The Technical ReportThe Technical Report

Hitting the ground runningHitting the ground running

ResearchResearch

Research is a way of…Research is a way of…

What are some everyday uses of What are some everyday uses of research?research?

What experiences have you had with What experiences have you had with research projects in the past? Good? research projects in the past? Good? Bad? Bad?

The Purpose of ResearchThe Purpose of Research

Purpose of research is to generate Purpose of research is to generate new knowledge or new new knowledge or new understanding about a subject. understanding about a subject.

Key word is “new.” Key word is “new.”

Research is not:Research is not:

A collection of quotes from sources.A collection of quotes from sources.

A report based only on your A report based only on your opinions or ideas.opinions or ideas.

A report which makes poor use of A report which makes poor use of sources or doesn’t document the sources or doesn’t document the sources used.sources used.

Your research should:Your research should:

Help you deepen your Help you deepen your understanding of your subject in understanding of your subject in order to generate a meaningful order to generate a meaningful topic.topic.

Form the basis of your analysis.Form the basis of your analysis.

Support your conclusions (not argue Support your conclusions (not argue for you).for you).

Research, like writing, is a ProcessResearch, like writing, is a Process

Step 1: Select and LimitStep 1: Select and LimitWhat issues are related to your topic? If What issues are related to your topic? If you’re beginning with a “big issue” like you’re beginning with a “big issue” like work place equity, some related issues work place equity, some related issues could include discrimination based on race could include discrimination based on race or gender, discrepancies between salaries or gender, discrepancies between salaries of men and women or even sexual of men and women or even sexual harassment.harassment.

Check Issues and Controversies or run a Check Issues and Controversies or run a preliminary search in Infotrac to help you preliminary search in Infotrac to help you identify some of these issues.identify some of these issues.

Step 2: Focus and PlanStep 2: Focus and Plan

Generate research questions – what Generate research questions – what do you need to find out? do you need to find out?

What sorts of sources will be most What sorts of sources will be most useful to you? (We’ll explore the useful to you? (We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of sources shortly, different kinds of sources shortly, here in class and in the library)here in class and in the library)

Step 3: Gather SourcesStep 3: Gather Sources

begin with general sourcesbegin with general sources

once you’ve identified your focused once you’ve identified your focused topic, begin exploring specific topic, begin exploring specific articles, books and websitesarticles, books and websites

Step 4: Read and ReflectStep 4: Read and Reflect

part of the discovery processpart of the discovery process

pay attention to sources which point pay attention to sources which point you to new sources, such as you to new sources, such as scholarly journals with bibliographies, scholarly journals with bibliographies, or web sites with links pages.or web sites with links pages.

Are We Done?Are We Done?No!No!Like the writing process, the research Like the writing process, the research process is iterative.process is iterative.You might need to return to and You might need to return to and repeat earlier steps.repeat earlier steps.You might pursue the steps out of You might pursue the steps out of order.order.Your research needs to influence how Your research needs to influence how you conduct your research!you conduct your research!

Finding a TopicFinding a TopicReview the topics in your text.Review the topics in your text.Explore a problem/decision you or Explore a problem/decision you or someone close to you needs to someone close to you needs to make.make.Look through your textbooks for Look through your textbooks for courses you enjoy.courses you enjoy.Browse subject headings in Browse subject headings in Reader’s Reader’s Guide to Periodical Guide to Periodical LiteratureLiterature or something similar. or something similar.

Finding a TopicFinding a TopicBrowse through an encyclopediaBrowse through an encyclopediaBrowse magazines you enjoy readingBrowse magazines you enjoy readingWatch “non-fiction” shows you like – Watch “non-fiction” shows you like – news, history, sports, fly fishing….news, history, sports, fly fishing….Think back on the last “argument” Think back on the last “argument” you had with someone – what was it you had with someone – what was it about?about?Think of something you believe Think of something you believe which most people might not.which most people might not.

Topics to AvoidTopics to Avoid

Topics that don’t interest you:Topics that don’t interest you:– You must be able to spend time You must be able to spend time

reading about topicreading about topic– You must be able to think creatively You must be able to think creatively

about topicabout topic– You must be able to narrow the topic You must be able to narrow the topic

sufficiently – easy if you know a lot sufficiently – easy if you know a lot about it.about it.

Topics that are too broadTopics that are too broad

Topics to AvoidTopics to Avoid

Topics that will require only one or Topics that will require only one or two sourcestwo sources

Topics that produce a strong Topics that produce a strong emotional response in you (you must emotional response in you (you must be able to present your arguments in be able to present your arguments in an objective way).an objective way).

Topics that require advanced or Topics that require advanced or specialized knowledgespecialized knowledge

Your ProposalYour Proposal

Use your proposal to help you get a Use your proposal to help you get a jump on your technical report.jump on your technical report.

Developing the proposal will help you Developing the proposal will help you decide if your topic is workable or decide if your topic is workable or not.not.

