1.1 Scholarly Conversations

Just as each discipline has its own methods for conducting research, disciplines also vary in the way they communicate the results of that research. Some fields, especially in the humanities, tend to share research through the publication of books in addition to journals. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields—otherwise known as STEM fields—tend to share their scholarship through academic journals, where articles can be published on a faster timeline, and scientists can communicate their results before being “scooped” by other researchers. Professional fields, such as teaching, engineering, and law, sometimes also share scholarship and best practices via trade journals, which can be more readily consumed by busy practitioners. Many fields also share research through conference proceedings, standards and technical reports, and blogs, especially research that is in the early stages or in-progress. If you’re engaged in interdisciplinary research, you may need to explore many different communication methods in order to glean what is most relevant to your research. And of course, all of these methods may in turn be promoted, shared, and discussed using social media and other online mediums. This constellation of communication channels provides the means for what is known as a scholarly conversation.

What is a scholarly conversation?

When an academic journal article or book is published, typically, the author makes reference to relevant studies and literature in order to place the research within the larger context of the field. In this way, the author is ‘talking’ to other scholars who came before them. Authors may quote, summarize, critique, or respond to other research and published ideas, and others may in turn cite them. Thus, the authors are said to be in conversation with each other, as they are engaged in a communication exchange within and across disciplines. These conversations can happen in as many different mediums as exist for publication, including social media and blogs.

How to follow a scholarly conversation

As you establish your own academic voice, it’s important to identify where these conversations are happening—which journals, conferences, and websites are communicating and facilitating the exchange of ideas in your field. You should also be attuned to not only the loudest voices but also which voices are included and excluded from the conversation. Historical and contemporary exclusion from academia for people of color and women has an ongoing effect on whose perspectives are included and most valued in these exchanges and is something to be mindful of as you delve into the literature of your discipline. Talk with your mentors and peers to find out what they’re reading, in which mediums they publish, and how they stay current on research within your field. Once you’ve identified a source important to your own research, it can also be useful to examine both the sources it cites (in a bibliography or works cited list), and also additional publications which have cited the source since it was published, essentially tracing the conversation up and down the communication chain. There are a variety of free and subscription tools that can assist you in illuminating these scholarly exchanges, including Google Scholar and Web of Science.

1.2 Research Cycle

Although the process of scholarship varies within each individual field, most disciplines follow the same general research cycle. Often, this begins with an idea generating phase and may be followed by seeking funding, depending on the type and scope of research. Then, researchers often write a proposal before conducting the research itself. Finally, researchers share their results through publications and measure the impact by tracking citations. This process is often cyclical, and in some fields, certain phases may be iterative as proposals and funding shift over time. Explore the different stages of the Research Life Cycle and the tools and services that the library provides to support you during each stage.

Research Life Cycle

Open Research Life Cycle in a new window

Literature and systematic review process

As part of the idea generation and proposal writing phases, many scholars will conduct a review of published research in order to situate their own area of study within the context of existing knowledge and also to avoid duplication of research. The libraries provide many tools to assist with discovering published research, including subject-specific and multidisciplinary databases and the catalog. These tools can help you to gain a sense of not only what has been published so far but also what gaps might exist in the scholarly conversation.

Databases are often focused on a particular area (e.g. gender studies) or type of material (e.g. newspapers) and contain everything from scholarly journals to primary source materials to videos and images. Therefore, when you’re looking for articles on a particular topic, it’s often best to start with a database specific to that field.

Once you start searching, you’ll also develop a more acute awareness as to the specific language and terminology that experts in the field are using. Pay attention to keywords, and be sure to explore the database’s subject or thesaurus tool if available. Select an image below to magnify the image.

Database Thesaurus

Database Subjects

Article Keywords

Dissertations

Another good place to start when entering a scholarly conversation is with dissertations on similar or related fields. To reach the level of a dissertation, typically the author is well-versed in the literature of their field and exploring their references can be a useful jumping-off point for your own research. At this stage of exploration, try not to become overwhelmed with the pressure of coming up with a novel research topic. The more you’re able to explore existing conversations—including those in other disciplines—the easier it will be to identify an area that is not only interesting to you, but also an area of needed exploration.

1.3 Lesson Review