exploratory essay synonym

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• exploratory

adjective as in preliminary

Strongest matches

• preparatory

Strong matches

• fundamental

Weak matches

adjective as in prolegomenous

• introductory

adjective as in searching

• penetrating
• experimental
• fact-finding
• inquisitive

adjective as in trial

Strongest match

• preliminary
• probationary
• provisional

Example Sentences

The following bits of journalism are more exploratory than hard-hitting.

Campa-Najjar, who had formed an exploratory committee, announced earlier this week that he believed the district should be represented by a woman of color after also releasing polling showing he was the leading Democrat in the race.

This is more of an exploratory technique, so test yourself and try finding what feels good to you.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer took the next stop in his long, drawn-out flirtation with a run for governor of California by announcing Monday that he’s formed an exploratory committee for a bid.

Essentially, they think an ancestral archaeon began reaching into the world around it and associating with bacteria through these exploratory blebs of membrane.

Unlike former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Huckabee is not immediately forming an exploratory committee.

Rand Paul announced he would form an exploratory committee for a Senate campaign at just the right time, in May 2009.

Gorgeous gave them an opportunity to take on a serious subject in a fun, exploratory way, McGill says.

It is not an efficient way to write, but I love that exploratory phase, when even bad writing somehow seems promising.

In February, he formed an exploratory committee for his congressional bid.

From this exploratory trip, the boats returned to their newly named harbour of Brest, on the 13th.

It is the last book to which he should return at the close of his exploratory voyages.

In the latter case paring becomes necessary as an exploratory means to diagnosis.

The thinking of things out carefully over a second and third cup of coffee, cautious self exploratory reasoning.

This was our seventh exploratory trip after our sixth landing since entering the field of the sun Ponthis.

Related Words

Words related to exploratory are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word exploratory . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

adjective as in introductory, initial

adjective as in probing

adjective as in experimental

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of writing an exploratory essay – a comprehensive guide for success.

Exploratory essays are a unique form of writing that allows the writer to explore a topic without coming to a definitive conclusion. Instead, the goal is to delve into the subject, gather information from various sources, and present a balanced analysis of different perspectives. This type of essay is ideal for examining complex issues or controversial topics where there may be no clear-cut answer.

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s essential to maintain an open mind and approach the topic with a sense of curiosity. Rather than arguing a specific point, the writer should focus on presenting a variety of viewpoints and exploring the nuances of the issue. This can lead to a richer understanding of the topic and encourage critical thinking.

In this guide, we will provide you with tips and examples to help you craft a compelling exploratory essay. From brainstorming ideas to structuring your essay and incorporating research, we will walk you through the key steps to creating a thought-provoking piece of writing that engages readers and encourages them to consider multiple perspectives.

Tips for Crafting an Exploratory Essay

1. Choose a compelling topic that sparks curiosity and invites exploration.

2. Conduct thorough research to gather diverse perspectives and sources on the topic.

3. Clearly define the problem or question you intend to explore in your essay.

4. Structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting different viewpoints, and a conclusion.

5. Use a neutral tone and aim to present various perspectives without bias.

6. Engage with the sources you’ve collected and analyze them critically.

7. Include personal insights and reflections based on the research conducted.

8. Provide a summary of the key points and conclusions drawn from the exploration.

9. Take the time to revise and edit your essay to ensure clarity and coherence.

10. Embrace the process of exploration and discovery throughout your writing journey.

Understand the Purpose

An exploratory essay is a unique type of academic writing that allows writers to delve into a topic without forming a definite thesis statement. The purpose of an exploratory essay is to explore a topic, gather information, and present different perspectives on the issue. It is a journey of discovery where writers can explore ideas, consider different viewpoints, and ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the topic.

When writing an exploratory essay, keep in mind that the goal is not to argue a particular point of view or persuade the reader to agree with your opinion. Instead, focus on presenting a variety of perspectives and viewpoints, giving your readers a comprehensive understanding of the topic. By approaching the topic with an open mind and a willingness to explore different ideas, you can create a rich and engaging exploratory essay that encourages critical thinking and thoughtful reflection.

Choose an Intriguing Topic

Choosing a compelling topic is crucial when writing an exploratory essay. Look for subjects that spark your curiosity and offer multiple perspectives to explore. Consider current events, controversial issues, or emerging trends that are relevant to your interests or field of study. A thought-provoking topic will not only captivate your readers but also inspire in-depth research and critical analysis.

Conduct Thorough Research

Research is a crucial part of writing an exploratory essay. It is essential to gather as much relevant information as possible to form a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Begin by exploring various sources such as books, journals, articles, and online resources. Take notes of key points, interesting facts, and different perspectives on the subject.

Create a detailed outline of the main ideas and arguments you want to address in your essay. Organize your research findings in a systematic manner to ensure that you have all the necessary information to support your arguments. Consider different viewpoints and opinions to present a well-rounded discussion in your exploratory essay.

Organize Your Ideas Effectively

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s essential to organize your ideas effectively to ensure clarity and coherence in your writing. One effective way to do this is by creating an outline before you begin writing. An outline will help you structure your thoughts and arrange them in a logical order.

Another helpful tip is to group related ideas together. This will make it easier for your readers to follow your argument and understand your perspective. You can use headings and subheadings to categorize your ideas and make your essay more organized.

Additionally, using transitional words and phrases can help you connect your ideas smoothly and guide your readers through your essay. Words like “however,” “therefore,” and “in conclusion” can signal shifts in your argument and keep your readers engaged.

Remember to review and revise your essay after writing it to ensure that your ideas flow cohesively and support your thesis statement. By organizing your ideas effectively, you can create a compelling exploratory essay that engages your readers and explores complex topics in-depth.

Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the most crucial aspects of writing an exploratory essay is developing a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main idea or argument that you will explore and support throughout your essay. It should be clear, concise, and specific, providing a roadmap for your readers to understand the purpose of your exploration.

When crafting your thesis statement, consider the following tips:

By following these tips, you can develop a strong thesis statement that sets the tone for your exploratory essay and guides your readers through your exploration of the topic.

Use a Clear Structure

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s important to use a clear structure that guides your readers through your exploration of a topic. A well-organized essay will help you present your ideas in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. Here are some tips to help you create a clear structure for your exploratory essay:

• Introduction: Start your essay with an introduction that provides background information on the topic you’ll be exploring. Clearly state your research question or thesis statement to give readers an idea of what to expect.
• Body Paragraphs: Divide the body of your essay into several paragraphs, each focusing on a different aspect of the topic. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph and provide supporting evidence or examples to back up your points.
• Exploration Stage: In the exploration stage, consider different perspectives, arguments, and viewpoints on the topic. Be open-minded and present a balanced view of the issue.
• Conclusion: Wrap up your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your findings and key points. Reflect on what you’ve learned through the exploration process and suggest possible next steps or areas for further research.

By using a clear structure in your exploratory essay, you’ll make it easier for your readers to follow your thoughts and engage with your ideas. Remember to also use transitions between paragraphs to ensure a smooth flow of information throughout your essay.

Provide Compelling Examples

One of the most effective ways to enhance the quality of your exploratory essay is by including compelling examples. Examples help to illustrate your points and make them more relatable to readers. They can be drawn from real-life situations, historical events, personal experiences, or even hypothetical scenarios.

When selecting examples for your essay, make sure they are relevant to the topic and help to clarify your argument. Avoid using examples that are too clichéd or overused, as they may not have the desired impact on your audience.

Additionally, it’s important to provide a variety of examples to support different aspects of your exploration. This will demonstrate your depth of research and understanding of the topic. Use a mix of specific and general examples to create a well-rounded argument that is both informative and engaging.

Remember to properly introduce and explain each example to ensure that your readers can follow your line of reasoning. By including compelling examples in your exploratory essay, you can effectively enhance the persuasiveness and credibility of your arguments.

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How to write an exploratory essay [Updated 2023]

Unlike other types of essays, the exploratory essay does not present a specific argument or support a claim with evidence. Instead, an exploratory essay allows a writer to "explore" a topic and consider tentative conclusions about it. This article covers what you need to know to write a successful exploratory essay.

What is an exploratory essay?

An exploratory essay considers a topic or problem and explores possible solutions. This type of paper also sometimes includes background about how you have approached the topic, as well as information about your research process.

Whereas other types of essays take a concrete stance on an issue and offer extensive support for that stance, the exploratory essay covers how you arrived at an idea and what research materials and methods you used to explore it.

For example, an argumentative essay on expanding public transportation might argue that increasing public transit options improves citizens' quality of life. However, an exploratory essay would provide context for the issue and discuss what data and research you gathered to consider the problem.

What to include in an exploratory essay

Importantly, an exploratory essay does not reach a specific conclusion about a topic. Rather, it explores multiple conclusions and possibilities. So, for the above example, your exploratory essay might include several viewpoints about public transit, including research from urban planners, transportation advocates, and other experts.

Finally, an exploratory essay will include some reflection on your own research and writing process. You might be asked to draw some conclusions about how you could tackle your topic in an argumentative essay or you might reflect on what sources or pieces of evidence were most helpful as you were exploring the topic.

Ultimately, the primary goal of an exploratory essay is to make an inquiry about a topic or problem, investigate the context, and address possible solutions.

What to expect in an exploratory essay assignment

This section discusses what you can expect in an exploratory essay assignment, in terms of length, style, and sources. Instructors may also provide you with an exploratory essay example or an assignment rubric to help you determine if your essay meets the appropriate guidelines .

The expected length of an exploratory essay varies depending on the topic, course subject, and course level. For instance, an exploratory essay assigned in an upper-level sociology course will likely be longer than a similar assignment in an introductory course.

Like other essay types, exploratory essays typically include at least five paragraphs, but most range from a few pages to the length of a full research paper .

While exploratory essays will generally follow academic style guidelines, they differ from other essays because they tend to utilize a more reflective, personal tone. This doesn't mean that you can cast off academic style rules, however.

Rather, think of an exploratory essay as a venue for presenting your topic and methods to a sympathetic and intelligent audience of fellow researchers. Most importantly, make sure that your writing is clear, correct, and concise.

As an exploration of your approach to a topic, an exploratory essay will necessarily incorporate research material. As a result, you should expect to include a bibliography or references page with your essay. This page will list both the sources that you cite in your essay, as well as any sources that you may have consulted during your research process.

The citation style of your essay's bibliography will vary based on the subject of the course. For example, an exploratory essay for a sociology class will probably adhere to APA style , while an essay in a history class might use Chicago style .

Exploratory essay outline and format

An exploratory essay utilizes the same basic structure that you'll find in other essays. It includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction sets up the context for your topic, addresses why that topic is worthy of study, and states your primary research question(s).

The body paragraphs cover the research that you've conducted and often include overviews of the sources that you've consulted. The conclusion returns to your research question and considers possible solutions.

• Introduction

The introduction of an exploratory essay functions as an overview. In this section, you should provide context for your topic, explain why the topic is important, and state your research question:

• Context includes general information about the topic. This part of the introduction may also outline, or signpost, what the rest of the paper will cover.
• Topic importance helps readers "buy in" to your research. A few sentences that address the question, "so what?" will enable you to situate your research within an ongoing debate.
• The last part of of your introduction should clearly state your research question. It's okay to have more than one, depending on the assignment.

If you were writing an exploratory essay on public transportation, you might start by briefly introducing the recent history of public transit debates. Next, you could explain that public transportation research is important because it has a concrete impact on our daily lives. Finally, you might end your introduction by articulating your primary research questions.

While some individuals may choose not to utilize public transportation, decisions to expand or alter public transit systems affect the lives of all. As a result of my preliminary research, I became interested in exploring whether public transportation systems improve citizens' quality of life. In particular, does public transit only improve conditions for those who regularly use these systems? Or, do improvements in public transportation positively impact the quality of life for all individuals within a given city or region? The remainder of this essay explores the research around these questions and considers some possible conclusions.

Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an exploratory essay discuss the research process that you used to explore your topic. This section highlights the sources that you found most useful and explains why they are important to the debate.

You might also use the body paragraphs to address how individual resources changed your thinking about your topic. Most exploratory essays will have several body paragraphs.

