Literature Review: Primary Research and Ethics Steven T. Varela Department of English University of Texas at El Paso

Goal of Literature Review Synthesize and summarize research that relates to, answers, or connects to the research questions you developed. Synthesize and summarize research that relates to, answers, or connects to the research questions you developed. You are reporting on what (and explaining how) others are responding to those research questions. You are reporting on what (and explaining how) others are responding to those research questions.

Requirements Need 7-10 research sources Need 7-10 research sources At least one should be primary research (that you create), and the rest can be secondary research (already published)—make sure valid and reliable At least one should be primary research (that you create), and the rest can be secondary research (already published)—make sure valid and reliable One visual graph/chart/table One visual graph/chart/table APA format APA format 3 rd person voice 3 rd person voice

Samples There are 2 samples of what a literature review looks like in “Additional Materials” There are 2 samples of what a literature review looks like in “Additional Materials” Please review and seek help from me or Writing Center if you need it! Please review and seek help from me or Writing Center if you need it!

Primary Research

Interviews Interviews are a quick way of gathering perspectives towards an issue Interviews are a quick way of gathering perspectives towards an issue Who should we seek interviews from? Who should we seek interviews from? Do they have to be face-to-face? Do they have to be face-to-face? How many questions to ask? How many questions to ask?

Surveys Putting your results in a visual format using Microsoft Word Putting your results in a visual format using Microsoft Word

Primary Research and Ethics IRB—Institutional Research Board IRB—Institutional Research Board When dealing with other people in primary research, the highest level of ethics is required and expected. When dealing with other people in primary research, the highest level of ethics is required and expected.

Be Honest In the context of research, “honesty” implies more than avoiding falsehoods. It requires telling the truth to the best of your ability and being candid. Candor sometimes requires revealing embarrassing or complicated details that you would rather leave out or gloss over. It also requires being honest with yourself; self-deception is a real peril of research.

Be Fair Fairness applies to everyone – your students, your teachers, your co-workers, the humans or non-human animals who are the subjects of your research, your funding agency,the researchers who will build on your work – everyone. Give to each what is her or his due;accept only what is your due.

Do No Harm Never put any research subject or participant in harm’s way—”minimal risk” allowable. EX. Milgram’s Experiment’s on Authority Stanford Prison Experiment

Do Good Research! Good research is useful, or interesting, or important, and well-designed. Good research is useful, or interesting, or important, and well-designed. Care about the validity of the research you put together and the research you use from others. Care about the validity of the research you put together and the research you use from others.

Ask Questions When in doubt, ask those who know about research, or who can point you in a useful direction. When in doubt, ask those who know about research, or who can point you in a useful direction. Librarians, professors, IRB on campus, and your classmates (some of them!) Librarians, professors, IRB on campus, and your classmates (some of them!)

Be Ethical Listen to the still, small voice of your conscience, especially when it is threatened to be overwhelmed by the loud, insistent voice of stress. If you ever think, “I can get away with his because no one will ever know the difference,” or, “no one will ever find out,” or “I don’t have any choice” – stop. These are red flags from your conscience. You are almost certainly contemplating doing something unethical.

Case Studies

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