Humanities Homework Help

Many software tools have been developed that are intended to streamline the research process, or enable you to quickly compile your sources into a stylized reference list. For this Discussion, you will explore one of these technology tools and evaluate its application and usefulness to conducting research or completing a literature review.

To prepare for this Discussion, select and explore at least one of the software or Web 2.0 tools listed in the Optional Resources. If there is a free trial version available, download it and spend a little time using the tool. Pay particular attention to its features and its ease of use.

Post a brief description of the technology tool that you explored, including the URL. Explain how it is best used for conducting research and illustrate its use with a relevant example. Then evaluate its utility for streamlining the research process. Include your assessment of its usefulness while conducting research or completing a literature review.

As you examine this week’s resources, focus on the structure of a research report and the information that is found in the different parts of a research report. What information within the report will help you to evaluate a study’s methods, validity, and reliability?

Required Readings

Locke, L. F., Silverman, S. J., & Spirduso, W. W. (2009). Reading and understanding research (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 6, “Quantitative Research Designs”
• Chapter 9, “Reading Reports of Quantitative Research–Critically: Things to Notice and Questions to Ask”

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Anatomy of a research study [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
In this program, you will examine the different sections of a research report and learn strategies for reading quantitative research reports. Explore the “Quantitative Research” section of this program.

Optional Resources

Explore at least one of the following software or Web 2.0 tools in preparation for this week’s “Evaluating Technology Tools for Research” assignment:

Online Research Tools: A White Paper Compilation: http://whitepapers.virtualprivatelibrary.net/Onlin…

Evernote: http://www.evernote.com/

7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf

Delicious: http://delicious.com/

CiteULike: http://www.citeulike.org/

APA Software (Walden Writing Center): http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/ap…

Locke, L. F., Silverman, S. J., & Spirduso, W. W. (2009). Reading and understanding research (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 7, “Staying Organized When Reading a Quantitative Report”

Fink, A. (2020). Conducting research literature reviews: From the Internet to paper (5th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 2, “Searching and Screening: The Practical Screen and Methodological Quality”
  • Begin reading from “Search Screen 2: Methodological Quality Screening Criteria, through the “Summary of Key Points.”
• Chapter 4, “Doing the Review: A Reader’s Guide Chapter”

AABAT, Inc. (2016). Qualitative versus quantitative research and evaluation methods. Retrieved from https://aabat.org.au/qualitative-versus-quantitati…