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Archive: Science and Technology

This is a research guide for technological aspects of science disciplines.

Conditions of Use

Electronic resources are owned by independent providers and are protected by copyright and other laws. They are provided for ASU students, faculty, staff and library users only.


You must:
 - Use the resources for personal, educational or research purposes only
 - Check the provider's website for permitted uses and restrictions
 - Comply with restrictions on use, copying, reproduction, distribution and alteration

You must not:

 - Systematically or programmatically or massively copy any of these resources
 - Distribute these resources beyond ASU faculty, students and staff
 - Sell or otherwise make commercial use of the resources

Best Places to Get Started

There are several good databases that will get you started.

Helpful resources

This page from Penn State University has some great writing help for engineering students.

What is PICO?

For any paper or thesis, a hypothesis or problem statement needs to be made. The best ones are those that provide the following information:

P = Population, Problem, Process

The population doesn't need to be human. Most often this is a problem or process that needs to be changed in some way.

I = Intervention, Inquiry, Investigation, Improvement

Possible solution

C = Comparison

Current practice, opposing viewpoints, or conditions under which P & I occur

O = Outcomes

Measuring what worked best

Asking the Searchable Question

The hypothesis or problem statement is not searched completely as stated. Most searches will focus on the problem (P) and the Improvement (I). When a comparison of two ways of doing things (C) is needed, that part becomes the 3rd concept in your search strategy. The results or outcome is not part of the search strategy.

To get up to speed on your topic you need the "who, what, where, when, why or how" 

Background | 5 Ws - Foreground | PICO

 

Who or What          equals              Population, Problem, or Process

How or Why            equals              Intervention, Investigation, or Improvement

Where or When       equals            Comparison or conditions of what you are studying

 

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