One source that was especially useful to my research was a 2016 study by Richard J. Lee and Ipek N. Sener that considers the intersections between transportation planning and quality of life . They argue that, while planners have consistently addressed physical health and well-being in transportation plans, they have not necessarily factored in how mental and social health contributes to quality of life. Put differently, transportation planning has traditionally utilized a limited definition of quality of life and this has necessarily impacted data on the relationship between public transit and quality of life. This resource helped me to broaden my conception of quality of life to include all aspects of human health. It also enabled me to better understand the stakeholders involved in transportation decisions.

Your conclusion should return to the research question stated in your introduction. What are some possible solutions to your questions, based on the sources that you highlighted in your essay? While you shouldn't include new information in your conclusion, you can discuss additional questions that arose as you were conducting your research.

In my introduction, I asked whether public transit improves quality of life for all, not simply for users of public transportation. My research demonstrates that there are strong connections between public transportation and quality of life, but that researchers differ as to how quality of life is defined. Many conclude that public transit improves citizens' lives, but it is still not clear how public transit decisions affect non-users, since few studies have focused on this distinct group. As a result, I believe that more research is needed to answer the research questions that I posed above.

Frequently Asked Questions about exploratory essays

You should begin an exploratory essay by introducing the context for your topic, explaining the topic's importance, and outlining your original research question.

Like other types of essays, the exploratory essay has three primary parts:

Although an exploratory essay does not make a specific argument, your research question technically serves as your thesis.

Yes, you can use "I" throughout your paper. An exploratory essay is meant to explore your own research process, so a first-person perspective is appropriate.

You should end your exploratory essay with a succinct conclusion that returns to your research question and considers possible answers. You can also end by highlighting further questions you may have about your research.

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An exploratory essay is a short work of nonfiction in which a writer works through a problem or examines an idea or experience, without necessarily attempting to back up a claim or support a thesis . In the tradition of the Essays of Montaigne (1533-1592), an exploratory essay tends to be speculative, ruminative, and digressive.

William Zeiger has characterized the exploratory essay as open : "[I]t is easy to see that expository composition —writing whose great virtue is to confine the reader to a single, unambiguous line of thought—is closed , in the sense of permitting, ideally, only one valid interpretation. An 'exploratory' essay, on the other hand, is an open work of nonfiction prose . It cultivates ambiguity and complexity to allow more than one reading or response to the work." ("The Exploratory Essay: Enfranchising the Spririt of Enquiry in College Composition." College English , 1985)

Examples of Exploratory Essays

Here are some exploratory essays by famous authors:

• "The Battle of the Ants," by Henry David Thoreau
• "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," by Zora Neale Hurston
• " Naturalization," by Charles Dudley Warner
• "New Year's Eve," by Charles Lamb
• "Street Haunting: A London Adventure," by Virginia Woolf

Examples and Observations:

• "The expository essay tries to prove all of its contentions, while the exploratory essay prefers to probe connections. Exploring links between personal life, cultural patterns, and the natural world, this essay leaves space for readers to reflect on their own experience, and invites them into a conversation..." (James J. Farrell, The Nature of College . Milkweed, 2010)
• "I have in mind a student writing whose model is Montaigne or Byron or DeQuincey or Kenneth Burke or Tom Wolfe...The writing is informed by associational thinking, a repertory of harlequin changes, by the resolution that resolution itself is anathema. This writer writes to see what happens." (William A. Covino, The Art of Wondering: A Revisionist Return to the History of Rhetoric . Boynton/Cook, 1988)

Montaigne on the Origin of the Essays

"Recently I retired to my estates, determined to devote myself as far as I could to spending what little life I have left quietly and privately; it seemed to me then that the greatest favour I could do for my mind was to leave it in total idleness, caring for itself, concerned only with itself, calmly thinking of itself. I hoped it could do that more easily from then on since with the passage of time it had grown mature and put on weight. "But I find—

Variam semper dant otia mentis [Idleness always produces fickle changes of mind]*

—that, on the contrary, it bolted off like a runaway horse, taking far more trouble over itself than it ever did over anyone else; it gives birth to so many chimeras and fantastic monstrosities, one after another, without order or fitness, that, so as to contemplate at my ease their oddness and their strangeness, I began to keep a record of them, hoping in time to make my mind ashamed of itself." (Michel de Montaigne, "On Idleness." The Complete Essays , trans. by M.A. Screech. Penguin, 1991)

*Note: Montaigne's terms are the technical ones of melancholy madness.

Characteristics of the Exploratory Essay

"In the quotation from Montaigne [above], we have several of the characteristics of the exploratory essay : First, it is personal in subject matter , finding its topic in a subject that is of deep interest to the writer. Second, it is personal in approach , revealing aspects of the writer as the subject at hand illuminates them. The justification for this personal approach rests in part on the assumption that all people are similar; Montaigne implies that, if we look honestly and deeply into any person, we will find truths appropriate to all people. Each of us is humankind in miniature. Third, notice the extended use of figurative language (in this case the simile comparing his mind to a runaway horse). Such language is also characteristic of the exploratory essay." (Steven M. Strang, Writing Exploratory Essays: From Personal to Persuasive . McGraw-Hill, 1995)

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Exploratory Essay: Definition, Outline & Examples

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You may probably ask yourself a question like, “What is exploratory writing?” An exploratory essay displays people's shared understanding of a subject while laying forth their points of view on it. You must reflect deeply to write a fantastic essay. Although proof of answers is not required for an exploratory essay, various rules must be followed. Also, a plethora of topics can be investigated for exploratory essays, including business, education, psychology, etc. They can be anything from a lengthy research report to a brief paper. In this article, we will discuss exploratory essay samples, outline, format, and tips on how to write this paper. 

What Is an Exploratory Essay: Definition

An exploratory essay is defined as a writing type where the author examines potential solutions to an issue. Simply put, it provides an overview of issues and draws some early judgments about the proposed solution. Exploratory essays allow you to fully comprehend a subject without worrying about being right or wrong. Your principal objective when preparing this essay is to undertake a thorough investigation first, then think about and assess a few distinct viewpoints on a specific topic. These papers are used in commercial settings and colleges. Studying a minimum of three points helps you grasp the problem correctly in finding the best answer. Exploration essays aim to investigate the subject critically and then offer your readers the research results. Based on its objective, it can take many forms. For instance, a sociology review of literature is an illustration of an exploratory essay.

Peculiarities of Exploratory Writing

Exploratory essay writing is distinct from other types of essays. You will be writing to learn about an issue and find a solution to the matter presented. An exploratory paper is a type of writing that discusses how you arrive at an idea. It also sheds some light on approaches used to examine it, for instance, convincing readers of your standpoint. Conversely, an exploratory paper begins without a firm perspective. While you might support one idea above others, you will not conclude the paper with a clear solution. Instead, it considers a range of findings and alternatives you must know.

Exploratory Essay Outline

We will discuss how crucial it is to generate an outline for exploratory essay. Many overlook this stage because they want to finish writing quickly. Avoid making this error since it causes huge problems. You are ready to start as soon as you design an exploratory essay outline example. The entire writing procedure can be streamlined simply because you already understand the objectives and where to place your quotations.  In this context, outlines also give you a perspective on the next steps to take and divide your work into manageable parts. These are helpful for those who detest spending a significant amount of time thinking and writing as they can get more detail on key areas and then pause. Lastly, creating an outline will spare you time since your essay will be straightforward, accurate, and uncomplicated. Your lecturer may value the care placed into your work arrangement. The exploratory essay outline format is as follows:

The opening section (introduction and thesis statement)

• Present your subject and its significance.
• Provide background information.
• State a thesis statement.

Body paragraph 1

• Explain your source, including the author and publication date.

Body paragraph 2

• Discuss crucial information about your issue from the source.
• Explain why the information is valuable.

Body paragraph 3

• Write a reflection on how the material benefited you, changed the way you thought about the issue, or even did not meet your goals.

Last section (conclusion)

• Reintroduce your topic.
• Outline some potential solutions.

How to Write an Exploratory Essay

Preparing an exploratory essay assignment is simple and perceived differently from other essays. Here are five steps on how to write exploratory essay.

Step 1: Select a topic

Give prefenrence to contentious exploratory essay topics with various opposing viewpoints that can be investigated. Picking a subject with insufficient evidence or one that merely offers a "for" or "against" argument is not recommended. Begin with a more general topic. An example of a good topic would be "Impact of digital platforms on family and group values."

Step 2: Select three points

Choose a minimum of three viewpoints in the body paragraphs to examine in your essay after researching the subject. When undertaking research, consider several ideas related to the topic and pinpoint arguments for or against it. Note that an exploration essay is different from a persuasive essay. An exploration essay seeks to find and analyze numerous points of view on a particular topic. This contrasts with outlining the different sides of a topic and supporting one aspect over another.

Step 3: Decide on the readers

Decide on your target audience and the restrictions you might encounter during this process. These may encompass anything that reveals why specific attributes, ideas, and situations lead people to uphold their views.

Step 4: Answer questions

Respond to the inquiries raised by the research body. Determine how to address any concerns the work may raise.

Step 5: Commence writing

Finally, begin writing and use a sample exploratory essay for reference. In addition, make sure that you adhere to the steps discussed above to make your exploratory essay epic.

Exploratory Essay Introduction

Understanding how to start off an explanatory essay is vital before writing. The exploratory essay introduction paragraph lays background information on your issue and its significance. It also outlines the study questions. This section could summarize aspects covered in the remaining part of your essay and the importance of the topic, which inspires readers to trust your study. Do this by including a few phrases that answer the "so what?" query. To increase your readers' interest and engross them, begin your introduction with an attention grabber. This may be a claim predicated on your assessments of a situation or anything that would make clear why the issue is important to you. Expand on the hook by addressing some underlying causal factors of the issue if your theme permits it. Your main claim should be explicitly stated in the final section of your introduction.

Exploratory Essay Thesis Statement

The essay's central idea needs to be briefly summarized in the exploratory essay thesis statement. Use it in explaining its significance among viewers. Mapping out your facts is crucial when creating an effective thesis. In an exploration essay, you may only raise and explore questions about a subject. Choose the principal subject for your paper, which should be related to the thesis. There are numerous exploratory essay thesis examples. Assuming your topic is "How Can Technology be Improved in Schools?" The exploratory thesis statement would be:

Technology advancements significantly impact how individuals are educated and their quality of life. From calculators, which made math simple, to text editors, which revolutionized how research papers are produced and delivered. Yet, more advanced technology should be adopted to increase interactivity and improve overall school appointment.

Exploratory Essay Body

Exploratory essay structure also encompasses the body. An overriding aim of exploratory essay body paragraph is to offer facts and arguments in favor of your thesis. Begin by first explaining why you opted to pursue the initial idea that came to your mind. Next, discuss the form of materials you used and data you gleaned from them. Explore the value of researched data depending on the subject matter and present your exposition. Describe how the answer and resources you used changed your perspective on the issue. If possible, explain how it pointed you in a different path. After that, use a transition to help readers move from one section to the next. For all the following points and references, maintain this fundamental format. The second section of the body complements the initial section by providing space for expressing other points of view. It seeks to justify why people see things from their own perspective.

Exploratory Essay Conclusion

Conclude an exploratory essay by condensing the research questions, suggested solutions, and views you picked up along the way. First, reaffirm your thesis statement. This strengthens your argument and draws the reader's focus directly to the central idea. Further, summarize three supporting arguments you discussed in the body and briefly recap their relevance. This will demonstrate that you have convincingly supported your exploratory thesis, strengthening your work. Your ending must not contain brand-new information, but you can discuss new issues as you study. You may also share your thoughts and why more research should be conducted. It is a great idea to conclude by urging your viewers to take action.

Exploratory Essay Format

There are global formatting guidelines that are involved in producing high-quality papers. These standards have varied characteristics and adhere to guidelines by major corporations. To format an exploratory essay, you should utilize APA, Chicago, or MLA styles. The primary goal of these formatting styles is to disseminate knowledge to the public in the most effective manner possible. For APA, maintain uniform margins on the page's right, left, bottom, and top. Utilize it for Education, Psychology, and Sciences. Including an abstract in an example of an exploratory essay is one component of APA. MLA format requires you to leave one-inch margins across the paper. It is used for disciplines like Humanities . Each paragraph's initial word should be indented. Chicago style is widely utilized in the disciplines of History and Art. The texts should be double-spaced, and paragraphs indented by 0.5 inches.

