EPQ research technique

Online courses

• Future learn
• EdShare (University of Southampton)
• Open University
• Jstor

Effective research will help time management. Improving writing skills ensures you produce a good extended essay for your EPQ. Marks can effect university choice.

Successful students…

• Have a range of effective search strategies.
• Effectively use a variety of resources – high quality and unbiased.
• Use a bibliography.

Note taking – Cornell Notes

Keywords help with search terms. Make sure to include synonyms. This also helps to find similar articles.

Books

• Authors, editors and referees recognised as experts in their field.
• Have an unbiased view point.
• Will clarify understanding and enable you to find more information on that topic on the internet more easily.

Internet 

• Up-to-date.
• Wealth of information.
• However, you are the editor and must check for reliability and bias.

Evaluating websites

Look at the…

• URL
• Author
• Statement of purpose 
• Style
• Content
• Dates
• Contact details

Does it seem credible? Does it fit with what you know? Can you verify it from print sources or other websites?

Use advanced search options for example, language option, country. TED talks are a valuable source.

Journals and magazines

Examples of online journals…

• Google scholar
• Refseek.com
• Digitit library
• Webliteracy.pressbooks
• Directory of open access journals
• PubMed

Plagiarism is claiming other peoples work as your own. To avoid this, give credit and citations.

Bibliographies show the sources of all ideas which are not uniquely your own or common knowledge. All sources cited must be included in a bibliography.

The Harvard referencing system