Whatever research or organizing you Whatever research or organizing you do now will save you work later.do now will save you work later.

Types of Proposals (Lannon)Types of Proposals (Lannon)

Proposals are classified according Proposals are classified according to origin, audience, and purposeto origin, audience, and purpose

They are either solicited or They are either solicited or unsolicitedunsolicited

They are internal or externalThey are internal or externalBased on audience needs, there are Based on audience needs, there are

planning proposals, research planning proposals, research proposals, and sales proposalsproposals, and sales proposals

Elements of a Persuasive Proposal Elements of a Persuasive Proposal (Lannon)(Lannon)

A forecasting titleA forecasting titleA clear understanding of the A clear understanding of the

audience’s needsaudience’s needsA clear focus on benefits of the A clear focus on benefits of the

proposed actionproposed actionHonest and supportable claimsHonest and supportable claimsAppropriate detailAppropriate detailReadabilityReadability

Elements of a Persuasive Proposal Elements of a Persuasive Proposal (Lannon)(Lannon)

Convincing languageConvincing languageAppropriate visualsAppropriate visualsAccessible page designAccessible page designSupplements that are tailored to a Supplements that are tailored to a

diverse audiencediverse audienceProper citation of sources and Proper citation of sources and

contributors contributors

Model for a Proposal (Lannon)Model for a Proposal (Lannon)

Introduction

Plan

Works Cited

Conclusion

Parts of Your ProposalParts of Your Proposal

Introduction: Background, Reason Introduction: Background, Reason for researchfor research

Plan: How will you research this Plan: How will you research this topic? What are your initial research topic? What are your initial research questions?questions?

Conclusion: Recap. Why is this Conclusion: Recap. Why is this worth doing?worth doing?

Your ProposalYour ProposalBut: your proposal isn’t carved in stone. But: your proposal isn’t carved in stone. As you research, read, write and think, As you research, read, write and think, things will change. You need to let them!things will change. You need to let them!

Review this Review this model proposal model proposal for an idea of for an idea of what you might want to do.what you might want to do.

Your Audience and Use profile will be a Your Audience and Use profile will be a separate document (like the one you separate document (like the one you might have completed for the 1might have completed for the 1stst assignment).assignment).

Getting StartedGetting Started

Possible topic: best car to buyPossible topic: best car to buy

Research questions?Research questions?

Research QuestionResearch Question

Who is doing the buying?Who is doing the buying?

What criteria should we use to What criteria should we use to evaluate?evaluate?

What kind of analysis will I be What kind of analysis will I be undertaking?undertaking?

Kinds of Analysis (from Lannon)Kinds of Analysis (from Lannon)

Causal analysis (Why does X happen?)Causal analysis (Why does X happen?) Comparative analysis ((Is X or Y better?)Comparative analysis ((Is X or Y better?) Feasibility analysis (Is X possible, or a Feasibility analysis (Is X possible, or a

good idea?)good idea?) Combinations Combinations

Modified TopicModified Topic

What is the best car for people like What is the best car for people like me (a college student who commutes me (a college student who commutes to work and school) to buy?to work and school) to buy?

Kind of analysis: ComparativeKind of analysis: Comparative

Criteria: Cost, Reliability, MPG, Criteria: Cost, Reliability, MPG, AppearanceAppearance

Research QuestionsResearch QuestionsHow much can people in my situation How much can people in my situation afford to spend up front? On afford to spend up front? On expenses?expenses?How long will they likely own the car?How long will they likely own the car?What other considerations might What other considerations might they have (i.e. desire to buy a they have (i.e. desire to buy a specific make)?specific make)?Which cars meet these criteria?Which cars meet these criteria?

Kinds of ResearchKinds of ResearchPrimary – interview/survey Delta Primary – interview/survey Delta students about needs and students about needs and preferences.preferences.Secondary – find sources on trends Secondary – find sources on trends nationwide, compare cars.nationwide, compare cars.Periodicals a good source – Periodicals a good source – Consumer ReportsConsumer ReportsGovernment web sites/documents Government web sites/documents (safety)(safety)

Your TurnYour Turn

Brainstorm: list possible topicsBrainstorm: list possible topics

Choose most interestingChoose most interesting

Brainstorm: list possible research Brainstorm: list possible research questions – what do you need to questions – what do you need to know?know?

What kind of analysis will this be?What kind of analysis will this be?

Off to the Library!Off to the Library!Don’t forget to record:Don’t forget to record:AuthorAuthorTitle/SubtitleTitle/SubtitlePlace, name of press and date of Place, name of press and date of publication (book)publication (book)Periodical title, date of publication and Periodical title, date of publication and volume/issue number (periodicals)volume/issue number (periodicals)Full URL (web page)Full URL (web page)Call number in Delta library (so you can Call number in Delta library (so you can find it again)find it again)