This box lives at How To Do Research > The Research Process
It is included on the
- What Have Others Said About This Topic?" (Scholarship as Conversation) page of the Reading & Writing Intensive Canvas Module
- Evaluating Sources page of the Nursing Library Module Canvas Module
Scholarship as Conversation
Chances are you're not the first person to research your topic. Before beginning your research assignment, it's a good idea to explore what "literature" has already been published on your topic. In this case, "literature" refers to any previously published article, video, book, or other resource. By seeing what others have already found on your topic, you can see whether a consensus has been reached, and what aspects of the topic have not been explored. Knowing what has already been published on your topic will ensure that you include the most up-to-date research and findings in your paper, and avoid redundancy in what you research and write.
This video will help you:
- Understand how scholars communicate new discoveries with one another.
- Identify avenues for contributing to scholarly conversation.
