The process of finding relevant research reports, critically appraising the studies, and synthesizing the study results.

All written sources relevant to the topic you have selected, including articles published in periodicals or journals.

The act of quoting a source, paraphrasing content from a source, using it as an example, or presenting it as support for a position taken.

Documentation of the origin of the cited quote or paraphrased idea and provides enough information for the reader to locate the original material.

A paper about a specific topic and may be published together with other articles on similar themes in journals, encyclopedias, or edited books.

Is published over time and is numbered sequentially for the years published.

A book on a specific subject, a record of conference proceedings, or a pamphlet, usually is a one-time publication.

An authoritative compilation of information on alphabetized topics that may provide background information and lead to other sources, but is rarely cited in academic papers and publications.

May include the findings of pilot studies and preliminary findings of ongoing studies.

A report of a research project completed by a postgraduate student as part of the requirements of a master’s degree.

A report of an extensive, sometimes original, research project that is completed as the final requirement for a doctoral degree.

Periodicals that include research reports and non-research articles about practice problems and professional issues.

Includes concept analyses, models, theories, and conceptual frameworks that support a selected research problem and purpose.

Refers to knowledge derived from research- the knowledge is based on data from research.

Consists of reports of research and includes published studies, usually in journals, on the Internet, or books and unpublished studies, such as master theses and doctoral dissertations.

The author of the research report, clinical description, or theoretical explanation has submitted a manuscript to a journal editor, who identified scholars familiar with the topic to review the manuscript.

Those with a direct bearing on the problem of concern.

Those published within 5 years before publication of the manuscript.

The first studies on a particular topic that signaled the beginning of a new way of thinking on the topic and sometimes are referred to as classical studies.

Significant research projects that have generated knowledge that influences a discipline and sometimes society as a whole.

Reproductions or repetitions of a study that researchers conduct to determine whether the findings of the original study could be found consistently in different settings and with different subjects.

Terms that serve as labels for publications on a topic

Begins by reading and focusing on understanding the main points of the article or other sources.

Involves thinking deeply about what you have found and identifying the main themes of information that you want to present.

A statement about the state of knowledge in relation to the topic area

Involves expressing the ideas clearly and in your own words.