Lesson 2 Contents:

Learning Objectives

I. An Outline of Knowledge: The Academic Disciplines

II. What is Research?

III. Superficial Research vs. Genuine Research

IV. The Research Process: A Model

V. Key Points to Remember

Lesson Two Quiz

Lesson Two Exercise

I. AN OUTLINE OF KNOWLEDGE: THE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES

To be a good researcher, one must have a basic understanding of how the academic world organizes knowledge. Scholarly work is divided into areas of inquiry known as academic disciplines. These disciplines are grouped into larger categories called branches of knowledge. Given below are the main branches of knowledge and the primary disciplines within each branch:

When doing research, it is important to know which academic discipline is likely to cover your topic. Having that awareness will help you choose the most appropriate information sources and access tools.

It’s possible that more than one discipline will cover your topic. For example, homelessness is a topic studied in sociology, psychology, political science, and economics. A topic that’s covered by two or more disciplines is called interdisciplinary.