A graduate student is almost done with his dissertation when he is informed that twenty years ago someone did a similar project and already demonstrated what he had hoped to be the first to discover. What basic step of the scientific method should have saved him from this problem?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reviewing the literature is an essential step in the scientific method that allows researchers to identify previous studies and knowledge gaps in their field. By conducting a thorough review of existing literature, the graduate student could have discovered the previous project and avoided duplicating the research.

A Graduate Student Is Almost Done with His Dissertation When