Not sure which word to use? Combine all three.

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Upcoming Posts

Just got done grading a good group of Environmental Science 400-level essays. Some of the common mistakes I saw made that will make good upcoming posts are:
-excessive use of transition words and phrases
-improper word order
-failing to use the "conversation test"
-going for sheer # of features in a paragraph without merit, conciseness, or stress of important features

These will be discussed in upcoming posts along with some posts I have been keeping in my back pocket:
-need for creative thought
-expressing creative process/thought throughout your writing/research
-writing moods/modes
-solid science introductions
-framing a research question or goal

Zotero the Reference Manager

I have previously used Refworks for my reference manager, but I am not a fan of the "write and cite" manager in Microsoft word. My laboratory has access to the proprietary software Endnote, but I find that equally as frustrating. In starting with a new PhD topic, I thought a new, more user friendly, reference manger might be appropriate. I shopped around and found zotero. Zotero is an online reference manager that is fused with Mozilla Firefox. So when you are searching on something like JSTOR or Science Direct, you can click a link in the toolbar and it will automatically add it to the reference manager. Easy to use, produces a variety of bibliographies. Stored/backed-up on a cloud.

There are some known issues.

I think I will give it a whirl.

Deductive versus Inductive Research Approach

Lets review:
Deductive: more general to the more specific. Sometimes known as the top down approach. Conclusion follows logically from available facts. "Formal Logic".

Usually (i.e. traditionally) is associated with quantitative methods (objective, causation). The type of question is usually pre-specified and outcome oriented. The type of analysis is usually numerical estimation and statistical inference.

Theory -> Hypothesis -> Observation -> Confirmation

General -> Specific

Inductive: specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Sometimes known as the bottom up approach. Conclusion is likely based on facts. Involves a degree of uncertainty. "Informal Logic" or "Critical Thinking".

Usually associated with qualitative methodology (subjective, meaningful). The type of question is usually open-ended and process-oriented. The type of analysis is usually narrative description and constant comparison.

Observation -> Pattern -> Tentative Hypothesis -> Theory

Specific -> General

Reference: Inductive and Deductive Research Approach

Capitalizing Proper Nouns

The first thing to do when deciding if to capitalize a noun is to decide if it's a proper noun or a common noun. Proper nouns are capitalized, common nouns are not. Proper nouns name specific people, places or things.

The difficulty is deciding words that go either way (e.g., Internet, Web, Website). Is a word like "Baby Boomers" capitalized or not. Since "Baby Boomers" refers to a specific thing, it is capitalized.

For more examples see Grammar Girl.

A Good Research Question/Goal/Hypothesis(es)/Objectives

Some definitions:
Research Question: a sort of "preamble" to your hypothesis(es). Something that interests you and will drive/guide your research. A single good research question will keep you interested for the duration of research, be grounded in one field or discipline, feasible within the constraints of the available resources, distinguished between what you will research, and is flexible. In qualitative research this might be known as a "research problem". Posing a direct question will make the subsequent hypothesis(es) or research questions more grounded, focused, purposeful, and directional. It is my personal opinion that the larger research question need not be explicitly stated.

Hypothesis(es) (or subsequent research questions): ways of explaining something previously unexplained. It is a form of a research question. It can be verifiable through investigations that can be reproduced. Hypotheses that can be tested are known as "testable hypotheses". The method of trying to provide the opposite of the hypothesis (what you want to show) is known as "null hypothesis".

These definitions follow the practical approach to research (specifically step 1 and 2):
1. Identify a good research question
2. Formulate some questions (or hypotheses) that can be researched
3. Design the research investigation
4. Selected the most appropriate materials or sample to study and the tools to use
5. Gather the data
6. Analyze these data using pre-defined criteria (e.g., statistics)
7. Report on the results in the dissertation

Where goals and objectives fit in is step 3.
Research Goals: outline the strategy that best positions the investigation (research) to confirm or reject the hypothesis.

Research objectives: get you actionable information and knowledge (e.g., recommend, approve, formulate). In qualitative research these might be known as "research tasks".

Adapted from: Dissertation Success

Thus, thereby, and therefore

There isn't a verdict out on what the proper uses are of these. However, I have tried to replace these words with certain phrases to see if they still make sense. Obviously, your context matters, but it seems "thereby" is the least preferred option of the three because it usually implies a process (time-dependent).

So try replacing
therefore with "for this/that",
thus with "consequently",
and
thereby with "by doing so"or "by this/that".

Does your sentence still make sense? If it does then you have a winner! If it does not, reword trying to not use thus, thereby, or therefore, which you should probably be trying to do anyways.