After you have identified a research topic that you find interesting and would like to explore, the next step is to visit the library to discover what researchers have already learned about the topic and what questions remain unanswered. In addition, you need to find out how researchers have defined and measured the variables they are investigating. For example, you may be interested in motivation or self-esteem, but can you provide a good definition for these two concepts and do you know how to measure them? Most library databases allow you to search for information using specific terms. In PsycINFO, for example, these terms are called subject terms. When you enter a subject term, the database searches for all related publications. Select a subject term that is of interest to you and find three recent empirical articles dealing with the topic. For each article, provide:
• a complete citation (authors, date, title, journal)
• statement of the hypothesis or purpose
• summary of results