Saturday, January 25, 2014

The Bedford Researcher Chapter 11 Summary

Chapter 11 of the Bedford Researcher titled "Developing Your Thesis Statement" talks about the use of your sources in crafting your own contributions about your issues.  Choosing your main point and drafting your thesis statement is the beginning of this process.

The previous chapters of the book led to serve as a foundation for development of the thesis statement which is the main point about your issue in your document.  As the most important idea you want to convey to your readers, choose as a thesis statement carefully as it will influence your readers. 

As you review our notes with your position statement in mind, it will deepen your understanding and affect how you think about the main point that you want to portray in your document.  Your purpose may have changed since you have started the process of researching your topic.  You may have to revise your position statement if this is the case.

Drafting our thesis statement will be affected by many factors that you have encountered in your research.  You will start by identifying the important information, ideas and arguments that relates to your position on the issue, looking for key words and phrases.  You can use this information as you draft your thesis statement.  You will want a focused thesis statement to make your purpose clear to your readers from the start of your paper.

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Bedford Researcher Chapter 10 Summary

Chapter 10 of the Bedford Researcher is titled "Searching for Information with Field Research Methods".  Some key questions include when and how to conduct field research.  This chapter opens the mind of the writer to think outside the box.  It introduces the idea of gathering information beyond not only research articles, books, and other common resources, but to use interviews in order to gain first hand information on their topic.

Interviews can bring valuable information that is not found during the conventional way of doing research using printed materials.  A question-and-answer format or free-flowing discussion can be done using various ways of communication, not just face to face.  Talking to others can about your topic can help you gain a personal perspective that just reading published works cannot do.  Deciding what to ask is important and you will want to limit your number of questions to get more powerful material.  Be prepared with follow-up questions. Last of all, you want to be flexible.  You will want to scrutinize the information you have personally gathered just as you would the sources you have gathered in the traditional sense.

The chapter also covers how to conduct observations of events, working on surveys, and collecting information through correspondence.









The Bedford Researcher Chapter 7 Summary


Chapter 7 of the Bedford Researcher titled "Avoiding Plagiarism" explains the important issues regarding plagiarism.  Using someone else's work and passing it off as your own without properly acknowledging where the ideas or information came from is plagiarism.  The chapter not only covers doing it unintentionally, but intentionally and in group projects, as well.  Deadlines and other pressures can contribute to the act of plagiarism such as taking poor notes and improperly citing sources. 

Plagiarism is a serious problem and can lead to serious consequences.  Neglecting to use quotation marks when using a direct quotation, paraphrasing too closely to the original material, not clearly distinguishing your ideas from the ideas of your source, and not properly recording your sources on your works cited list are ways of unintentional plagiarism.  Steps can be taken to avoid unintentional plagiarism.  It takes careful assessment of the way you take notes, paraphrase, summarize, and taking special care when citing your sources.  Penalties can be imposed if caught, such as a lowered grade or failure.  It can also cause readers to stop reading your document and question your credibility as a writer and researcher.

The originality of your work is important and it takes a conscientious effort to ensure that you correctly word your document.   


Scholarly Articles for Bipolar Disorder


Works Cited

Angst, Jules. “Bipolar Disorders in DSM-5: Strengths, Problems and Perspectives.” International Journal of Bipolar Disorders 1:12 (2013):1-3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Cosgrove, Victoria E. and Trisha Suppes. Informing DSM-5: Biological Boundaries Between Bipolar I Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Schizophrenia.” BMC Medicine 11:127 (2013): 1-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Gibson, Susanne, et al. “Understanding Treatment Non-adherence in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Survey of What Service Users Do and Why.” BMC Psychiatry 13.1 (2013): 1-12. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Goodwin, Guy M., et al. “ECNP Consensus Meeting.  Bipolar Depression.  Nice, March 2007.” European Neuropsychopharmacology 18 (2008): 535-549. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.