Exploratory Essay Examples

To make you comprehend the topic better, we have prepared one of the great exploratory essay examples that will give you an overall idea of what we have discussed in this article. Feel free to download the available materials or use a short exploratory essay sample attached below as a source for inspiration. We hope this reference will help you organize your thoughts, give direction for research, and create an outstanding essay.

Liked examples? Did you know that you can place an essay order at StudyCrumb and get a custom paper written according to your instructions? All you need is to provide us with your requirements.

Exploratory Writing Proofreading Checklist

A checklist helps learners comprehend the abilities required for preparing essays. It demonstrates an easy method for a hesitant writer to incorporate the essential components. Below is a simple checklist used in preparing an exploratory draft.

• checkbox Is the opening sentence intriguing? Does it encourage you to read more?
• checkbox Does the transition between the body paragraphs make sense?
• checkbox Does language used, paper length, and sentence arrangement require any changes?
• checkbox Is the title of the essay fascinating and relevant?
• checkbox Have you used enough sources to underpin your arguments?
• checkbox Do you follow the design suggestions given by your professor (such as MLA, Chicago, and APA paper format )?

Extra Tips on Writing an Exploratory Paper

Writing an exploratory paper is not a walk in the park. You may require specific valuable tips to get started. For instance, consider the paper's length, style, and source to use. Here are a few extra tips to get started.

• Conduct detailed research on the topic Whatever your intentions for writing an exploratory paper are, research is crucial. Online resources have a ton of written information. Check out a variety of sources and choose those that are most pertinent to your work.
• Begin early Stop delaying your task. You have a limited amount of time to complete all the appropriate steps. So, get a head start to have enough time to produce a good paper.
• Design an outline Creating an outline is crucial since it ensures you cover all information that needs to be included in your exploratory writing.
• Take notes At the conclusion of your research, you will need to review your notes. Reorganize points logically and keep in mind that all claims must have insightful transitions. This will guarantee easy material flow and ensure your work is more understandable.
• Proofread your work It is okay to make errors in your work, hence, give yourself enough time to edit your paper. Check that you have done it correctly and it is coherent. Furthermore, believe in your abilities to make it work.

Final Thoughts on Exploration Essay

Exploratory essays provide a deeper understanding of an issue. They explain its causative factors, effects on readers, and potential solutions. To put it differently, an exploratory essay sheds some light on the subject and examines initial findings. Notably, learners ought to comprehend how to write an exploratory paper. Do not hesitate to read through exploratory writing examples. You must delve as deeply as you can into the issue. Nevertheless, it would help if you did not try to influence the audience to engage with your viewpoint. The key is to impartially convey a fact and response so that readers can understand what the paper entails.

Delegate this tedious task to professionals. Our college essay writers have extensive experience in preparing high-quality papers on a range of topics. Leave your instructions and have an essay done by one of our experts.

FAQ About Exploratory Essays

1. what is the purpose of an exploratory essay.

An exploratory essay asks you to consider and respond to various ideas instead of a single opinion. It is more concerned with a subject matter instead of a thesis, implying that the paper keeps track of your research activities and subsequent thoughts. The essay answers questions on specific content and rhetorical queries about potential solutions to the situation.

2. What is the difference between an exploratory essay and argumentative essay?

Argument papers look into a particular perspective, while exploratory essays clarify several points. Some self-reflection on your writing process may be included in the exploratory essay. In an argumentative essay, you may be requested to formulate findings on how to approach your subject. You may also consider proofs and links that were useful during the research investigation.

4. Can I use the first person in an exploratory essay?

A first-person viewpoint is acceptable because an exploratory essay should discuss your research procedure. As a basic rule, utilizing first-person pronouns is critical. When writing an exploratory essay, it makes the article less professional than a third-person pronoun. This makes the work more neutral in style. Exploratory writing demands subjective judgments; thus, a first-person tone is ideal.

3. How to start an exploratory essay?

To begin an exploratory essay, you need to introduce the background of your issue. Additionally, discuss its significance, and lay out your primary research query. This academic work is largely based on reliable information. Be careful to take down all the pertinent specifics from your sources and incorporate them as supporting materials in your work.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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Exploratory Essay: The A to Z Guide

01 November, 2020

14 minutes read

Author:  Kate Smith

An exploratory essay, the most fun-filled essay writing, differs from every other essay. Here, there is no need for additional research; instead, you explore your ideas and the ideas of others. An exploratory essay entails speculation, digression, and rumination.

Unlike other forms of writing, this essay does not try to impose its thesis on its reader. To write an excellent exploratory essay, you would need to stick to its outline, thinking deeply about the topic. This article will help you understand an exploratory essay definition, and walk you through the building blocks to writing an outstanding exploratory essay.

What is an Exploratory Essay?

An exploratory essay, also called an investigative piece, is a speculatively written essay. Here, the writer peruses over the various overviews of people regarding an issue or a topic. Afterward, they walk through the problem, and air their view without refuting or drawing a biased conclusion.

This type of essay tables the different perspectives of people on a topic from a neutral angle, and at the same time, highlights their mutual understanding. To deliver a great essay, you need to think introspectively about the topic and not delve into idle speculation. An exploratory essay requires that you first reflect on the subject of discussion. 

In real cases, sentiments may cloud your judgment, especially when you’re very passionate about the topic.  You’re most likely to rush to a conclusion or try to influence others’ opinions without hearing their takes on the matter. An exploratory essay sets to beat this fashion.

It is advisable to consider the rationale of at least three persons on a topic, an event, or an issue as you can make a thorough presentation with detailed logical reasonings this way. Limiting your investigation to a few relevant sources may result in making only similar findings. Diversity creates spice in your presentation!

Exploratory Questions: Types

Having a clear understanding of the information you aim to get helps you stay on track while carrying out your investigation. Here are the types of exploratory questions you need to ask when writing this essay:

Fact questions

Convergent questions, divergent questions, evaluative questions.

A fact question usually has an exact answer. It is the “who…?” “what…? “where…?” and “when….?” question. This question aims to confirm the parties involved in the topic/event/issue, what incited the problem, if there is a case for a geographical problem, and answers if there was a similar case in the past to analyze the possibility of a future recurrence.

Example: Who invented the payphone?

Though similar to a fact question, a convergent question differs in that it calls for a lengthier explanation than those mentioned above. However, like a fact question, it has an exact answer. It often starts with words like: “according to,” “why,” and “how.”

Example: According to most health scientists, what factor is most responsible for the coronavirus’ fast spread?

A divergent question or an idea question aims to incite people’s reasoning to hear their ideas on a topic. It can have many acceptable answers. This question often starts with words like: “what if,” “how would,” “how could.” 

Example: How would you brew your coffee fast if your espresso machine broke down?

Also known as the opinion question, this question aims to provoke more detailed opinions to rule out judgment on a topic/issue. It may start with words like: “how well,” “do you think,” and “why should.”

Example: Do you think the lack of social amenities in a state is a result of poorly generated revenue or mismanagement?

Exploratory Essay Outline

Essay outlines help you organize your thoughts and structure your paragraphs better to avoid leaving out any relevant information while writing.

An excellent exploratory essay should follow this pattern:

• Introduction,
• Body paragraphs,
• Conclusion.

The essay Introduction

An introduction serves as a hook to gain the reader’s attention and keep them focused until the writing ends. This introduction must be informative, eye-catching, and promising. It should make the reader feel they would be missing out on vital information if they don’t remain engaged until the end.

This introduction should also outline the scope, describe the issue or topic being addressed, highlight its challenges, and include a brief overview of your approach to tackling the problem. This approach will have your reader yearning to know more.

A disorganized, vague, and error-filled introduction creates an overall wrong impression about your writing. Starting your essay on such a wrong foot can cause your reader’s interest level to drop! Achieving this might appear a bit difficult, and so, below are some hacks to writing a persuasive introduction:

• Start with a fascinating story related to the topic: Telling a story that connects with your readers’ emotions automatically buys their interest.
• Make the issue being tackled appear critical
• Describe the issue discussed as an unresolved puzzle: The problem-solving nature of humans would also leap to solve this riddle; that way, they will stay hooked to your essay.
• Cite a captivating quote
• Pose a thought-provoking question or series of questions: Provocative questions challenge accepted thesis and stir the reader to rethink.
• Use statistics: Quoting reputable sources, describing past events, and how long the issue has lingered also does the trick.

Body Paragraphs

After the introduction, next comes the body of the essay. The body paragraphs extensively explain the highlighted scope, context, background information, and purpose of the topic under investigation. This part of the essay is divided into two segments:

The body: Part one

The body: part two.

The first part of the body aims to answer and clarify the following:

• What the issue or problem is
• The level at which this issue has escalated
• The groups discussing the issue
• The persons that have made the topic to be of utmost importance to them
• Past opinions from many authors
• If the writer shares the same views with any of its readers
• If there is any force repressing the audience from expressing their beliefs
• What the issue has demanded overtime
• The evolution of its pitch of interest and the values it passes across

In complementing the first part of the body, this second part gives room to air people’s diverse views. It aims to explain why they understand the situation from the angle represented in the essay. In tabling their thoughts, you should take note of the following when writing:

• Elaborate their view on the issue
• Why they have such perspective
• State the cases that pitched their opinions to these
• Support their perspectives with facts
• Compare their diverse points of view

Tips on writing impressive body paragraphs:

• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence, usually the main point of interest in a paragraph, and stress this sentence. 
• Back this main interest for each paragraph up with facts, quotes, or data. These act as supporting points to give more meaning to the main point and lead to a logical conclusion.
• Try to balance the number of sentences for each paragraph where possible and where not possible, achieve a closer number. Underwritten paragraphs may appear to the reader as having underdeveloped points and vice versa.

Essay conclusion

An exploratory essay conclusion does not imply a repetition of the summary of your findings. In drawing your conclusion in this essay, you should state your contribution to the issue being discussed while maintaining a neutral tone about others’ perspectives.

In the same manner, as you’ve done in the essay body, support your claims with arguments. In most cases, people tend to think that you summarise and support one argument/ opinion while concluding. This is far from the case.

While concluding, discuss your reflections and why you think there is a need for further research on the topic you just explored. Also, give your readers the impression that you are delighted to keep it going. It is excellent to end by calling your readers or audience to action.

When drawing your conclusion, you should avoid:

• Stuffing it with unnecessary information. You should be concise while stating your insights, evaluation, and analysis.
• Statements like, “There may be other better methods” or “Better approaches to this issue state that…” These phrases undermine confidence in your opinion.
• Derailing from the initial subject of discussion. Ensure your conclusion is in line with your introduction’s objectives.

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Exploratory Essay Examples

Do not be deterred. Writing an exploratory essay isn’t as tedious as it may sound. Below are some great examples of exploratory essays you can study to learn the narration style:

• https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-ants-henry-david-thoreau-1690218
• https://www.thoughtco.com/how-it-feels-to-be-colored-me-by-zora-neale-hurston-1688772

30 Exploratory Essay Topics

Another aspect you may need help with is finding topics for exploratory essays. While you may feel tempted to pick any topic for discussing randomly, a good exploratory essay question should tick the following boxes:

• Must be arguable
• Must be unresolved
• There should be resources and facts to back people’s opinion
• Choose a topic that lies within your strength
• Must touch  an exciting topic

There is a wide range of categories to choose a topic from. Exploratory essay topics can be crafted on :

• Entertainment
• Music & Arts
• Religion, among others.

The following make for good exploratory essay topics:

• Children with distant parents tend to grow more independent than ones inhabiting with theirs.
• The chain of divorce extends to the children.
• Handling a mobile phone at an early age inhibits a child’s creativity.
• Smartphones result in poor communication through speech.
• How does technology curb job opportunities
• Social media increases the rate of depression and anxiety among teens.
• Shelving pints of milk extend the life span.
• Professional sports affect the player’s psychological well-being.
• Is Opera overrated?
• Actors pose to be the best role models.
• Is e-learning the solution to poor teaching techniques?
• Do graphic sex and scenes influence the high rate of rape?
• What is the possibility you have a doppelganger on earth?
• What don’t women buy into the surrogacy idea when conceiving proves difficult?
• Does diversity in a workplace increase productivity?
• The maximum amount of money that guarantees happiness
• Which is healthier for newborn babies: processed or breast milk?
• Who suffers during divorce the most: the husband, wife, children, or close relatives?
• Who always seeks divorce: men or women?
• Why don’t inter-tribal marriages work out?
• Do marathon races impair the body muscles?
• Does a high concentration of plastics increase the greenhouse effect in our environment?
• Is nuclear energy the future of energy resources?
• How important is it to cite heavy industries away from the residential areas?
• Will technology ease out the work stress or worsen the situation?
• Which makes for easy reading: hard copy or soft copies?
• What is the best online dating app?
• How does the chemistry between same-sex form?
• Who is the blame for the high rate of immigration? Friends? or The government?
• Who shows the most moral decadence: boys or girls?

