Mystery Doug

For this assignment, you'll need to go beyond basic Google searches and use academic databases to find reliable scientific sources. This means using resources like the school library's science databases or credible scientific websites to support your research. See below for some library databases.

Remember that evaluating your sources is a crucial part of research.
When you find a source, verify that it's recent, written by experts, and comes from a credible organization. Look for publication dates, author credentials, and whether the research was peer-reviewed.

Good news: When you use academic databases like the ones above, the authority and accuracy parts of source evaluation are already handled for you! These databases only include sources that have been vetted by experts. However, you still need to evaluate whether each source is:

• Current - Is it recent enough for your topic? (Scientific knowledge changes over time)

• Relevant - Does it actually address your research question, or just mention your topic briefly?

• Purposeful - What was the author's goal? Is it to inform, persuade, or sell something? Look for sources meant to educate rather than convince you of a particular viewpoint.

Pro tip: Even in academic databases, not every source will be perfect for your specific question. Read summaries (also called abstracts) first to make sure the source will actually help answer your research question before reading the full article.

If you need to review the CRAAP Text, check here.

Steps for Starting Your Scientific Research:

Step 1: Clarify Your Question
Make sure you understand exactly what you're trying to find out. Write your research question in one clear sentence. If you are struggling with your research question, refer to this guide on good research questions.

Step 2: Brainstorm Keywords
List the main terms related to your topic. Think of synonyms and related words scientists might use (e.g., if researching "heart disease," also try "cardiovascular disease" or "cardiac conditions").

Step 3: Start with Background Information
Use reliable general sources first to get an overview of your topic. In many databases, they offer a "topics" page that gives great overviews.

Step 4: Take Good Notes
Write down key information and keep track of where you found it. You'll need this for citations later. If you use databases, the citations are automatically generated when you click the "cite" button.

Step 5: Look for Multiple Perspectives
Find at least 2-3 different sources that discuss your topic to get a complete picture of the current scientific understanding.