Henry, Brook L., Arpi Minassian, and William Perry. “Everyday Functional Ability Across Different Phases of Bipolar Disorder.” Psychiatry Research 210 (2013): 850-856. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

Hong, Jihyung, et al. “The Cost of Relapse For Patients With a Manic/Mixed Episode of Bipolar Disorder in the EMBLEM Study.” Pharmacoecomonics 28.7 (2010): 555-566. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

Látalová, Klára. “Insight in Bipolar Disorder.” Psychiatry Quartery 83 (2012): 293-310. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Liang, Min-Jie, et al. “Identify Changes of Brain Regional Homogeneity in Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression Using Resting-State fMRI.” PLOS ONE 8:12 (2013) 1-8. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Pålsson, Erik, et al. “Neurocognitive Function in Bipolar Disorder: A Comparison Between Bipolar I And II Disorder and Matched Controls.” BMC Psychiatry 13:165 (2013) 1-9. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Peay, Holly L., et al. “Adaptation to Bipolar Disorder and Perceived Risk to Children: A Survey of Parents With Bipolar Disorder.” BMC Psychiatry 13.1 (2013): 1-18. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.

Images For Bipolar Disorder






Images Cited
becauseilive. “How to Tell if You Have Bipolar Disorder.” Hubpages.com. Hubpages, Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

Hirschfeld, Robert . “Bipolar Depression: The Real Challenge.” Medscape.org. Medscape, LLC., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

Khalife, Sami, Vivek Singh, and David J. Munzina. “Bipolar Disorder.” Clevelandclinicmeded.com. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Aug. 2010. Web.  23 Jan. 2014.

Nemade, Rashmi, and Mark Dombeck. “Contemporary Understanding of Bipolar Disorder: Causes and Outcomes.” MentalHelp.net. CenterSite, LLC., Aug. 2009.  Web. 23 Jan. 2014.


Porter, Eloise. “9 Famous Faces of Bipolar Disorder.” Heathline.com. Healthline Networks, Inc., Oct. 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.  

Thursday, January 23, 2014

The Bedford Researcher Chapter 6 Summary

Chapter 6 of The Bedford Researcher is titled "Managing Information and Taking Notes".  It takes into account that a narrowly defined question will produce a large number of sources that are relevant to keep for your research.  Planning and drafting of your document can be made easier by the way you save and organize the information you have accumulated during your search.

There are numerous ways to save the information you find.  You have to make a decision on how you will manage the information for your research project from the available sources you find online or from books, magazines, and newspapers.  You will want to be sure that you follow a consistent organizational scheme as you take notes and keep track of your sources.

Keeping track of important information and gaining a thorough understanding of your sources can be accomplished by taking notes.  Putting the information in your own words is crucial while you paraphrase and summarize to avoid plagiarism.  Make sure you  are accurate if you are quoting directly.  Record key ideas, your reactions, and impressions.

A working or annotated bibliography will help you keep track of the sources.  It will help keep track of the content you are including, serve as a planning tool, and be used as proof for your paper as your list of resources.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The Bedford Researcher Chapter 3 Summary

Chapter 3 of the Bedford Researcher is titled "Developing Your Research Question and Proposal".  These are important steps because it directs your efforts in creating a plan, searching for sources, and collecting information.  It is the foundation for developing your position or main point of the issue you choose.

Developing your research question requires many aspects to consider.  You will need to focus on your specific issue by asking different variations of your question trying to narrow down your focus while keeping track of the different variables that are required to write your paper.  An analysis of your topic and it's requirements should show your understanding of your writing situation.  While doing research and honing your research question, you may find that the insights you have gained from the information you have gathered will affect the stand you choose to take.  It is not uncommon to have to make adjustments as you go about refining your final question.  You will narrow the scope of your research as more information is collected and your understanding and views are challenged.

Creating a research proposal, or formal presentation of your planned research, can be a useful tool in gathering your thoughts and ideas to help guide you in organizing your information and explaining how included information is relevant to your finished project.  The sources you choose is important as well as the information you choose to include in your research project.  Used as an outline, a research proposal can be a useful tool in writing a well thought out, concise paper.