Unit 1

Part C
Investigating By the end of Part C you will be able to:
understand moreabout the learning
methods in higher education
find source materials
understand source references
use library catalogues.

1 Types of learning
la Work in pairs. Label the diagram below with learning methods used in higher
education.

Lectures

1b Look again at your suggestions above and discuss which methods you are familiar
with and which ones are new to you. Rank them (1-8) in order of familiarity

Students are often most familiar with learning methods which involve a tutor
giving them information to learn. However, in your college or university studies
much greater responsibility for your learning is passed to you - you will be
expected to use strategies for learning independently, and this will often involve
doing research. This could be for the purpose of writing an essay or report or
simply to build on your knowledge of a topic. Eventually you may have to do an
original piece of research for a longer project or thesis. Depending on which type
of
degree you are doing, you are likely to be involved in the following three types
of research:
tutor-/lecturer-guided research
individual secondary research
individual primary research.

1c Work in pairs. Discuss what you think each type of research may involve.

Unit 1Part C- Investigating 23

 (4) and malch tljem with i.
of research
1d Read the descriptions of Iypes
student is dong some kinu
Where the
1 Tutor- orlecturer searches ir ard finds tests a
ther own and
guided research
by
The stydert des
themset'ves n o
bul uses dats putlished by e r rosearers ii
the stutent to
resources of a library aliows
a large scale and reach genera UsNne e
students to find out gaps in krouhedge

basis for riew enqui

b Used when topic has rol teen sluied belye The

a
2 Individual
carries out a new invesigaliom to prouA g n e res
secondery research
through fieidwor direct ohservaton or experimen Tr
student is responsible for colecing nen r a tela vy

themselve
cThe student is intrdUed tO a topc ard e r m p v,
3 Individual
primary research more ty ther tutor, who may proige 8 1Eang liei d vn
and supplementary terts for the student to inestgan y
guide them through a ontroilled laoraory eprmert

le Work in pairs. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of resea
Write notes in the table.

Advantages Disadvartages
Tutor-guided research

individual secondary
research

Individual primary
research

IfWork in
pairs. Discuss which
of the three
ikely to b» done in these contexts. types of research outlined a *

I
Why?
a
taught first year module
2 a rewarch project
3 a
third-year dissertation
Ig Find ou!what modules you are
study. You could look al the likely to
the course you have C ortalkto
take in
staff member college or
university website or prospec
from that
todo your own reseasch?department.
ls it
In which
modules ase you likely
et
mone
likely to he primary or *rNdary sewatc
sexzmdary
24 on 1 Part C ivestigating
2 Finding source materials

It in conmon, in your fisl year of study, lor your tutor to give you a
especially
reading lint containng rerommended texts sources of intormation which can be
UNed to help you develop your understanding of a subject. The list will often be
wrilten in reserence lorm, containing important informati0n to help you identify
and find the souee materlals.

2a Work in pairs. M.atch the source lypes (-4) with the selerences (a-8)
A book
2 A ch.apter, written by one author and appearing in a book edited by another

3 A jounal article
4 An article on a website

Alderson, J.C. (2000). Assessing Reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press.
b Alderson. J.C. & Buck, C. (1993). Standards in testing: a survey of the practice of
UK examination boards in EFL testing. Language Testing, 10(2), 1-26.
c Chapelle, c. (1998). Construet definition and validity inquiry in SLA research.
In Bachman, L.E. & Cohen, A.D. (Eds.), Interfuces betwen Second Language
Acquisition and Language Testing Research (pp.32-70). Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
d Council of Europe. (2001). Comnon European Framework of Reference for
Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. Retrieved January 30, 2009, from: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/
linguistic/cadre_en.asp
eELGazette. (2007). The main exams in English language testing. Retrieved July
2, 2009, from: http://www.elgazette.com/language_testing.cfm
Cardner, H. (1991, December). Do babies singa universal song? Psychology
Today, 70-76.
g Rey, G. (2000, August 11). Going Native. The Times Online. Retrieved July 2,
2009, from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/incokingFeeds/article767872.ece

A journal is an academic magazine which contains iníormation about the latest

research in an academic field. Scholars submit articles to the journal, giving
details about their research. A single issue of a journal is like a single issue of a
magazine; it contains several articles, as well as book reviews, comments, and
other news. All of the issues for a particular period are collected into something
like a large book called a volume; for example, in 2001 the Harvard Law Review
published its 114th volume, containing the eight issues of that journal published
during the previous year.
Traditionally, students were able to visit the library to look at a particular article
in a volume of a journal, just like a chapter in an edited book. These days,
however, many journal articles are available online. Most library websites have a

separate portal or gateway for searching for electronic journal articles

Unit 1 PartC Investigating 25

 the reierences in 2a.
a. Writ.
Write nkesa
2b Work in pairs. Discuss these questions about
table.
reference reter to?
brackets in each
What do the dates in
and g have two dates inciuded? What is the d.
2 Why do reierences d, e he
difier
between the two dates?
to?
3In reference c, what does (pp.32-70) refer
what does 10(2), 1-26 refer to?
4 In reference b,
author name?
5 Why do references d and e not provide an

Notes

2c Compare your answers with the rest of the class.

