Finding the main concepts in a research question is a lot like finding the main idea in an essay or story. Often the main idea is in the first paragraph, but not always. Sometimes it’s in a later paragraph or even in the conclusion. The same is true with research questions—the main concepts can be at the beginning, middle, or end.
How to identify searchable concepts. A quick way to identify concepts in a research question is to find words or phrases that represent your main topic(s): Start with the nouns: these are often main concepts. Check the definitions of key words in a dictionary, encyclopedia or textbook.
Main concepts, also sometimes called keywords, key terms, and/or key phrases, are almost always nouns. Words in your research question that are not likely to relate to the main concept are words like: the, is, affect, what, why, when, how, and are. ... When trying to identify the main concepts, think about what ideas and topics would need to be ...
Before searching for information, you need to identify keywords related to your topic. The keywords you use have an impact on the results of your research. ... One way is to map out our ideas and identify some of our key concepts to develop our research question. We can then develop our research statement and come up with key terms to use for ...
Examine relevant theories, models, and studies to identify key concepts and variables. Example: Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory might inform a study on workplace motivation. 3. Define Key Variables. Identify the independent (cause), dependent (effect), and mediating/moderating variables in the study. Example: Independent Variable: Leadership Style.
C. Identify Key Concepts. D. Broaden/Narrow Your Topic. Identify Key Concepts. Creating research questions will allow you to identify key phrases which will assist you when you begin searching the Library's web site for articles, books and other resources. For example: Research question:
Once you have a research question, identifying its key concepts or key terms can help you figure out what words to use when you search for information. A focused research question usually has about three key concepts. You might also find it helpful to think about what synonyms or related terms could be used to describe the different concepts.
Key concepts should be identified for the search. Concepts should be considered as separate topics or groups of concepts. Your research question will determine how many concept groups you need. Sometimes you can get good results with just one concept (a rare term), typically a search includes two or three concepts.
An important part of the planning process is scoping out the topic areas that you are researching. It can help to do some brain storming to map out the main topics/concepts you will be looking at. Mind mapping can be a useful way of capturing these concepts, themes and sub themes - but use whatever technique works best for you.
Keywords are key concepts of a research question. Keywords are usually nouns. Avoid words that indicate quality (good, bad, effective) quantity (more, less). Once you have identified the key concepts, identify alternate terms and keywords for the key concepts. Brainstorm synonyms of key concepts (a dictionary or thesaurus can help).
Key concepts communicate the subjects only, not the relationship between subjects. If the key concepts in your question are not immediately clear, try the following: Identify the nouns in your research question: people or animals, places, things, time periods, or ideas.
To identify key concepts, it is important to analyze the research question thoroughly, extract the main ideas, and translate them into relevant concepts. How to synthesize information using key concepts? The synthesis of information involves confronting different ideas related to key concepts, in order to establish a coherent overview.
Identifying the key concepts of a research topic is at least as much "art" as "science". Different people will use different words for describing the same topic. If you identified other concepts than what is mentioned above, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are "wrong".
Identify concepts, which are “big idea” words to which your topic is related. cyberbullying => Internet safety, bullying; 3. Identify synonyms, which are words that mean the same as your keywords. In some cases, your synonym might be the better search term. impact => effect, influence;
Describe different frameworks that help to identify key concepts within your research topic; Construct a searchable question using a standard framework (e.g. PICO, SPICE, SPIDER) Using a question framework to help identify key concepts. Developing a searchable question can be tough! Using a question framework can help you think through your ...
Titles, headings, subheadings, and bolded words often highlight key concepts. Reading the introduction and conclusion can also provide a roadmap of the main ideas. Skim Through: Look at the first and last paragraphs, which often contain the main idea. ... Step 4: Identify the Main Idea. The main idea is the central point or theme of the text ...
Identify Primary Concepts. Identifying your search concepts is important to determine which key components you need to include in your search to return relevant results. Concepts are easier to identify once the research question has been formulated using PICO, PICO(T), or another question formulation framework from Step 1. ...
How to Identify Key Concepts. a. Look at Your Syllabus. Most teachers give a course outline or syllabus. The main topics or chapters often highlight the must-know concepts. b. Check Textbook Summaries. At the end of each chapter, many textbooks summarize the key ideas.