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HS 1363: Intro to Public Health

Research vs Not Research Evidence vs Not Evidence

Background information is CRITICAL

Background information

You must know the appropriate BACKGROUND information about a topic before you can evaluate the accuracy of information you search for and find.

DO NOT SKIP these steps to confirm what you know and what you don't know.

Ask yourself:

  • What  am I researching?  
    • State the topic in one sentence.
    • THINK: What is my purpose in choosing the topic?  What is the research goal? What type of answers am I looking for?
    • THINK: What is the target problem/issue?
    • THINK: Does geography matter?
    • THINK: Has the topic changed over time?
  • What do I know and remember about that topic?
    • recite or note down facts you already know and can easily recall
  • What am I forgetting? Do I have gaps in my memory?
    • Technical, formal terms? Spelling?
    • Lists of characteristics, Lists of symptoms, Lists of criteria?
      • names of parks in the 76208 zipcode
      • list of grocery stores in the 76208 zipcode
      • Bus routes in South Dallas
      • Pre-diabetes symptoms and prevalence in Denton county
    • Do I need statistics? Are my statistics current and accurate?
    • What basic facts do I need to know?