Writing Tips for an Exploratory Essay

Without knowing the right mountaineering tricks, the summit will look unreachable. The same goes for this writing. Without adhering to these tips, you may never know how to write an exploratory essay.

Now note the following tips to land your five-star essay:

• Try to hear as many diverse perspectives as possible.
• Note your findings
• Reflect deeply on the topic
• Stick to the outline as mentioned earlier when writing
• Include pictorial representations to back up claims, if there are any
• Write from the third-person perspective, except when told not to
• Take time to proofread and also have a second eye go over the essay for you.

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Exploratory essay: basic strategies for compelling papers

Updated 25 Jul 2024

In the realm of academic writing, exploratory essays play a particular role. In contrast to other essay forms, they don’t aim to argue for particular viewpoints or back up claims with proof. Rather, they offer a writer the freedom to delve into a topic and make potential conclusions about it. In this article, we’ll consider this genre's defining characteristics and methods for coherently organizing thoughts and discoveries. You’ll be provided with step-by-step guidelines on how to write an exploratory essay, make it stand out, and improve your writing skills.

What is an exploratory essay?

This is a type of academic text where the author analyzes a topic without necessarily arguing for a specific point of view or providing concrete evidence. Instead, the writer investigates different perspectives, analyzes various angles, and often ends with tentative conclusions or questions for further exploration. To better understand the exploratory essay definition, let’s consider its three main features:

• Consideration of diverse perspectives: Exploratory essays meticulously consider various groups of readers interested in the issue, thoughtfully delving into their points of view.
• Objective approach : This writing maintains an objective stance, presenting the topic impartially rather than proposing solutions. The authors aim to explain diverse positions comprehensively.
• Multiple viewpoints : While some issues may seem binary, exploratory texts go beyond simple either/or perspectives. They analyze various aspects in detail, revealing where opinions are different or similar beyond the surface argument.

How does it differ from other essay types?

If you know how to write an argumentative essay , you may think these two assignment types are comparable. Still, they have some differences. Unlike an argumentative essay, which aims to persuade the reader to adopt a suggested position by presenting supporting arguments, an exploratory text focuses more on inquiry and discovery rather than reaching a definitive conclusion. It allows for open-ended exploration and encourages critical thinking without pressure to take a firm stance.

Where is it used?

You may encounter this genre when the topic is complex or not well-defined, and the writer wants to analyze various viewpoints and potential solutions. It is common in academic settings, especially in disciplines like Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science, where issues are multifaceted and require nuanced analysis.

Exploratory essay format and length requirements

This writing follows a basic structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Consider using APA, MLA, or Chicago styles for your document formatting. APA, commonly used in Psychology, Sciences, and Education, requires uniform margins on all sides of the page and includes an abstract. MLA, suitable for the Humanities, features one-inch margins and indented initial words in paragraphs. Chicago style, prevalent in Art and History, calls for double-spaced text and 0.5-inch paragraph indentation.

As for the essay length, these texts can vary widely, ranging from a few pages to longer, more thorough examinations, depending on the complexity of the exploratory essay topics and the depth of analysis required. However, they are typically shorter than argumentative writing since they focus more on exploration and less on making a persuasive argument.

What to include in an exploratory essay: a basic outline

Below is a comprehensive outline and exploratory essay examples to guide your text’s structure and content.

I. Introduction:

• Hook: Start with a statistic, captivating anecdote, or quote to engage the reader.

“Imagine a world where artificial intelligence governs every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to transportation, raising profound questions about the future of humanity.”

• Background information: Provide context and background information on the topic.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced in recent years, revolutionizing industries and challenging traditional notions of human intelligence and autonomy.”

• Thesis statement: Pose the main question or issue you’ll study in the science homework .

“This essay seeks to examine the ethical implications of AI in healthcare and its impact on patient care and medical professionals.”

II. Body paragraphs:

• Explanation of the issue: Provide a comprehensive topic overview, including its importance and relevance.

“AI in healthcare offers the potential for improved diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes, but it also raises concerns about privacy, bias, and job displacement.”

• Presentation of various perspectives: Explore different viewpoints, arguments, or approaches related to the subject.

“Some experts argue that AI can enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, while others worry about data privacy and the dehumanization of medicine.”

• Analysis of each perspective: Examine each position's strengths, weaknesses, and underlying assumptions.

“While AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data and identify patterns that human doctors might miss, they may also perpetuate biases present in the data or lack the nuanced understanding of human emotions.”

• Exploration of common ground: Identify any common themes or values shared among the different points of view. Our “ pay for essay ” service can recommend how to do it correctly.

“Both proponents and critics of AI in healthcare agree on the importance of ensuring patient privacy and maintaining the human-centric aspect of medicine.”

• Discussion of unresolved questions: Highlight any unanswered questions or areas for further inquiry.

“Despite ongoing debates, many questions remain unanswered, such as how to regulate AI algorithms to ensure fairness and transparency.”

III. Conclusion:

• Restatement of the central question or thesis: Summarize the main question or issue explored in the text.

“In conclusion, the ethical implications of AI in healthcare remain complex and multifaceted, requiring careful consideration of its benefits and risks.”

• Summary of key points: Recap the key points and perspectives discussed in the body paragraphs.

“Throughout this essay, we’ve examined various perspectives on AI in healthcare, from its potential to revolutionize patient care to concerns about privacy and bias.”

• Reflection on the importance : Consider the broader implications of the exploration and any insights gained.

“This exploration underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and ethical oversight to ensure that AI technologies are deployed responsibly and in the best interest of patients and society.”

• Suggestions for future research: Offer suggestions for further investigation.

“Moving forward, future research should focus on developing ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to guide the responsible development and deployment of AI in healthcare.”

This outline offers a structured framework for arranging an exploratory document, enabling thorough analysis of intricate topics. Adapt and extend the outline as necessary to fit your text’s requirements or the complexity of your chosen topic.

How to write an exploratory essay: basic steps

Preparing this writing differs from completing an exemplification essay or any other type of academic paper. Below, we outline five essential steps to guide you through the exploratory research process.

Step 1: Choose your topic.

How to start an exploratory essay? Start by selecting a topic that sparks curiosity. Opt for subjects with diverse perspectives and avoid binary arguments. For example, consider topics like “Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Exploring Root Causes” or “The Rise of Online Learning: Transforming Education in the Digital Age.”

Step 2: Identify viewpoints.

Dive into your topic by identifying at least three distinct positions to analyze. Conduct thorough research and learn the up-to-date literature to uncover various arguments and counterarguments.

Step 3: Understand your audience.

For better essay planning , consider your audience’s perspectives and biases. Explore how their beliefs shape their attitudes toward the topic.

Step 4: Address your research inquiries and concerns.

Respond thoughtfully to the questions raised throughout your study. Consider each inquiry the research body poses and determine the most effective approach to addressing them. Be proactive in identifying and tackling any concerns arising from your work. 

Step 5: Create your final project.

Complete the writing process equipped with your newfound insights. Draw inspiration from other essay samples, ensuring coherence and fluidity in your writing.

Following these steps, you can create your research-based papers with confidence and finesse.

How to make your writing stand out: dos and don’ts

If you struggle with how to write exploratory essay, discover some dos and don’ts to create well-thought-out and compelling writing. These rules are also crucial for everyone learning how to write a scholarship essay of any type.

• Choose an intriguing topic: Select one that sparks curiosity and offers room for exploration. Look for subjects with multiple perspectives or unresolved issues.
• Thoroughly investigate the topic: Conduct extensive research to gather relevant information and data. Use credible sources to support your exploration and analysis.
• Organize your thoughts: Structure your document clearly and logically. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader through your research process. If your text's organization needs to be polished, you can contact the “ buy college essay ” service.
• Be open-minded: Approach the topic with an open mind. Embrace ambiguity and be willing to reconsider your initial assumptions as you study different perspectives.
• Consider several viewpoints : Explore various angles and aspects related to your topic. Show a comprehensive understanding of different opinions and arguments.
• Provide insightful analysis: Offer thoughtful analysis and interpretation of the information gathered. Highlight connections between different viewpoints and draw meaningful conclusions.

Don’ts:

• Avoid delaying your task: Start early to manage your time effectively. Procrastination can hinder your progress. With a limited timeframe to complete each step, begin your work promptly to allow ample time for crafting a well-developed paper.
• Don’t forget to take notes throughout your research process: Record key points and insights as you gather information. Reviewing your notes at the end of your research allows you to reorganize your ideas logically and ensure seamless transitions between them.
• Don’t neglect a structured outline: Designing an exploratory essay outline is a roadmap for your study. It ensures you cover all necessary information in your writing and provides a clear framework for your ideas.
• Avoid oversimplification: Don’t simplistically explain the exploratory essay topics . Avoid reducing complex issues to binary choices or oversimplifying nuanced perspectives.
• Refrain from ignoring counterarguments: Acknowledge and address counterarguments to your viewpoint. Failing to consider opposing opinions can weaken the credibility of your exploratory essay example.
• Steer clear of bias: Guard against bias and partiality in your study. Present information objectively and refrain from imposing your own beliefs onto the analysis.
• Avoid rushing the process: Take your time to analyze the topic and conduct research thoroughly. Rushing through the process can result in shallow analysis and missed opportunities for insight.
• Don’t neglect proofreading and editing: Mistakes are inevitable, so allocate sufficient time to review and refine your paper. Verify its coherence and accuracy, and have confidence in your ability to produce a polished final product.

Final thoughts

Becoming proficient in academic writing opens doors to intellectual exploration and discovery. By being curious, thinking about different viewpoints, and feeling sure even when things are unclear, you can discover new ideas and better understand complicated topics.

However, there is a great solution for those grappling with this challenge. EduBirdie is the premier ally for students in need, offering expert guidance and support to understand the particularities of exploratory writing with ease and proficiency. With EduBirdie by your side, your writing journey becomes manageable and truly enriching.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions for Exploratory Papers

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Many paper assignments call for you to establish a position and defend that position with an effective argument. However, some assignments are not argumentative, but rather, they are exploratory. Exploratory essays ask questions and gather information that may answer these questions. However, the main point of the exploratory or inquiry essay is not to find definite answers. The main point is to conduct inquiry into a topic, gather information, and share that information with readers.

Introductions for Exploratory Essays

The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important questions:

• What is this?
• Why am I reading it?
• What do you want me to do?

You should answer these questions in an exploratory essay by doing the following:

• Set the context – provide general information about the main idea, explaining the situation so the reader can make sense of the topic and the questions you will ask
• State why the main idea is important – tell the reader why they should care and keep reading. Your goal is to create a compelling, clear, and educational essay people will want to read and act upon
• State your research question – compose a question or two that clearly communicate what you want to discover and why you are interested in the topic. An overview of the types of sources you explored might follow your research question.

If your inquiry paper is long, you may want to forecast how you explored your topic by outlining the structure of your paper, the sources you considered, and the information you found in these sources. Your forecast could read something like this:

In order to explore my topic and try to answer my research question, I began with news sources. I then conducted research in scholarly sources, such as peer-reviewed journals. Lastly, I conducted an interview with a primary source. All these sources gave me a better understanding of my topic, and even though I was not able to fully answer my research questions, I learned a lot and narrowed my subject for the next paper assignment, the problem-solution report.

For this OWL resource, the example exploratory process investigates a local problem to gather more information so that eventually a solution may be suggested.

Identify a problem facing your University (institution, students, faculty, staff) or the local area and conduct exploratory research to find out as much as you can on the following:

• Causes of the problem and other contributing factors
• People/institutions involved in the situation: decision makers and stakeholders
• Possible solutions to the problem.

You do not have to argue for a solution to the problem at this point. The point of the exploratory essay is to ask an inquiry question and find out as much as you can to try to answer your question. Then write about your inquiry and findings.

