VFMS 8th Grade Science Research Experience: Step 4: Background Research

Step 4) Background Research

Background research should help to educate the reader of your project about important aspects of your topic.We will have several lessons in the VFMS library to help us learn about conducting research.We will also learn how to use the databases available to VFMS students and conduct free web searches.

Each student should try to learn as much as possible on anything that is closely related to their area of research. Using multiple resources, students should learn about the important concepts related to their topic.The background research should help the students give the “because…” in the “if… then… because…” section of their hypothesis. 20-30 facts from 3-5 sources would be a reasonable expectation for this section. In the final draft, this background research should be put into paragraph form. In text citations must be used in your background research paragraph to properly cite your facts and sources of your background research.

Complete a rough draft of your background research.

Final draft of this paragraph must be included on your display board.

Databases are sometimes called the "deep web" or "invisible web" because their information is usually only accessible through paid subscriptions using passwords and isn't usually found (indexed) by search engines such as Google.

Database records are organized using a variety of indexes such as author and subject but are keyword searchable as well. 

Databases are either subject specific such as World History in Context or content specific such as the newspaper and magazine database through EBSCO. 

Databases contain information that has been checked for the ABC's of authority & accuracy, bias, and content & currency. You can trust the information you find in databases, not like on the web or through Google searches. Sometimes it's accurate, but many times it isn't. 

Research is: 

• Driven by a question that guides the process.
• Seeking information with a clear goal.
• A process, which works best when done step- by-step. The steps may need to be repeated.
• Collection and interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve the problem.
• Going beyond facts and old ideas.
• Taking a new look at the information and taking a stand.

Research is not:

• Copying and pasting information you find through a Google search.
• Combining a paragraph from one article with a couple of paragraphs from websites. That's plagiarism.
• Rearranging facts
• Rewording each phrase and citing each source. That's just a summary of facts with someone else's name on them and still can be classified as plagiarism.

Words for the wise student: 

• Remember, begin with a "wide net" and then narrow your search results.
• If you only look for specific information to answer a specific question, you may miss many opportunities to broaden your understanding .
• Allow for surprises- you may find your views on your topic will change and take you in an entirely new direction.
• Remember that research is searching again and again.
• In the process of doing research, you will be looking at information that others have looked at before, trying to see something that they have not seen.