sample group to obtain their opinions.
|
Write an essay or give a short presentation:
Discuss a specific issue. |
- A significant review of information.
- Using basic theory found in books.
- Supporting your argument with examples found in books and journal articles.
|
Produce a laboratory report:
Document your findings and show your understanding of the principles the experiment was designed to examine. |
- A minor review of information.
- Using your laboratory manual.
- Obtaining source data from reference material or theory from books.
|
Write a dissertation or thesis:
Answer a problem or hypothetical question. |
- A major review of information.
- Supporting your argument with examples found in books, journal articles, reports and conference proceedings.
|

SMILE - Finding Information by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.