Liberal Studies

For this class, you will be required to create a research project in which you will explore a current social issue in education. You will write a 5-7 page research paper on your chosen topic. This guide will provide you with resources that will help you choose a topic of interest, identify search terms and databases, analyze available literature on your topic, and respond to the sources collected. 

You may choose one of the following topics, or select another issue that is important to you:

• Teacher shortages and retention
• Culturally responsive teaching
• Mental health and wellness in schools
• Equity and access to technology
• Standardized testing and assessment bias
• Inclusion of students with disabilities
• School discipline and restorative justice
• Gender identity and inclusion in schools
• The impact of poverty on student learning
• Language diversity and English Learners
• Artificial intelligence in education
• Family and community engagement
• Social-emotional learning (SEL)
• Literacy gaps and reading instruction reform
• Any other topic approved by Dr. Bonds
   

For this assignment, you are required to use at least five credible sources (peer-reviewed journal articles, books, or official reports) from the FSU library and within the last 5-7 years. Watch the video below to learn more about scholarly and peer-reviewed articles. 

When Evaluating Sources, Think About...

• Source - Look for articles from scholarly journals, written by experts in the subject. There will be references that can lead you to additional books and articles on the topic. In some databases, you can limit your search by type of article -- a research article, an editorial, a review, or a clinical trial.
• Length - The length of the article, noted in the citation, can be a good clue as to whether the article will be useful for research.
• Authority - Use authoritative sources in your research. Use articles written by experts in the subject area, and who are affiliated with an academic institution.
• Date – research in many subjects requires the most current information available. Is the article sufficiently up-to-date for your purpose?
• Audience - For what type of reader is the author writing? If an article is written for other professionals, it will use terms and language special to the subject area.
• Usefulness - Is the article relevant to your research topic?   

Use this list of recommended databases for research in the field of educaction.

This assignment requires you to use APA 7. Please see the Library's citation guide below for more information about APA 7.