What's the opposite of Meaning of the word Words that rhyme with Sentences with the word Translate to Find Words Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Find the of Pronounce the word in Find Names     Appearance ✓ Use device theme   ✓ Dark theme ✓ Light theme ? ? Here's a list of from our that you can use instead. ▲ ) ▲ of the Mayan sites of Copan.” of the surrounding areas.” to find new ways of understanding the link between ecosystem services and human wellbeing.” and investigation of current market dynamics.” ) The act of trying to find or looking for Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Related Words and Phrases Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250]. go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 Examining California’s deep history of Black cowboys Copy Link URL Copied! Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Aug. 27 . Here’s what you need to know to start your day. Black cowboy culture in California. Rancho Palos Verdes faces ‘unprecedented new scenario’ over landslide danger . The ultimate Westminster and Garden Grove food crawl . And here’s today’s e-newspaper . You're reading the Essential California newsletter Our reporters guide you through our biggest news, features and recommendations every morning You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. How Black Californians are keeping cowboy culture alive To truly understand and appreciate the cowboy culture out here in the West, you have to do more than just dress the part. Across the vast terrains of the Inland Empire, the hills of Orange County, the rodeo events in L.A. County and the sprawling countryside in the Central Valley up through Northern California, y’all are in a unique position to saddle up and create a community. Black cowboy culture in California is nothing new After decades of being overlooked in various media, it felt like Black cowboys were finally having their mainstream moment at the end of 2022. Lil Nas X , Beyoncé and Solange were embracing the look and sound of the Wild West. Films like “ Nope ,” “ The Harder They Fall ” and “ Concrete Cowboy ” brought a new and diverse look to the western genre. And it had only been two years since Walter Thompson-Hernández released his book “ The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America’s Urban Heartland .” “Growing up, I couldn’t think of a more powerful symbol of the American West than a white man with his horse,” my colleague Tyrone Beason wrote at the end of that year . “I wasn’t taught about the Black rodeo athletes, trail riders, ranchers and horse trainers who … draw strength from the same traditions that Hollywood made me fall in love with.” The term “cowboy“ was initially used in a racist manner to demean Black cattle drivers and ranch hands in the late 1800s. Historian Tyree Boyd-Pates told Tyrone that when Black people refer to themselves as “cowboys” or “cowgirls,” they are taking “pride in being able to transform a painful history into something they can glorify.” Welcome to the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Two photographers recently captured how the Black cowboy communities of California continue to thrive at the traveling Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in the City of Industry. In the latest installment of “Behold,” a Times series highlighting the the vibrancy of Black L.A., Adam Davis “went in search for Black horseback riders and rodeo participants of all ages chasing their desire to ride, jump, lasso and embody the spirit of the old West while making it new again.” In his photo essay, Adam noted that “L.A. is typically one of the last places people might assume any rodeo culture exists, let alone a Black rodeo.” While car culture may reign supreme in L.A., there are generations of Californians keeping rodeo culture alive, while they still can. My colleague Michael Blackshire, in another photo essay , acknowledged the latest push by City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield to ban rodeos in Los Angeles . “If there is a ban on the rodeo in Los Angeles, then there is only a matter of time before other cities in California enforce the ban,” Valeria Howard-Cunningham, chief executive of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, told Michael. “The ban would take away a cultural event important to Black people coming together.” Other groups are also keeping Black cowboy traditions alive Tyrone spoke to Ron Jennings, an “all-country” L.A. native who runs a youth bull-riding academy at his home in Jurupa Valley, passing the spirit of cowboy culture to the next generation. South of Sacramento, in Oakdale, he rode with the Loyalty Riderz club, a group of Black ranchers, trail riders and horse trainers who are determined “to expose Americans to another facet of the West — and the Black experience.” “We are the original cowboys, and the world is waking up to that,” Greg Bradley Sr., president of the club, told Tyrone. More coverage: Who is Bill Pickett? Meet the Black cowboy who led Will Rogers to the trail . Piecing together the story of my father, the Black cowboy-musician Jimmy Holiday . Trails and tribulations: Club extols past of Black cowboys . The Times podcast: What it means to be a Black cowboy . It took persistence, but David Oyelowo finally got ‘Bass Reeves’ to the screen . Today’s top stories Rancho Palos Verdes faces an ‘unprecedented new scenario’ over landslide danger Officials confirmed a very deep and active landslide plane — previously considered dormant — during exploratory drilling this summer, a discovery that upends emergency efforts aimed at stabilizing the Portuguese Bend area. The revelation only exacerbates a sense of urgency . Gas was abruptly cut off to 135 homes in the area in recent weeks, and the loss of electricity remains a real possibility for residents. Aggressive homeless sweeps began in Long Beach. But where will the unhoused go? City officials say they are emphasizing compassion in the sweeps , but police say they won’t hesitate to issue fines and citations if needed. There are 3,376 people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, according to the city’s 2024 count. That’s a 2% decrease from the previous year. The sweeps come as L.A. County voters this November will decide whether to double the county’s quarter-cent homeless sales tax to help fund services for the unhoused . As national heat deaths rise, California girds for worsening bouts of extreme temperature The last seven years have been marked by a surge in heat-related deaths, including 2,325 deaths in 2023 — the planet’s hottest year on record, new research has found. The death toll is likely to be an undercount , in part because heat isn’t always listed on death certificates when it triggers other health issues. The news comes after heat-related programs in California took a hit amid this year’s state budget cuts . The vast majority of heat-related deaths came from California, Nevada, Texas and Arizona, said the lead author of a study published this week in the medical journal JAMA. Hollywood’s below-the-line artists pivot to other gigs amid a slump Hollywood’s production slowdown has prompted many in the art department to contemplate other work . Some set decorators, for example, are moving to interior design or home organizing. Dwindling career opportunities and escalating housing costs have fueled a “ Hollywood exodus ,” with many film and TV workers pursuing their dreams elsewhere. How much has business contracted? Film and TV production in the U.S. was down about 40% compared with peak-TV levels , a tracking company found. More big stories Harris and Trump squabbled over muted mics at their high-stakes Sept. 10 debate. Billionaire Edgar Bronfman Jr. dropped his bid to gain control of Paramount Global , clearing the way for David Ellison’s Skydance Media to claim the prize. Disney fans with disabilities are decrying accessibility pass changes . A woman died on Burning Man’s opening day . The cause is under investigation. Three friends drowned in a Central Valley whirlpool while trying to save one another. Apple AirTags are helping cops catch thieves. Here’s how you can protect yourself . 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This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue: Published on 26.8.2024 in Vol 26 (2024) This is a member publication of University College London (Jisc) Sex-Based Performance Disparities in Machine Learning Algorithms for Cardiac Disease Prediction: Exploratory Study Authors of this article: Original Paper Isabel Straw, BMedSci, BMBS, MPH, MRES   ;  Geraint Rees, BMBCh, PhD   ;  Parashkev Nachev, BMBCh, PhD   University College London, London, United Kingdom Corresponding Author: Isabel Straw, BMedSci, BMBS, MPH, MRES University College London 222 Euston Road London, NW1 2DA United Kingdom Phone: 44 020 3549 5969 Email: [email protected] Background: The presence of bias in artificial intelligence has garnered increased attention, with inequities in algorithmic performance being exposed across the fields of criminal justice, education, and welfare services. In health care, the inequitable performance of algorithms across demographic groups may widen health inequalities. Objective: Here, we identify and characterize bias in cardiology algorithms, looking specifically at algorithms used in the management of heart failure. Methods: Stage 1 involved a literature search of PubMed and Web of Science for key terms relating to cardiac machine learning (ML) algorithms. Papers that built ML models to predict cardiac disease were evaluated for their focus on demographic bias in model performance, and open-source data sets were retained for our investigation. Two open-source data sets were identified: (1) the University of California Irvine Heart Failure data set and (2) the University of California Irvine Coronary Artery Disease data set. We reproduced existing algorithms that have been reported for these data sets, tested them for sex biases in algorithm performance, and assessed a range of remediation techniques for their efficacy in reducing inequities. Particular attention was paid to the false negative rate (FNR), due to the clinical significance of underdiagnosis and missed opportunities for treatment. Results: In stage 1, our literature search returned 127 papers, with 60 meeting the criteria for a full review and only 3 papers highlighting sex differences in algorithm performance. In the papers that reported sex, there was a consistent underrepresentation of female patients in the data sets. No papers investigated racial or ethnic differences. In stage 2, we reproduced algorithms reported in the literature, achieving mean accuracies of 84.24% (SD 3.51%) for data set 1 and 85.72% (SD 1.75%) for data set 2 (random forest models). For data set 1, the FNR was significantly higher for female patients in 13 out of 16 experiments, meeting the threshold of statistical significance (–17.81% to –3.37%; P <.05). A smaller disparity in the false positive rate was significant for male patients in 13 out of 16 experiments (–0.48% to +9.77%; P <.05). We observed an overprediction of disease for male patients (higher false positive rate) and an underprediction of disease for female patients (higher FNR). Sex differences in feature importance suggest that feature selection needs to be demographically tailored. Conclusions: Our research exposes a significant gap in cardiac ML research, highlighting that the underperformance of algorithms for female patients has been overlooked in the published literature. Our study quantifies sex disparities in algorithmic performance and explores several sources of bias. We found an underrepresentation of female patients in the data sets used to train algorithms, identified sex biases in model error rates, and demonstrated that a series of remediation techniques were unable to address the inequities present. Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proposed as an effective solution to many health care challenges and depends on the construction of machine learning (ML) algorithms from health care data. Recent research has drawn attention to the possibility that algorithms may exhibit bias when applied to different demographic groups [ 1 - 6 ]. Such biases may widen health inequalities and negatively impact marginalized patients, such as female patients, minoritized racial and ethnic groups, and other neglected subpopulations [ 1 - 7 ]. Over the past 5 years, an increasing number of studies have quantified disparities in algorithmic performance for underserved populations [ 2 - 7 ]. Daneshjou and colleagues [ 2 ] demonstrated that state-of-the-art dermatology algorithms tend to perform worse on darker skin tones; Seyyed-Kalantari and colleagues [ 3 ] exposed biases in radiology algorithms; and Thompson and colleagues [ 4 ] reported increased false negative errors when classifying opioid misuse disorder for Black patients compared to White patients. Beyond specific diagnoses, researchers have demonstrated that infrastructural AI systems used in hospital settings can be subject to referral bias, demonstrated by Obermeyer and colleagues [ 5 ] who highlighted a hospital treatment allocation algorithm that overlooked the health needs of Black patients. Yet despite the increasing number of papers describing this issue, most of the current uses of biomedical AI technologies do not account for the problem of bias [ 5 - 8 ]. Here, we evaluate algorithmic inequity in ML algorithms used for predicting cardiac disease, focusing on heart failure (HF). HF is a clinical syndrome in which the heart is unable to maintain a cardiac output adequate to meet the metabolic demands of the body [ 9 ]. Traditionally, algorithmic tools capable of identifying at-risk patients have played a key role in informing decisions on HF management and end-of-life care [ 10 - 12 ]. In recent years, ML algorithms that leverage biochemical data have been proposed as a superior alternative to traditional statistical models for identifying at-risk patients with HF [ 13 ]. A range of ML techniques outperforms traditional risk scores in forecasting HF-related events [ 13 ]. Yet given that existing medical research has described sex differences in both the presentation and management of HF, algorithms trained on existing data may perform differently for male versus female patients [ 14 , 15 ]. Sex Differences in HF HF presents differently in female patients compared with male patients [ 14 ]. Female patients experience a wider range of