ABSTRACT
To gain a historical perspective, put the research articles you have collected in chronological order from oldest to newest. Then, examine them to look for changes over time. Be especially careful to notice changes of the following types:
• Changes in definitions. For example, have definitions of physical child abuse changed to include milder forms of abuse (such as spanking) over time? If so, this may account for the increased reporting of child abuse cases over time. You will need to decide whether to use the newer or older definition(s) and inform your readers of the basis for your decision. Note that it is often desirable to use an existing definition rather than trying to develop a new one because existing definitions are often written by experts on the topic in question.