Just because a text is on the list it does not mean that you have to read it.
Your tutor will probably tell you which items on the reading list are the most

important.
3 Understanding source references
Reading lists provided by your tutor generally use the same format as the
reference section given at the end of essays, articles or
reports to indicate
what sources were used in the
writing of the work. References contain all the
information you need to find a particular source. There are
many different
ways in which this information can be written and
departments have their own preferred style. Harvard stylecollege
most and universiry
is one common
referencing system and is used for the references given in this course.
There are different ways of
referencing for different kinds of sources; however.
most referencing styles will include
a particular source:
whichever of the following details applies
Last name of author(s) Edition number
Initials of author(s) (of journal)
Volume number
Name of editor(s) Page numbers of article (within
Publication date
the journa
Where it was published
Title of book (location)
Name of publisher
Title of article
Name of journal/magazine/newspape
Internet retrieval date URL (if an internet source)

26 Unit 1 Part C Investigating

 3a Work in painn, Annotate each pait of the eteenees below with the sppropriate
wod hom the inlomation bos on p. 26

Example

Author Initials Publication date Title Journal Page numbers

Burns R.M (1995, January) Data analysis Financlal Reviow, 12-13
for accountants. 23

1 Prosser, M. & Trigwell, K. (1998). Toaching for learning in higher oducatlon.

Buckingham: Open University Pross.

2 Marton, F. & Säljö, R. (1976). On qualitative differences in learning- 1:

outcome and process. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 46, 4-11.

3 Gross, P. (Ed.). (1987). A dictionary of economics (6th ed., Vol. 1).

London: Sirius Press.

4 Lublin, J. (2006). Deep and surface approaches to learning: an introduction.

Birmingham: The Higher Education Academy C-SAP. Retrieved July 23rd, 2009,

from: http://www.c-sap.bham.ac.uk/resources/guides/student_learning.htm

3b What type of source does each reference in 3a come from (e.g. a book, a journal
article)?

Unit 1 Part C Investigating 27

 4 Using library catalogues
have online
catalogues. These allow students ta. earch
Almost all libraries If you know
the title and th
in various ways. seaie
want. But if you are
want
the materials they to find the material you
hing, kor
the author, it is easy have to try uSing
à number.
of
material on a
subject,
specific you may
differen
search terms.
oil production in Amerie.
information about you
want
For example, if you
search terms in the following ways:
might try varying your
1 Use synonyms.
America - USA/US

production output
search.
to widen your
2 Use general words or expressions
oil production oil industry
oil fossil fuels/hydrocarbons/energy
America - global/worldwide

combinations of key words.

3 Use different
USA oil production
US oil industry
America fossil fuel production
USA oil industry output

4a Work in pairs. Look at these topics. Brainstorm synonyms and general expressicns

that you could use to vary your search terms.

Topic Synonyms General expressions

Rainforest destructionin
the Amazon

The uses of artificial

intelligence in business

Challenges in modern
hotel management

28 t 1Part C nwestigating
 When searrhing on topics. vou may ind a lot ol soures whih look uwtul
because the title is similar to the topu vou a eairhing Uowever, not all o
these sourres will actually be connerted closely enough to the topu vou want
When yu tind possible sourres, skim a d then to decude it tlwey are wlevaint
Be critical and reject any that seem unsuitable

4b You are an engineering student looking tor books on study skills You enter sudy
skills as a subject in the online catalogue and this is the list of esults Worh n
pairs Discuss whieh bowks vou would choose and why

Author Title Ed/Year Location Holdings

1 Finch, Emily Legal Skills 2nd ed Main Library Availebility
and Fafinski 2009
Stefan
2 Johnson, Study and Cornmunication 2009 Sciece Avalabity
Stuart and skills for the bioscences Library
Scott, Jon

3 Burns, Tom Essential study skills 2nd ed Main Library Avauiability

and Sinfield. The complete guide to 2008
Sandra success at university

Cottrell, Stella The study skills 3rd ed Main Lubrary Availaability

handbook 2008
5 Whitehead, Study skills for nurses 2nd ed Medical Availability
Elizabeth and 2008 Library
Mason, Tom
6 Pritchard. Studying and learning at 2008 Main Library Availability
Alan university: vital skills for
success in your degree

On online library catalogues you may come across the following links:

Full details
If you click on this, you will get more information about the item. including the
number of pages and a summary of the contents.
Location
Many large universities have more than one library. This tells you which one the
item is kept in.

Holdings
If you click on availability, it will tell you how
many copies the library holds and
if they are available to borrow or out on loan.

Unit 1Part C Investigating 29