TOPIC
“The impact of plagiarism to the performance of students in a research
methodology module.”
Step 1 Variables:
The first step for your literature review is that you will have to identify the variables in the given topic.
For this you will have to know what a variable is and what the dependent and independent variables
are.
Question: What's a variable?
Answer: A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are
trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.
Question: What's an independent variable?
Answer: An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn't
changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be an
independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to school, how much
television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when you are looking for some kind
of relationship between variables you are trying to see if the independent variable causes some kind of
change in the other variables, or dependent variables.
Question: What's a dependent variable?
Answer: Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is
something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable
because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep
you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it. Usually
when you are looking for a relationship between two things you are trying to find out what makes the
dependent variable change the way it does.
Many people have trouble remembering which is the independent variable and which is the dependent
variable. An easy way to remember is to insert the names of the two variables you are using in this
sentence in they way that makes the most sense. Then you can figure out which is the independent
variable and which is the dependent variable:
(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that (Dependent
Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).
For example:
(Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that (Test Score) could cause a
change in (Time Spent Studying).
We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the
dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around.
Your textbook will also define what variables are and you can also search on youtube for examples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxbz656Euyw
Not for unauthorized distribution compiled by Deidre Kleynhans
, This song is great for understanding the concept.
It is very easy to confuse the independent variable and dependent variables so make sure remember
which one is which.
In your literature review the marker wants to see you know what variables are so state what a variable
are (with reference) and define independent and dependant variables. Then you state what variables
are indentified in the topic and that you will use in your review.
Step 2: Downloading Resources for the Literature Review
You will now download your compulsory sources from my unisa.
The step by step guide is under the FAQ section on the left hand tab of your Module Page.
I have also copied a link for easy access
http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/search~S1?/rhmems80/rhmems80/1%2C6%2C6%2CB/frameset&FF=rhmems80
+electronic+reserves+2017&1%2C1%2C
You need to be logged in to your library account to download the documents.
Open an folder for HMEMS80 on your desktop so you can save all your articles there. Name the folder
compulsory articles and those that you will source on your own you can name anything just don’t get
confused with the two.
Step 3 Read through the Articles to see what 5 articles best suits your identified variables.
Not for unauthorized distribution compiled by Deidre Kleynhans