This document provides guidance on conducting research for an assignment at Brisbane Grammar School Library. It outlines the task of evaluating a claim on an ecological concept by identifying relevant scientific concepts, gathering evidence through research, and using the evidence to form a research question and arguments. It describes the research process as non-linear and iterative. Students are advised to obtain evidence from scientifically credible sources like scholarly journals, books by credentialed scientists, and university/government websites. Popular sources are not recommended. Specific databases are suggested for researching the given assignment topics.

1. Science
Research
Guide
Brisbane Grammar School Library

2. Your Task
General Topic Claim to be Evaluated
Introduced species Native Australian species are a more
sustainable food source than
introduced species.
Biological control Biological control of introduced
species is better for the
environment than chemical control.
Energy transfer A vegan diet, which relies on plant
proteins, is better for the
environment than a diet that
contains animal proteins.A ‘claim’ is an assertion made without providing
supporting evidence. You must identify scientific
concepts relevant to the claim and research these
to gather evidence. This evidence is then used to
form a research question and scientific arguments.

3. Your Task
This assessment requires you to evaluate a claim on an ecological concept.
Claim An assertion made without providing supporting evidence. You must
identify scientific concepts relevant to the claim and research these to
gather evidence. This evidence is then used to form a research
question and scientific arguments.
Evaluate
Generating and applying criteria to judge the value, logic, worth,
reasonableness or quality of something, based on selected criteria.
Both the positive and negative aspects must be considered.
Secondary evidence Someone else’s thoughts and conclusions based on research and
evidence.
Research Finding information directly related to your task
Analyse Sifting through your research to decide what is useful, reliable and
accurate and whether it applies to your task
Interpret Drawing your own conclusions, based on the evidence

4. Evidence must be obtained by researching
scientifically credible sources, such as:
•scientific journals,
•books by well-credentialed scientists, and
•websites of governments, universities,
independent research bodies or scientific
manufacturers.
Library Research
Guides
https://libguides.brisbanegrammar.com

5. What does this mean?

6. Scientific inquiry is a non-linear, iterative process.
You will not necessarily complete these steps in the order stated;
some steps may be repeated or revisited.
iterative meaning in the
Cambridge English Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ite
rative
iterative definition: doing
something again and again,
usually to improve it:
non-linear meaning in the
Cambridge English Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/eng
lish/non-linear
non-linear definition: used
to describe a process, series
of events, in which one thing
does not clearly or directly
follow from another

8. https://youtu.be/hH9fCRgqNGo

9. Popular vs Scholarly Articles
POPULAR SCHOLARLY
Written by journalists or non-specialists
Summarises ideas and events in an
easily understandable format
Often contain images and
advertisements
Intended to be understood by a wide
variety of people
Entertainment, current events, opinions
Written by researchers or specialists with
in-depth subject knowledge
Often the results of research, uses
subject-specific jargon
Often contain charts and graphs
Intended for a narrower audience –
written by specialists for specialists
Objectivity is key, reports research rather
than opinion
Often contain long lists of supporting
references and evidence
Carnegie Vincent Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN8S4CbzGXU

10. Popular vs Scholarly Articles
POPULAR SCHOLARLY

11. http://fitsoldiers.com/infobesity-part-1
In your OneNote, find the page called
Library Research Help

12. DatabasesforthisAssignment

13. DatabasesforthisAssignment
These three databases are
included in your MySearch
results, or you can search them
individually.

14. DatabasesforthisAssignment
eLibrary is not included in your
MySearch results, however it will
show up to the side of your
MySearch results list.

15. DatabasesforthisAssignment
The State Library has
thousands of ebooks which
are downloadable through
OneSearch. Join here.
The State Library has
thousands of ebooks which
are downloadable through
OneSearch. Join here.

16. DatabasesforthisAssignment
ClickView and Enhance TV both
contain thousands of quality videos
and recordings.

17. This single search engine
searches across
12 databases:
History Reference Centre JSTOR
Science Reference Centre Britannica Encyclopedia
ANZ Reference Centre Library Catalogue
Literacy Reference Centre EBSCO eBooks
Art and Architecture Source Associated Press Images
ANZ Points of View Education Source

18. So…..
Why
databases?

19. Why Databases?
• Credible and scholarly resources:
journals, magazines, and newspapers
• Reliability, validity, and accuracy of most
information
• Subject-specific, organized information
• Ready-made citations
• High quality, full-text 24/7

20. Peer-reviewed
Instant citations
Academic/ reliable

21. Instant Citations
which you can cut and paste

22. You can also change the dates
to include or exclude results
Your biggest
bonus:
Full Text !!

23. So…..
Why
Google?

24. Google only skims the surface

25. The problem with Google
is that it does some things so well
it’s easy to see it as the primary tool of research.
The point of senior research is not in
getting an answer…
it's in getting the right answer!!
You need to learn how to learn –
how to access, analyse, and interpret the information you find –
and how to distinguish authoritative from non-authoritative sources.

26. If you use Google,
you have to do more work…
Check the URL,
Cross-check the information,
Create your own citations.

27. Anyone can upload information to the internet, and much of the time no-one checks. It's up to you to
be careful as you sift through poor quality sites to find the best ones.
The URL (or web address) can give you some quick clues as to whether or not a site is reliable and
trustworthy.
.edu - school or university - usually trustworthy (is it by a student or a scholar?)
.gov - government website - trustworthy
.org - an organisation, often not-for-profit - some can have a strong bias or agenda so be careful
.net - a network - may be trustworthy, be careful
.com - company or commercial - be careful (they could be trying to persuade you or to sell
something)
~ % - personal website - be very wary
Always double-check your information against known and trusted sources of information
(eg books and encyclopedias)
Reading the URL

28. The key to successful searching is to choose the right search terms to begin with.
Make sure you understand what the task is asking you to do.
* Causes and impact of floods
* Advice on how to prepare for a flood
* What to do if caught in a flood
Choose important words - key terms - from your questions.
environmental ecological sustainable
Create 'search strings' by using a number of keywords and/or phrases together.
Search engines automatically add the word AND between each word.
e.g. "kangaroo meat" AND "environmental impacts" AND sustainable
Keep phrases together with quotation marks.
e.g. "chemical control of cane toads"
Searching with Key Terms

29. DATES &
NUMBERS
Looking for specific
(or rare) dates,
statistics, and other
numerical facts.
SPECIALIZED
INFORMATION
Looking for specific
information about a
person, organization,
or agency associated
with a city, state or
country.
PERSONAL
USES
Looking into buying
or selling things.
Music and film info.
Contacts’ info.
Good reasons to use Google
https://www.csn.edu/sites/default/files/legacy/PDFFiles/Library/dbasesearch3.pdf