symptoms, including higher fluid overload and lower health-related quality of life [ 14 , 15 ]. Moreover, female patients who present with HF are on average older, sustain a higher ejection fraction (EF) throughout later stages of the disease, and have a lower incidence of previous ischemic heart disease [ 15 ]. Furthermore, the biochemical tests used to detect cardiac disease have been demonstrated to perform less well for female patients [ 16 ]. Troponin is 1 key biomarker used to predict disease, which has been demonstrated to be less sensitive in female patients [ 16 ]. Standard troponin criteria fail to detect 1 out of 5 acute myocardial infarcts occurring in female patients [ 16 ]. Historically, the neglect of sex differences in cardiac pathophysiology has disadvantaged female patients, and if not considered during ML development, these inequities may manifest in the novel algorithms being integrated into cardiac care [ 14 - 19 ]. In our research, we scope the published literature reporting algorithms that predict HF and investigate whether existing papers give attention to bias in ML algorithms. Furthermore, we examine the data sets of existing models for demographic representation, evaluate demographic inequities in algorithmic performance, and assess the efficacy of a series of bias-mitigation techniques. Study Design Our analysis consists of two stages: (1) a literature review of papers describing ML models used to predict HF and (2) a quantitative analysis of identified models, evaluating inequities in algorithm performance. The flowchart in Figure 1 provides an overview of our approach. Stage 1 Literature Review: Qualitative Evaluation of Published Papers We searched PubMed and Web of Science between April 1, 2022, and May 22, 2022, to identify ML algorithms used to predict cardiac disease adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for systematic reviews ( Figure 2 [ 20 ] and Tables S1 and S2 in Multimedia Appendix 1 [ 21 , 22 ]). All abstracts were reviewed, and papers were included for full-text review if they met the following criteria: (1) the target diagnosis was HF, (2) the model used biochemical markers to predict disease, and (3) the computational methods involved an ML approach (including supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning). Of the retained papers, full texts were then reviewed to evaluate whether authors (1) reported the demographic make-up of data sets and (2) evaluated demographic inequities in algorithm performance, meaning that the authors specifically examined differences in algorithmic performance by demographic groups defined by protected characteristics [ 17 ]. Throughout the literature review, any identified open-source data sets were maintained for use in stage 2. Stage 2: Quantitative Evaluation of Model Performance Two open-source data sets were uncovered in our literature review: (1) data set 1: University of California Irvine for Heart Failure Prediction [ 21 ] and (2) data set 2: University of California Irvine Cleveland Heart Disease data set for identifying coronary artery disease (CAD) [ 22 ]. Descriptive statistics were performed on both data sets, evaluating the mean and variance of the data set variables for sexes separately, affected by disease or death ( Table 1 and Tables S3-S5 in Multimedia Appendix 1 ). Variables Sex and death (target variable) Female (sex=0; n=105) Male (sex=1; n=194) Survived (HF death=0) Death (HF death=1) Survived (HF death=0) Death (HF death=1) Total count, n (%) 71 (67.62) 34 (32.38) 132 (68.04) 62 (32.96) Age (years), mean (SD) 58.6 (10.6) 62.2 (12.3) 58.8 (10.7) 66.9 (13.5) Anemia (Boolean), mean (SD) 0.5 (0.5) 0.6 (0.5) 0.4 (0.5) 0.4 (0.5) Creatinine phosphokinase (mcg/L), mean (SD) 462.0 (517.7) 507.7 (779.7) 582.8 (853.2) 759.3 (1532.3) Diabetes mellitus (Boolean), mean (SD) 0.5 (0.5) 0.6 (0.5) 0.4 (0.5) 0.3 (0.5) Ejection fraction (percentage), mean (SD) 41.9 (11.6) 37.5 (14.6) 39.4 (10.4) 31.2 (10.7) High blood pressure (Boolean), mean (SD) 0.4 (0.5) 0.5 (0.5) 0.3 (0.5) 0.4 (0.5) Platelets (kiloplatelets/mL), mean (SD) 289,757.6 (98,655.9) 259,512.7 (107,588.6) 254,232.4 (94,985.6) 254,663.7 (94,060.8) Serum creatinine (mg/dL), mean (SD) 1.1 (0.6) 1.9 (1.6) 1.2 (0.7) 1.8 (1.4) Serum sodium (mEq/L), mean (SD) 137.4 (3.6) 135.5 (6.7) 137.1 (4.2) 135.3 (3.8) Smoking (Boolean), mean (SD) 0.0 (0.1) 0.1 (0.3) 0.5 (0.5) 0.4 (0.5) a Full details of data set variables are available in Tanvir et al [ 21 ]. b For the death variable, a value of 1 indicates mortality. c HF: heart failure. Using these data sets, we rebuilt the ML algorithms described in the published literature and performed an additional analysis exploring inequities in algorithmic performance for demographic subgroups. As the only protected characteristic reported was sex, we focus on sex disparities in performance. Despite our initial aim to focus on HF, we retained an uncovered CAD data set to investigate whether trends identified for HF generalized to patients with CAD [ 22 ]. Tables S3 and S4 in Multimedia Appendix 1 provide details on data set 1 and data set 2, respectively. Model Reproduction We rebuilt the models described in the existing literature for these data sets, focusing on random forest (RF) algorithms, which have been widely reported to be the most effective models [ 23 ]. For both data sets, data was split into test or training subsets (0.7:0.3), RF models were built using SciKit Learn, and RF parameters were tuned using GridSearch CV (SciKit Learn). We adopted a bootstrapping approach to quantify uncertainty, such that models were built, trained, and tested 100 times, from which average results were derived with SD. Statistical Analysis Across the 100 runs, sex differences in each algorithm evaluation metric (equations 1-10) were calculated and averaged, with accompanying statistical tests performed to evaluate for statistical significance of any identified sex disparities. Our method for examining differences in algorithmic error rates builds on the foundational work from Buolamwini and Gebru [ 24 ], who demonstrated that a range of ML algorithms for facial recognition performed poorly on darker-skinned female patients. To evaluate for statistical significance, independent 2-tailed t tests were performed where the data was normally distributed, and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed where the data was not normally distributed. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to assess for normality [ 25 ]. Variations in Model Development We then introduced a variety of changes to the model development, to evaluate the impact on the identified sex disparities in performance. Changes to Model Training Data In total, 1 widely proposed bias mitigation technique includes preprocessing the training data of a model to account for demographic representation, with previous research highlighting the benefit of training on demographically balanced or demographically stratified data sets [ 26 ]. We therefore created a range of data sets with varied sex representation and assessed for the impact on algorithm performance disparities. To form the sex-balanced data set, we used the oversampling function of SMOTE() , which has been proposed as an effective method for improving the representation of underserved populations in ML data sets [ 27 ]. The SMOTE package generates new minority data points based on existing minority samples through linear interpolation [ 26 , 27 ]. Models were rebuilt as per the Model Reproduction section, using 4 different training data sets (sex-imbalanced, sex-balanced, and sex-specific; Tables S6 and S7 in Multimedia Appendix 1 ): (1) original sex-imbalanced training data, (2) sex-balanced training data, (3) female-only training data, and (4) male-only training data experiments. Changes to Feature Selection To understand why models make certain decisions, researchers in the domain of “explainable AI” have demonstrated how feature evaluation may provide important information regarding model performance for different subpopulations [ 26 , 28 ]. To do this, Shapley values have been widely accepted as a unified measure of feature importance since their proposal in 2017 [ 29 ]. In our experiments, we first perform an exploratory analysis, comparing feature importance for models trained on the male versus female data sets. Second, we create 4 feature subsets from the original data sets, to evaluate the impact of changing the feature selection on performance disparities. As described in the introduction, existing clinical research has described demographic differences in the biochemical and clinical markers of HF disease (eg, sex differences in EF and troponin levels) [ 16 ]. Thus, we delineate 4 different feature subsets that vary in this information, to examine whether certain feature subsets perform better for different demographic groups. These four feature subsets are described in detail in Tables S8 and S9 in Multimedia Appendix 1 and include (1) features with sex, (2) features without sex, (3) biochemical features, and (4) clinical features. Our final series of experiments are therefore performed across the four training data sets (sex-imbalanced, sex-balanced, and sex-specific), and the four feature sets giving 16 total experiments: (1) original sex-imbalanced training data experiments (across four feature subsets), (2) sex-balanced training data experiments (across four feature subsets), (3) female training data experiments (across four feature subsets), and (4) male training data experiments (across four feature subsets) Model Evaluation and Identification of Performance Disparities Models are evaluated using global evaluation metrics (eg, accuracy) and specific error rates (eg, false negative rate [FNR]; equations 1-10). The difference between male and female scores is calculated to give a model’s “sex performance disparity” (equation 10). To evaluate for statistical significance, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests were used to assess for the normality of the data, following which independent 2-tailed t tests were performed where the data were normally distributed, and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed where the data were not normally distributed. Our choice of evaluation metrics is guided by the clinical consequence of each of these scores. The existing research on algorithmic bias has highlighted the importance of examining error rates, particularly in medicine where a false negative clinically translates to missed diagnoses or opportunities for treatment [ 3 - 6 , 26 ]. As described by Afrose and colleagues [ 26 ], focusing on global metrics of performance such as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve scores can neglect subtler disparities arising from differences in error rates affecting subgroups. When selecting a bias assessment metric, previous studies have chosen to focus on FNR and false positive rate (FPR), due to the clinical implications of these errors [ 4 , 30 , 31 ]. Equations 5-8 places the error rates in their clinical context, demonstrating that the FNR represents missed diagnoses and potentially missed treatment. For the error rates, we use the threshold of 0.5, as we are investigating performance inequities in the existing reported models that used these default settings. Error rate definitions are as follows: Clinical implications of error rates are as follows: True Positive Rate = Correct diagnosis that patient as disease (5) False Positive Rate = Misdiagnosis of disease when patient is healthy (6) True Negative Rate = Correct diagnosis that patient is healthy (7) False Negative Rate = Misdiagnosis that patient is healthy when patient has disease (8) The accuracy evaluation metric is calculated as follows: Sex performance disparity is calculated as follows: Sex performance disparity = Score for male patients (mean) – Score for female patients (mean) (10) Fairness Techniques: Fair Adversarial Gradient Tree Boosting We implemented a recent fairness technique to evaluate whether these approaches applied to bias in HF algorithms. The Fair Adversarial Gradient Tree Boosting (FAGTB) is a recent technique proposed by Grari et al [ 8 ] for mitigating bias in decision tree classifiers and the authors demonstrate the success of their technique on 4 data sets. The authors focus on 2 definitions of fairness: demographic parity and equalized odds [ 8 ]. The equalized odds metric focuses on model FPR and FNR, and hence we highlight this for our paper. A summary of these fairness metrics is provided in Section S1 in Multimedia Appendix 2 for further interest. The definition of equalized odds is as follows: To assess for the equalized odds the authors measure the disparate mistreatment, which computes the absolute difference between FPR and the FNR for both demographics. The disparate FPR is calculated as follows: The disparate FNR is calculated as follows: We compare the performance of the FAGTB algorithm to a standard Gradient Tree Algorithm. As per the original FAGTB paper, we repeat 10 experiments randomly sampling 2 subsets (0.8:0.2) and report evaluation metrics for the test set. Ethical Considerations Ethical approval was not required for this study as all data used were sourced from publicly available open-source data sets [ 21 , 22 ] under a CC-BY 4.0 license. No direct patient contact or sensitive personal data was involved, ensuring compliance with research standards. Literature Review Search Results Our search returned 127 papers, of which 60 met the criteria for full review and 3 highlighted sex differences in model performance. In the papers that reported sex, there was a consistent underrepresentation of female patients. No papers investigated racial or ethnic differences. Further, 1 paper focused specifically on female patients with HF, in which Tison et al [ 32 ] highlighted that HF was more common in people who were older, White, with a higher mean number of pregnancies, a higher BMI, and were less likely to have Medicare. Descriptive Statistics and Feature Importance Data set 1 (hf). The mean descriptive statistics for each feature present in the HF data set are provided in Table 1 , which demonstrates subtle sex differences in the presentation of the disease. For HF deaths, male patients tend to be older than their female counterparts, with a higher creatinine phosphokinase, lower likelihood of diabetes, lower EF, and lower blood pressure. Our exploratory analysis identified further sex differences on examining feature importance. Figure 3 compares the rankings