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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reviewing the literature involves researching prior studies and publications related to the topic of interest. This step would have alerted the graduate student to the fact that a similar project had already been completed, saving him from spending time and resources on redundant research.

A Graduate Student Is Almost Done with His Dissertation When