Foundations of Big Idea 1: Inquiry and Research Strategies

Topic

A general subject area, such as 'Climate Change'.

Problem or Issue

A specific contradiction, difficulty, or conflict within a topic that invites investigation.

Context

Background information necessary to understand the scope and urgency of a problem.

Scope

How broad the impact of an issue is.

Stakeholders

Individuals or groups who are affected by a problem.

Lenses

Specific filters used to view problems in AP Seminar.

Cultural / Social Lens

Examines how an issue affects society, traditions, or interactions.

Artistic / Philosophical Lens

Explores the moral or expressive implications of an issue.

Ethical Lens

Asks what is right or wrong, considering theories like utilitarianism and deontology.

Political / Historical Lens

Analyzes how government policy or past events shape current issues.

Futuristic Lens

Looks at long-term projections related to an issue.

Economic Lens

Examines costs, job implications, or financial incentives involved.

Scientific Lens

Considers what data or physical reality indicates about an issue.

Environmental Lens

Explores how an issue impacts the natural world.

Research Question (RQ)

A question formulated for investigation, ideally open-ended and complex.

Strong Research Question Criteria

Must be open-ended, complex, focused, and debatable.

Goldilocks Principle of RQs

Identifies the right balance between too broad and too narrow research questions.

Iterative Cycle

The process of refining a research question through multiple stages.

Boolean Logic

A search strategy using operators like AND, OR, and NOT to filter results.

RAVEN Mnemonic

A method to evaluate credibility of sources: Reputation, Ability to Observe, Vested Interest, Expertise, Neutrality.

Scholarly/Academic Sources

Peer-reviewed journals written by experts for experts.

Journalistic Sources

Newspapers and magazines written for the general public.

Primary Source

Original data, documents, or artifacts from the time period of study.

Secondary Source

Analysis or interpretations of primary sources.

Credibility vs. Relevance

The distinction between the trustworthiness of a source and its applicability to the topic.

The 'Yes/No' Trap

Formulating research questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Cherry-Picking

Only selecting sources that confirm pre-existing beliefs or biases.

Misidentifying Vested Interest

Failing to acknowledge bias from sources due to their advocacy positions.