Glossary
Applying Evidence to Support Claims
The process of strategically integrating relevant and high-quality evidence into an argument to substantiate and strengthen claims.
Example:
When arguing for the benefits of exercise, applying evidence to support claims would involve citing studies on improved cardiovascular health and mood.
Audience
The intended readers or listeners of a research paper, whose background and expectations should influence the selection and presentation of evidence.
Example:
When presenting research to a group of medical professionals, the audience would expect highly technical and peer-reviewed evidence.
Bias
A disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, often influencing the presentation or interpretation of information.
Example:
A news report funded by a political party might exhibit bias in its coverage of an election, favoring one candidate over another.
Cherry-Picking
An unethical practice of selectively choosing only the evidence that supports a claim while ignoring contradictory or unfavorable evidence.
Example:
A researcher who only cites studies confirming their hypothesis about a new drug, while omitting studies showing negative side effects, is guilty of cherry-picking.
Common Pitfalls (in using evidence)
Typical mistakes or errors researchers make when selecting, evaluating, or integrating evidence, such as cherry-picking or misinterpreting data.
Example:
One of the common pitfalls in using evidence is relying solely on anecdotal stories rather than robust empirical data.
Credibility (of sources)
The trustworthiness and reliability of a source, determined by factors such as the author's expertise, potential bias, and publication reputation.
Example:
Before relying on a website for medical information, always check the credibility of the authors and the organization publishing the content.
Describes Trends
A function of reasoning that involves explaining changes or developments over time as revealed by the evidence.
Example:
Using historical economic data, the reasoning describes trends in unemployment rates over the past decade, showing periods of rise and fall.
Evidence
Anything that supports or backs up a claim in research, ranging from facts and figures to observations and expert opinions.
Example:
When arguing that climate change is impacting polar bear populations, satellite images showing shrinking ice caps serve as crucial evidence.
Expertise
Specialized knowledge or skill in a particular field, which contributes to the credibility of a source or individual.
Example:
Consulting a renowned astrophysicist for information on black holes leverages their expertise in the field.
Explains Relationships
A function of reasoning that clarifies how different pieces of evidence or concepts connect to each other, whether comparatively, causally, or correlationally.
Example:
The reasoning explains relationships between increased social media use and decreased attention spans, suggesting a correlational link.
Identifies Patterns
A function of reasoning that involves recognizing recurring trends, similarities, or relationships within the collected evidence.
Example:
By analyzing survey responses, the researcher identifies patterns indicating that students who participate in extracurricular activities report higher levels of satisfaction.
Interpretations & Inferences
The process of explaining what evidence means (interpretation) and drawing conclusions or implications from it (inference).
Example:
Observing a consistent pattern of increased sales after a marketing campaign, you might make the interpretation that the campaign was effective and infer that similar campaigns should be pursued.
Nonprint Sources
Information found in non-textual formats, including videos, audio recordings, physical objects, and digital media.
Example:
Analyzing a documentary film about a social movement or examining artifacts from an archaeological dig involves using nonprint sources.
Primary Evidence
Original, firsthand information or data collected directly by the researcher or from an original source.
Example:
Conducting your own survey of local residents about park usage generates primary evidence.
Print Sources
Information found in physical, text-based formats such as books, research papers, monographs, and even photographs.
Example:
For a historical research paper, consulting a collection of original letters and diaries from the 19th century would involve using print sources.
Qualitative Evidence
Evidence that is descriptive and non-numerical, often gathered through interviews, observations, or textual analysis.
Example:
Transcripts from in-depth interviews with individuals describing their personal experiences with a new policy offer qualitative evidence.
Quality (of evidence)
The overall strength and trustworthiness of evidence, assessed by criteria such as sufficiency, accuracy, relevance, currency, and credibility (S.A.R.C.C.).
Example:
Before incorporating a statistic into your paper, you must evaluate its quality to ensure it comes from a reputable and unbiased source.
Quantitative Evidence
Evidence that is numerical and measurable, often derived from statistics, surveys, or experiments.
Example:
A study reporting that 75% of surveyed students prefer online learning provides quantitative evidence.
Reasoning
The analytical process that connects evidence to claims, explaining the significance of the evidence and how it supports the argument.
Example:
After presenting data on rising global temperatures, your reasoning would explain how this evidence supports the claim of climate change.
Relevance
The degree to which evidence directly pertains to and supports the specific claim or research question being addressed.
Example:
When discussing the impact of screen time on sleep, a study on diet and sleep quality would lack relevance.
Reliability
The consistency and dependability of a source or method, indicating that it would produce the same results under similar conditions.
Example:
A scientific experiment is considered to have high reliability if its results can be consistently replicated by other researchers.
Research Diary
A personal log used to record observations, data, reflections, and key details throughout the research process.
Example:
Keeping a research diary helped me track my evolving thoughts on the experiment's unexpected results, leading to a new hypothesis.
S.A.R.C.C.
An acronym representing the key criteria for evaluating compelling evidence: Sufficient, Accurate, Relevant, Current, and Credible.
Example:
Before using a source, always run it through the S.A.R.C.C. checklist to ensure its reliability and appropriateness for your argument.
Secondary Evidence
Information or data that has been analyzed, interpreted, or summarized by someone other than the original source.
Example:
Citing a review article that synthesizes findings from multiple previous studies on a topic uses secondary evidence.