of feature importance for ML models built to predict HF built from the female data set compared to the male data set. These differences are important as existing ML algorithms built on mixed-sex cohorts suggest that EF can be used alone for modeling, an approach that may disadvantage female patients [ 23 ]. Data Set 2 (CAD) Table S5 in Multimedia Appendix 1 provides details of the CAD data set and demonstrates that female patients with CAD have higher resting blood pressure and higher cholesterol compared to male patients. The categorical variable “resting electrocardiogram” is also higher for female patients, due to a higher incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy. Model Results and Performance Disparities We replicated the algorithms described in the existing literature, reproducing the same previously reported mean predictive accuracies of 84.24% (3.51 SD) for data set 1 and 85.72% (1.75 SD) for data set 2 [ 23 ]. In Tables 2 and 3 , we present the disparity in performance for the sexes, where a positive value indicates a higher value for male patients (see equation 10). For data set 1, Table 2 demonstrates that in 13 out of 16 experiments, the FNR is higher for female patients, meeting the threshold of statistical significance (mean difference of –17.81% to –3.37%; P <.05). Figure 4 represents this disparity in performance graphically, providing the point estimates of FNR for the sexes separately and highlighting that the disparity in FNR persisted across the variations in training data and selected features. Disparity in model performance (score for male patients – score for female patients) Feature subset used in model training Features with sex value Features without sex value Biochemical features value Clinical features value Accuracy disparity (%) 1.63 .03 –0.72 .30 0.10 .88 –0.50 .49 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 3.14 <.01 0.43 .61 1.51 .09 0.47 .60 FNR disparity (%) –7.53 <.01 –3.84 .02 –5.15 .01 –3.49 .049 FPR disparity (%) 1.26 .07 2.97 <.01 2.11 <.01 2.56 <.01 Accuracy disparity (%) –4.78 <.01 –7.25 <.01 –9.42 <.01 –3.63 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 7.0 <.01 4.27 <.01 0.15 .83 8.32 <.01 FNR disparity (%) –17.81 <.01 –13.91 <.01 –3.37 .04 –16.09 <.01 FPR disparity (%) 3.90 <.01 5.37 <.01 3.07 <.001 –0.54 .24 Accuracy disparity (%) –10.95 <.01 –9.75 <.01 –12.32 <.01 –9.64 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 0.60 .57 0.57 .23 –2.92 <.01 –0.53 .07 FNR disparity (%) –7.42 <.01 –10.91 <.01 –2.24 .27 1.55 .01 FPR disparity (%) 8.61 <.01 9.77 <.01 8.08 <.01 –0.48 .04 Accuracy disparity (%) –5.46 <.01 –5.73 <.01 –8.73 <.01 –2.46 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 4.98 <.01 4.54 <.01 –1.59 .049 8.32 <.01 FNR disparity (%) –13.96 <.01 –13.32 <.01 –1.68 .33 –16.58 <.01 FPR disparity (%) 4.00 <.01 4.24 <.01 4.86 <.01 –0.06 .35 a Indicates a statistically significant difference ( P <.05) between the model’s performance on male versus female patients. a ROC_AUC: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. b FNR: false negative rate. c FPR: false positive rate. Disparity in model performance (score for male patients – score for female patients) Feature subset used in model training Features with sex value Features without sex value Biochemical features value Clinical features value Accuracy disparity (%) 0.32 .50 0.64 .17 0.13 .80 0.25 .61 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 3.86 <.01 4.24 <.01 3.05 <.01 3.91 <.01 FNR disparity (%) –11.66 <.01 –12.52 <.01 –10.81 <.01 –12.38 <.01 FPR disparity (%) 3.94 <.01 4.04 <.01 4.71 <.01 4.57 <.01 Accuracy disparity (%) –4.01 <.01 –5.12 <.01 –7.32 <.01 –2.86 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) –3.89 .01 –4.91 .01 –7.18 <.001 –2.75 <.01 FNR disparity (%) 7.69 <.01 10.54 <.01 15.59 <.01 6.61 <.01 FPR disparity (%) 0.10 .87 –0.72 .19 –1.23 .29 –1.11 .06 Accuracy disparity (%) –9.25 <.01 –11.34 <.01 –11.49 <.01 –8.69 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) –8.97 <.01 –10.95 <.01 –11.10 <.01 –8.45 <.01 FNR disparity (%) 18.98 <.01 22.60 <.01 27.23 <.01 17.86 <.01 FPR disparity (%) –1.04 .07 –0.70 .20 –5.02 <.01 –0.96 .09 Accuracy disparity (%) 6.38 <.01 5.66 <.01 –1.66 .02 6.10 <.01 ROC_AUC disparity (%) 6.30 <.01 5.57 <.01 1.52 .07 5.86 .01 FNR disparity (%) –10.12 <.01 –10.10 <.001 1.67 .17 –12.64 <.01 FPR disparity (%) –2.48 <.01 –1.04 .07 1.38 .24 0.92 .15 a Indicates a statistically significant difference ( P <.05) between the model’s performance on male versus female patients. To determine statistical significance, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were first run on the sex-stratified results to determine the distribution of data (normal or not). Independent 2-tailed t tests were used where data were normally distributed, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used when data were not normally distributed. b ROC_AUC: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. c FNR: false negative rate. d FPR: false positive rate. A smaller disparity in the FPR was statistically significant for male patients in 13 out of 16 experiments (–0.48% to +9.77%; P <.05). The sex performance disparities in accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve varied depending on the underlying shifts in the error rates for each sex ( Table 2 and Figure 5 ). On examining the individual error rates, we see consistencies in the sex disparities across feature sets, most notably an overprediction of disease for male patients (higher FPR) and an underprediction of disease for female patients (higher FNR: Table 2 ). Our findings for data set 2 were similar to those for data set 1, such that models built on the original sex-imbalanced data set demonstrated a higher FNR for female patients (mean difference of –10.81% to –12.52%; P <.05; Table 3 ) and a higher FPR for male patients (3.94% to 4.71%; P <.05; Table 3 ). Figure 6 visualizes the disparity graphically, and demonstrates that, unlike data set 1, the disparity in error rates reversed when training on sex-balanced data and female-only data ( Figure 6 ). Figure 7 illustrates the disparity in accuracy between the sexes, where we see that the direction of the disparity varies depending on the training data and feature set ( Figure 7 ). Variations in Training Data Sex-balanced training data. Training on sex-balanced data led to a fall in mean accuracy for all patients in data set 1 (76%, SD 3.46% vs 84.24%, SD 3.51%), with a more substantial drop in mean accuracy for male patients (73.61%, SD 4.84% vs 84.84%, SD 4.16%; Table 4 and Figure 5 ). The opposite trend was seen in data set 2, with models trained on sex-balanced data outperforming models trained on sex-imbalanced data for all patients (87.65%, SD 1.77% vs 85.72%, SD 1.75%) and for female patients (89.66%, SD 2.44% vs 85.48%, SD 4.12%; Table 4 ). The models trained on sex-balanced data in data set 2 reduced the FNR for both sexes when using the full feature set (female patients 4.79%, SD 2.58% vs 24.86%, SD 11.35%; male patients 12.48%, SD 4.11% vs 13.19%, SD 3.26%; Table 4 and Figure 6 ). The differences between the data sets may relate to underlying differences in the 2 cardiac conditions. Further, the failure to improve performance with sex-balanced training data may reflect the issues of mixing data that has conflicting indicators for disease. Results Data set 1 (heart failure) Data set 2 (coronary artery disease) Sex-imbalanced training data (n=209) Sex-balanced training data (n=272) Female training data (n=136) Male training data (n=136) Sex-imbalanced training data (n=522) Sex-balanced training data (n=715) Female training data (n=358) Male training data (n=358) All patients, mean accuracy (SD) 84.24 (3.51) 76.0 (3.46) 74.68 (3.53) 75.12 (3.71) 85.72 (1.75) 87.65 (1.77) 86.06 (1.67) 82.63 (1.94) Female patients, mean accuracy (SD) 83.21 (6.37) 78.39 (19.68) 80.15 (4.43) 77.85 (5.21) 85.48 (4.12) 89.66 (2.44) 90.69 (2.38) 79.44 (3.20) Male patients, mean accuracy (SD) 84.84 (4.16) 73.61 (4.84) 69.20 (5.96) 72.39 (5.32) 85.80 (2.14) 85.65 (2.23) 81.44 (3.02) 85.82 (2.30). Female patients, mean FNR (SD) 35.98 (16.72) 85.25 (14.58) 74.04 (17.68) 78.66 (14.0) 24.86 (11.35) 4.79 (2.58) 4.00 (2.74) 22.32 (5.25) Male patients, mean FNR (SD) 28.45 (10.41) 67.43 (16.6) 66.62 (17.32) 64.70 (14.9) 13.19 (3.26) 12.48 (4.11) 22.97 (5.20) 12.20 (3.41) a FNR: false negative rate. Sex-Specific Training Data For data set 1, mean accuracy for all patients when trained on sex-imbalanced data (84.24%, SD 3.51%) falls when training both on female-specific data (74.68%, SD 3.53%) and male-specific training data (75.12%, SD 3.71%), likely related to the smaller training data. For data set 2, mean accuracy for all patients when trained on sex-imbalanced data (85.72%, SD 1.75%) improves when training on female-specific data (86.06%, SD 1.67%) and falls when training on male-specific training data (82.62%, SD 1.94%). The overall improvement seen in the data set 2 models when trained on female data, relates to the increase in accuracy for female patients (90.69%, SD 2.38% vs 85.48%, SD 4.12%) co-occurring with a smaller decrease in accuracy for male patients (81.44%, SD 3.02% vs 85.80%, SD 2.14%; Table 3 and Figure 7 ). Unsurprisingly, performance for each sex is lowest when trained on the opposing sex ( Table 4 , Figures 4 - 7 ). In data set 1, same-sex training was preferable to opposite-sex training; however, this did not improve results compared to the models built from sex-imbalanced and sex-balanced training data, likely relating to the smaller sample size ( Table 4 ). In contrast, data set 2 had greater training data available and demonstrated that sex-specific training is beneficial to both sexes above the sex-imbalanced models ( Table 4 ). Variations in Feature Sets Models built on the biochemical features subset gave the worst performance in terms of accuracy and FNR ( Figures 4 - 7 ). For data set 2, biochemical features included just cholesterol and fasting blood sugar, and so, the fall in performance may relate to information loss. Additionally, Table S5 in Multimedia Appendix 1 highlights the different biochemical profiles for male and female patients who were sick, with female patients who were sick demonstrating a far higher cholesterol level than their male counterparts (mean values: 279.2 female patients who were sick vs 247.5 male patients who were sick). FAGTB Model The disparity in false negative rate (DispFNR) was consistently higher than the disparity in false positive rate ( Table 5 ). Compared to the Gradient Boosting Classifier, the FAGTB reduced the DispFNR for both data sets (data set 1: 0.20 vs 0.21; data set 2: 0.19 vs 0.28), however, the DispFNR that disadvantaged female patients persisted. The fall in DispFNR and disparity in false positive rate that occurred with FAGTB was associated with a fall in overall accuracy for both data sets. Results on test set, averaged over 10 experiments Gradient boosting classifier FAGTB Accuracy 71.3 71.2 DispFPR 0.08 0.08 DispFNR 0.21 0.20 Accuracy 86.3 82.9 DispFPR 0.06 0.06 DispFNR 0.28 0.19 a DispFPR: disparity in false positive rate. b DispFNR: disparity in false negative rate. Principal Findings Our study sheds light on an important gap in existing cardiac ML research, with significant implications for digital health equity. We find that the majority of published ML studies predicting HF fail to acknowledge the underrepresentation of female patients in their data sets and do not perform stratified model evaluations, thus failing to assess sex disparities in algorithmic performance. Our secondary evaluation of 2 cardiac data sets exposed a neglected sex disparity in model performance, highlighting the importance of integrating these methods into future studies that use ML methods for cardiac modeling. In our approach, we identified several potential sources of algorithmic bias. First, we detected the underrepresentation of female patients in training data sets that may produce inequalities in model fidelity. Despite introducing oversampling techniques to address this omission, the disparities in performance persisted suggesting that addressing data set representation alone is not a sufficient measure for mitigating bias. Further, our experiments demonstrated that oversampling could reduce overall performance, which may result from the mixing of conflicting data (ie, male vs female feature rankings). In addition, oversampling with synthetic instances solely from the data set at hand does not provide the machine with more information, it simply redirects attention and therefore cannot easily compensate for demographic underrepresentation [ 33 ]. When balancing the data set, our methods did not include undersampling due to our small data sets, however, this may be a potential avenue for future research. Second, we considered featurization and highlighted sex differences in the biochemical manifestation of disease. In current clinical practice, the diagnostic parameters used for identifying pathology are drawn from research trials dominated by male physiology: it is perhaps unsurprising therefore that algorithms built from these data tend to underperform in female disease. There is a growing body of research that critiques the use of unisex thresholds in medicine for biochemical tests; our sex-stratified analysis of the cardiac data sets and the identified sex differences in feature rankings supports these proposals [ 16 ]. There are further sources of inequitable performance that our evaluation cannot distinguish between. It may be that the sex differences in the physiological expression of disease mean that the prediction is harder to extract from 1 population. As a result, 1 sex may require more complex models than another, with differing architecture and degrees of flexibility. It may also simply be that there are differences in the predictability of 1 group compared with another, such that if the physiology of 1 group is more opaque, it may ultimately not be possible to resolve the observed disparities. McCradden and colleagues [ 34 ] detail this challenge further in their review, highlighting that differences across groups may not always indicate inequity. There are complex causal relationships between biological, environmental, and social factors that underpin the differences in disease rates seen across population subgroups [ 34 ]. While models must not promote different standards of care according to protected characteristics, differences between groups may not necessarily reflect discriminatory