1	The Research Process by Carl Rahkonen
2	What is Research? At its heart, research is searching for the Truth.
3	Dr. Ronald R. Smith Life is not neat … …and if you make it neat, it is not the TRUTH.
4	Dr. George List “When you go to the field, don’t pack your theories … ...because you will prove them, whether they are true or not.
5	A Secular Sermon for those of the Ethnomusicological Faith Roger Bacon, a 13th century monk, wrote in his Opus Majus that there were four chief obstacles or stumbling blocks to the grasping of truth.
6	The four “stumbling blocks” 1. Submission to fragile or unworthy authority. 2. The influence of custom. 3. The imperfection of undisciplined senses. 4. Concealment of ignorance through ostentation of seeming wisdom.
7	Unworthy Authority Books say Hopi Indians do not drink alcoholic beverages. But some actually do drink Though it is greatly discouraged in their culture
8	Influence of Custom Asking directions in Bogota, Colombia. Custom dictated that an answer by given but not necessarily correct.
9	Undisciplined Senses Jivaro Indian flute players. i.e. asking the wrong questions.
10	Ostentation of seeming wisdom Using academic jargon to conceal ignorance. Writing in such a way that no one can understand it.
11	Gilbert and Sullivan If this young man expresses himself in terms too deep for me… Why, what a singularly deep young man this deep young man must be!
12	Dr. Alan P. Merriam Do you have a problem in your writing? or, do you have a problem in your thinking? Get your thinking straight, and your writing will be understandable. And just keep going at it!!
13	"“Library Research..”" “Library Research..”
14	"“Library Research" “Library Research”
15	Collecting information from a library or from the internet... may be called “search” or “study.” What you DO with the information IS RESEARCH
16	The word “research” is NOT a verb. It takes a great deal of study before one can accomplish research.
17	What does “research” require? An original contribution to the field of knowledge. Thus merely finding information in a library or on the internet is NOT research… …but is preliminary to research.
18	The Research “Toolbox”
19	The Research “Toolbox” Every research methodology can be compared to a “tool” which should be used to solve an appropriate problem.
20	What are these “tools”or methodologies? Philosophical Aesthetic Analytical Historical Descriptive Experimental
21	The Research “Toolbox” Just as you wouldn’t use a hammer to drive screws
22	The Research “Toolbox” So you wouldn’t use an experimental methodology for an historical problem.
23	The research continuum. Philosophical Aesthetic Analytical Historical Descriptive Experimental
24	The Research Continuum Philosophical More Qualitative Aesthetic Analytical Historical Descriptive Experimental More Quantitative
25	The Research Pyramid
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27	Writings by other researchers from the library or the internet. Sometimes called secondary sources.
28	Sometimes called primary sources. manuscripts, letters, interviews with eye witnesses unpublished documentary evidence
29	All Research begins with thorough study and analysis of the sources resulting in discovery of original ideas about the subject.
30	The final goal of all research The discovery of new and original knowledge
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32	The Literature Review In order to do any original research on a topic, it is necessary to find out everything that has been written about that topic. A thorough literature review will include materials found in library collections and on the internet.
33	Library Collections Library collections may contain published materials and manuscript materials. Published materials are secondary sources, manuscript materials may be primary sources.
34	Library vs. Internet Searching the Library is like visiting the zoo.
35	Library vs. Internet Every animal is in its cage Due to controlled vocabulary.
36	Library vs. Internet Searching the internet is like swinging through the jungle!
37	Library vs. Internet The Internet changes every day indeed every hour! Keyword searching only.
38	Two types of published materials in Libraries Books, or monographs. Journals, periodicals, or serials.
39	Two types of materials... The library tools used for finding these two types of materials are different.
40	Books and Monographs Card Catalogs Electronic Catalogs Standard Headings for Author Title Subject
41	Journals, Periodical and Serials Indexes For every specific field Usually arranged by author and subject