Research Methodology

Grade 9 · English · Study Guide

A guide to conducting credible research, evaluating sources, integrating evidence, and avoiding plagiarism in academic writing.

Research methodology refers to the systematic process of finding, evaluating, organizing, and documenting information to support academic writing. Strong research is not simply Googling a topic—it requires identifying credible sources, evaluating their reliability and relevance, and integrating evidence fairly and accurately.

The first step is developing a focused research question. Broad questions like 'What is climate change?' lead to unfocused research. Narrow, arguable questions like 'How have coastal communities in Florida adapted infrastructure to rising sea levels since 2010?' guide efficient, targeted research.

Source evaluation uses the CRAAP test or similar frameworks: Currency (how recent is the information?), Relevance (does it address your research question?), Authority (is the author qualified?), Accuracy (is the information supported by evidence?), and Purpose (why was it written—to inform, persuade, or sell?). Peer-reviewed academic journals, government databases, and reputable news organizations are generally more reliable than personal blogs, commercial sites, or anonymous wikis.

When integrating sources, writers have three options: direct quotation (using exact words in quotation marks), paraphrase (restating the idea in your own words), and summary (condensing the main points). All three require citation to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism—presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own—is a serious academic offense. Citation formats include MLA (common in English classes), APA (common in social sciences), and Chicago.

Key terms

Research question: A focused, specific question that guides the research process and defines the scope of an investigation.
Peer-reviewed source: An article or study evaluated by experts in the field before publication; considered among the most credible academic sources.
CRAAP test: An acronym for evaluating sources: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Plagiarism: Presenting another person's words, ideas, or work as your own without proper attribution; a serious academic violation.
Paraphrase: Restating a source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning; requires citation.
Citation: A formatted reference to the source of information used in academic writing; required for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized material.

Flashcards

Research question: A focused, arguable question that drives investigation; narrow questions produce more useful, targeted research.
CRAAP test: Source evaluation framework: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose.
Peer-reviewed source: Academic work evaluated by qualified experts before publication; the gold standard for research credibility.
Primary source: Original, firsthand evidence: a historical document, original research study, interview, or literary text.
Secondary source: Analysis or interpretation of primary sources: a textbook, critical essay, or documentary.
Plagiarism: Using another person's words, ideas, or work without proper citation; a serious academic integrity violation.
Direct quotation: Copying a source's exact words inside quotation marks with a citation; used when wording itself is significant.
Paraphrase: Restating a source's idea in your own words/structure; still requires citation because the IDEA is not yours.
Summary: A condensed overview of a source's main points in your own words; requires citation.

Questions

Which of the following is the most credible source for a research paper on the health effects of air pollution?
1. A personal blog post by someone who lives near a factory
2. A peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Respiratory Medicine
3. A Wikipedia article on air pollution
4. A news article from an unverified online tabloid
Show answer
Answer: A peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Respiratory Medicine
Peer-reviewed journal articles are vetted by qualified experts before publication, making them the most credible source type for scientific or health-related claims.
Paraphrasing a source means you can use the ideas without citing them, as long as you use your own words.
Show answer
Answer: False
Paraphrasing a source still requires a citation. The idea belongs to the original author regardless of whose words convey it. Omitting citation is plagiarism.
The CRAAP test helps students evaluate sources by checking Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and ______.
Show answer
Answer: purpose
The P in CRAAP stands for Purpose—why was the source created? To inform, persuade, entertain, or sell? Understanding purpose reveals potential bias.
A student finds a .gov website with information about federal education statistics. Which part of the CRAAP test does the '.gov' domain primarily address?
1. Currency
2. Relevance
3. Authority
4. Purpose
Show answer
Answer: Authority
A .gov domain indicates the source is published by a government agency, which establishes the Authority criterion—a verified, institutional publisher.
Which of the following best describes plagiarism?
1. Using too many direct quotes in a paper
2. Citing sources in the wrong citation format
3. Presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own without attribution
4. Writing about a topic that has been researched before
Show answer
Answer: Presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own without attribution
Plagiarism is specifically the act of presenting someone else's intellectual work as your own without attribution. Citation format errors and overquoting are different issues.

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