practice [ 34 ]. Our research was limited by the available information in the data sets. The absence of race or ethnicity data precluded the evaluation of their effects. Furthermore, the absence of other demographic data in the studies we identified prevented the investigation of health inequities that might impact the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community, disadvantaged socioeconomic groups, or other subgroups. Previous research has described historic and institutional biases that contribute to worse health outcomes for these groups, and evolving AI systems require the same scrutiny to ensure these harms do not become embedded within digital systems [ 35 - 37 ]. Throughout this paper, we have used the terms male and female to reference biological sex, so as not to conflate sex and gender. With the ongoing problematic conflation of sex and gender in medicine, stratification of model performance by either sex or gender is often impossible, which was noted in our own work [ 35 - 37 ]. Beyond the features discussed above, there is a wide range of additional factors that we cannot account for. For example, creatinine phosphokinase was a key feature in HF modeling yet existing studies have demonstrated the variation in these levels for manual laborers and athletes, illustrating how occupation may impact a patient’s physiology [ 38 ]. To account for the complex interactions that potentiate disease, and the heterogeneous nature of patient cohorts, we require more complex modeling capable of capturing the full range of intersecting factors influencing patient health (eg, sex differences may be mediated by income). Unsupervised high-dimensional representation learning may be the path forward for this purpose [ 39 ]. In addition to improving representation, unsupervised techniques enable us to detect neglected subpopulations without predetermining a characteristic of interest, facilitating the identification of the previously overlooked disadvantaged. In this sense, AI may provide a route forward to uncovering and addressing bias, by deploying more complex modeling that can improve patient representation and by revealing previously neglected disparities in the provision of care. Conclusions and Limitations In our paper, we have identified inequities in the performance of cardiac ML algorithms. Our findings are limited by the small size of the uncovered data sets, reducing their potential generalizability, and hence we propose that larger studies focused on this issue are required. These data sets also came from the same source, as we found a limited number of open-access databases due to the confidential nature of patient data and issues of proprietary ownership. In addition, we focused on RF models to replicate the papers uncovered in our literature search; however, ML models may differ in their degrees of performance disparity, and an evaluation across the range of ML model options is an important next step. In our paper we did not attempt to solve bias; instead, we highlighted a problem that exists throughout cardiology that requires further attention. The issue we have identified in these ML models is a foundational problem across medical modeling, in any instance where the use of an “average” is applied to a diverse population. It is possible that unsupervised ML and complex representational modeling may be a route forward for capturing heterogeneity in a previously unattainable manner and addressing issues of bias [ 39 ]. Our findings demonstrate that examining performance inequities across demographic subgroups is an essential approach for identifying biases in AI and preventing the perpetuation of inequalities in digital health systems. Acknowledgments The data sets analyzed during this study are publicly available. Data set 1 is available from the University of California Irvine Machine Learning Repository [ 21 ]. Data set 2 is available from the IEEE Dataport Repository [ 22 ]. 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[ FREE Full text ] [ CrossRef ] [ Medline ] Carruthers R, Straw I, Ruffle JK, Herron D, Nelson A, Bzdok D, et al. Representational ethical model calibration. NPJ Digit Med. 2022;5(1):170. [ FREE Full text ] [ CrossRef ] [ Medline ] Abbreviations artificial intelligence coronary artery disease disparity in false negative rate ejection fraction Fair Adversarial Gradient Tree Boosting false negative rate false positive rate heart failure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer machine learning Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses random forest Edited by A Mavragani; submitted 03.03.23; peer-reviewed by J Zeng, S Antani, E van der Velde, L Guo; comments to author 16.06.23; revised version received 13.10.23; accepted 04.05.24; published 26.08.24. ©Isabel Straw, Geraint Rees, Parashkev Nachev. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 26.08.2024. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (ISSN 1438-8871), is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included. Share full article Advertisement Joy Is Not a Strategy By Patrick Healy Deputy Opinion Editor, reporting from Chicago If the Republican convention’s message for America last month had to fit on a bumper sticker, it would read, “Trump is God.” Delegates deified him relentlessly as the risen Trump after the assassination attempt. They told me over and over that he was spared to save the country with his re-election. Only on the final night did Donald Trump come crashing down to earth with his nomination speech. Divine it was not. What a mistake. The most divisive man in America was suddenly getting a measure of good will from skeptical voters after he was nearly killed. People were tuning in to see if he’d talk like a changed man. And then he threw it away with the same old rant. All Trump had going for him was President Biden’s weakness. Flash-forward to this week. If the Democratic convention’s message for America had to fit on a bumper sticker, it would read, “Harris is joy.” The word has gone from being a nice descriptor of Democratic energy to being a rhetorical two-by-four thumped on voters’ heads. Don’t get me wrong — there are many worse things than joy — but I cringed a little in the convention hall Tuesday night when Bill Clinton said Kamala Harris would be “the president of joy.” “Joy” is the new “fetch” from “Mean Girls”: Democrats are bent on making the word happen. But joy is not a political strategy. And God is not a political strategy. The good news for Democrats is that Harris seems to understand this. Americans want her to lower their household costs and make it easier to find housing. Being our joyful Momala is not going to win the election. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . 184 IMAGES Explore Free Exploratory Essay Examples: Topics, Outlines, Samples How to Write an Exploratory Essay With Sample Papers Exploratory Essay How to write an exploratory essay [with example] Exploratory Study synonyms Exploratory essay (500 Words) COMMENTS EXPLORATORY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words Synonyms for EXPLORATORY: experimental, investigative, speculative, tentative, theoretic, preliminary, theoretical, developmental; Antonyms of EXPLORATORY: standard ... 69 Synonyms & Antonyms for EXPLORATORY Find 69 different ways to say EXPLORATORY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com. Guide to Writing an Exploratory Essay: Tips and Examples Tips for Crafting an Exploratory Essay. 1. Choose a compelling topic that sparks curiosity and invites exploration. 2. Conduct thorough research to gather diverse perspectives and sources on the topic. 3. Clearly define the problem or question you intend to explore in your essay. 4. How to Write an Exploratory Essay With Sample Topics There are three key characteristics of an exploratory essay. Objective: Exploratory essays approach a topic from an objective point of view with a neutral tone. Rather than trying to solve the problem, this essay looks at the topic through a variety of lenses. In an exploratory essay, the author seeks to clearly explain the different viewpoints. How to write an exploratory essay [Updated 2023] An exploratory essay utilizes the same basic structure that you'll find in other essays. It includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction sets up the context for your topic, addresses why that topic is worthy of study, and states your primary research question (s). The body paragraphs cover the research that you ... What is another word for exploratory practical. empiric. existential. objective. observational. based on observation. experience-based. more . "An exploratory laparotomy was performed immediately after the second CT scan to search for a perforated viscus.". Exploratory Essay Definition and Examples An exploratory essay is a short work of nonfiction in which a writer works through a problem or examines an idea or experience, without necessarily attempting to back up a claim or support a thesis. In the tradition of the Essays of Montaigne (1533-1592), an exploratory essay tends to be speculative, ruminative, and digressive. How to Write an Exploratory Essay: Guide With Examples Here are five steps on how to write exploratory essay. Step 1: Select a topic. Give prefenrence to contentious exploratory essay topics with various opposing viewpoints that can be investigated. Picking a subject with insufficient evidence or one that merely offers a "for" or "against" argument is not recommended. Exploratory synonyms Another way to say Exploratory? Synonyms for Exploratory (other words and phrases for Exploratory). Synonyms for Exploratory. 646 other terms for exploratory- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. idioms. Parts of speech. adjectives. nouns. Tags. penetrating ... Synonyms for Exploratory essays Another way to say Exploratory Essays? Synonyms for Exploratory Essays (other words and phrases for Exploratory Essays). Guide on How to Write a Strong Exploratory Essay Without adhering to these tips, you may never know how to write an exploratory essay. Now note the following tips to land your five-star essay: Try to hear as many diverse perspectives as possible. Note your findings. Reflect deeply on the topic. Stick to the outline as mentioned earlier when writing. How to Write an Exploratory Essay: Effective Guidelines Use credible sources to support your exploration and analysis. Organize your thoughts: Structure your document clearly and logically. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader through your research process. If your text's organization needs to be polished, you can contact the " buy college essay " service. EXPLORATORY in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for EXPLORATORY Related terms for exploratory - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with exploratory. Organizing an Exploratory Essay Exploratory essays are very different from argumentative essays. In fact, an exploratory essay is likely different from any other essay you've written. Instead of writing to convince an audience of the validity of a thesis, you will be writing to find out about a problem and perhaps to form some preliminary conclusions about how it might be ... Exploratory Definition & Meaning The meaning of EXPLORATORY is of, relating to, or being exploration. How to use exploratory in a sentence. Exploratory Papers You should answer these questions in an exploratory essay by doing the following: Set the context - provide general information about the main idea, explaining the situation so the reader can make sense of the topic and the questions you will ask. State why the main idea is important - tell the reader why they should care and keep reading. What is another word for exploration long hard look. hot seat. telling the difference. memorizing. book work. piece of work. piece of research. more . "There is a need for constant innovation and exploration to find new ways of understanding the link between ecosystem services and human wellbeing.". EXPLORATION Synonyms: 42 Similar Words Synonyms for EXPLORATION: investigation, inquiry, examination, study, probing, research, probe, inspection, delving, inquisition Synonyms of EXPLORATORY Synonyms of 'exploratory' in British English. exploratory (adjective) in the sense of investigative. Exploratory surgery revealed that she had cancer of the liver. Synonyms. ... or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your study needs. February 13, 2020 Read more 275 Words and Phrases for Exploratory Study Exploratory Study synonyms - 275 Words and Phrases for Exploratory Study. prospective study. baseline study. experimental study. n. preliminary review. preliminary study. preliminary survey. scoping exercise. Synonyms of EXPLORATION exploratory; explore; explorer; ... Wordle Helper. Scrabble Tools. Quick word challenge. Quiz Review. Question: 1 - Score: 0 / 5. SYNONYMS. Select the synonym for: to jump. to succeed to drain to observe to spring. SYNONYMS. Select the synonym for: ... or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your ... After Kolkata Rape Case, India Asks Why It Can't Protect Women In December 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student boarded a bus in New Delhi a little after 9 p.m., expecting it would take her home. Instead, she was gang-raped and assaulted so viciously ... Examining California's deep history of Black cowboys The term "cowboy" was initially used in a racist manner to demean Black cattle drivers and ranch hands in the late 1800s. Historian Tyree Boyd-Pates told Tyrone that when Black people refer to ... 34 Words and Phrases for Exploratory Papers Another way to say Exploratory Papers? Synonyms for Exploratory Papers (other words and phrases for Exploratory Papers). EXPLORE Synonyms: 36 Similar Words Synonyms for EXPLORE: investigate, examine, inspect, study, research, view, scan, look (into), inquire (into), delve (into) Journal of Medical Internet Research Results: In stage 1, our literature search returned 127 papers, with 60 meeting the criteria for a full review and only 3 papers highlighting sex differences in algorithm performance. In the papers that reported sex, there was a consistent underrepresentation of female patients in the data sets. No papers investigated racial or ethnic differences. Opinion Harris gave a good speech Thursday. Her love for America was overflowing — a child of immigrants' love, as the Democratic strategist Howard Wolfson put it to me. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis