Table of contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part I Orientation and reading Chapter 1 Preparatory reading and searching Familiarizing yourself with a topic Finding your bearings outside the university Finding your bearings at university Finding your bearings between university and society An initial literature search Concepts and theories Scholarly literature Grey literature Academic literature and ''ordinary'' search engines Scholarly search engines Availability The library Digital search engines and databases Search methods Ordering your search results Continuous search Exploratory reading Speed reading Sources Other useful sources Chapter 2 Gathering and organizing key information Optimizing your study environment Learning objectives Reading strategies Reading textbooks Reading academic articles and books Systematic reading Organizing information Sources Other useful sources Chapter 3 Studying thoroughly and critically Sentence-level analysis Types of argumentation Simple argumentation Plural argumentation Coordinating argumentation Subordinate argumentation Implicit motivation Critically evaluating texts Sources Other useful sources Part 2 Making your research measurable Chapter 4 From your topic to your question Theoretical framework From theories to concepts and dimensions The theoretical framework and interdisciplinary research The problem statement Sources Chapter 5 Formulating a good question Characteristics of a research question Types of questions Sources Chapter 6 A testable concept Why operationalize? From dimensions to indicators and variables Operationalization and validity Other forms of operationalization Sources Chapter 7 Making a research instrument Qualitative versus quantitative When qualitative and when quantitative? Operationalization Structure of the instrument Determining your sample Making a qualitative research instrument Formulating interview questions From indicators to topic lists or questionnaires Order of the questionnaire Phrasing interview questions Validity and reliability of your instrument Assessment by an ethics committee Sources Other useful sources Part 3 Doing and writing up research Chapter 8 Research practice Research practice: quantitative research Safeguarding the validity of quantitative research Keeping a log Organizing your data Getting familiar with your data Research practice for qualitative research: conducting interviews Before the interview During the interview After the interview Analysing the interview Sources Other useful sources Chapter 9 The structure of your article Argumentation structure Objections Framing an argument: pitfalls The structure of a scholarly article The introduction The middle section The literature review The research article Methodology Results Presenting data Figures Tables The discussion and the conclusion Valorization Sources Chapter 10 Finishing your article: academic writing, titles, and abstracts The title and the abstract Writing clearly Academic language use Sources Other useful sources Chapter 11 Citing sources and the bibliography Reference management software In-text citations Quotes Paraphrasing Citations in the bibliography Journals Books Research reports Internet resources Personal communication and interviews Sources Other useful sources Part 4 Reflecting and communicating Chapter 12 Preventing fraud and plagiarism Chapter 13 Collaboration, feedback, and peer review Collaborating: drawing up a team charter Evaluating teamwork Giving and receiving feedback Feedback on behaviour Feedback on content Peer review Reflecting on assumptions Sources Other useful sources Chapter 14 Presenting Defining the theme of your presentation Structure and coherence Tips for a good presentation Visual aids Using figures, tables, images, or film clips Presentation skills Leading a discussion Ask good questions Creating a safe atmosphere Giving poster presentations Points to bear in mind when designing a poster Your elevator pitch Sources Other useful sour.