Whip Around If you had a million dollars, what would you spend it on? Think about this question and be prepared to share aloud with the class.

Chapter 8 Research: Gathering and Using Information Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Develop a Research Plan Start early and gather information that you think you will need. Think carefully about your topic. Where should you go to find information about your topic? Prepare a preliminary list of references. Be selective about materials that will enhance your own knowledge and clarify information for your listeners. Understand your instructor’s specifications for the assignment. Take good notes and keep complete information on the sources. At some point, “enough is enough.” Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Research: Gathering Information The Internet as an Information Source The web offers a wealth of information from a variety of sources. To determine if the information you find on the web is reliable, consider: Author Publishing body Currency Purpose Comparison

Research: Gathering Information Social Media as an Information Source Most social media can provide information. Quality of information matters more than quantity. You as an Information Source Your own experiences and knowledge can contribute to the content of your speech. Probe your knowledge of a subject to organize your thoughts and develop a research plan.

Research: Gathering Information The Interview as an Information Source The interview can be a valuable tool for gathering expert opinion (ideas, testimony, conclusions, or judgments of recognized authorities). Steps involved in the interview process: Establish the purpose of the interview. Choose the interviewee. Conduct research prior to the interview. Record the interview. Prepare questions. Organize the interview. Use interview clips in your speech.

Research: Gathering Information The Library as an Information Source Many libraries allow access to their indexes through home or campus computers. Libraries offer mediated sources, such as online databases of periodicals or services such as LexisNexis or ERIC. Most library research begins in the reference department with dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias, yearbooks, and bibliographies.

Research: Gathering Information Suggestions for Research State a clear purpose before you start the research. Begin your research early. Use computer searches when possible. Maintain a bibliography of sources. Add to your information base with appropriate mediated sources. Take notes.

Web site criteria? Author or producer? Reliability of source? Bias of source? Completeness and accuracy? Intended audience? Currency of source? Quality of writing? Webmaster contact info provided? Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Types of Search Engines Search engines index the contents of the Web and make it easier for the user to find information. Individual search engines, such as Google and Yahoo!, compile their own databases. Meta-search engines, such as Mamma.com and Dogpile, scan many individual search engines simultaneously pulling the top, and usually paid listings, from each. Specialized search engines, or vortals, conduct searches in a particular field. Examples of SSE are GoogleScholar, FindArticles, and WebMD.

Factors in Internet Research Remember that your research is subject to both your ability to do a good search and other factors such as commercial ones: Paid Inclusion and paid placement When companies want ensure a successful search for them they may pay Google, Yahoo, etc. to guarantee their result ratio

Using Research to Clarify and Support Ideas Testimony Increases trustworthiness Qualified sources Believable to the listener Examples Brief examples Illustrations Analogies Restatements

Testimony Opinions or conclusions of witnesses or recognized authorities add trustworthiness. The speaker’s own experience can be good testimony. Two kinds of testimony: Expert and Lay Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Examples Brief examples: a specific instance used to introduce a topic, drive home a point, or create a desired impression. Illustration: a narrative, case history, or anecdote that is striking and memorable. Two types of illustrations: Factual – a report of something that exists or actual happened Hypothetical - report of something that could happen given a specific set of circumstances Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Examples contd. Analogy: A comparison of two things that are similar in certain essential characteristics. Two types of analogies: Figurative – a comparison of things in different categories. Example: “Life is like a river.” Literal – a comparison of things of the same category. Example: “Birds of a feather…” Restatement: The expression of the same idea but with different words. “To put it another way…” Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Use Research to Support and Clarify Ideas Definitions Definitions are required for all unfamiliar words and concepts. A logical definition usually contains two parts, a dictionary definition and the characteristics that distinguish it from the term or other terms in the same category. An operational definition explains how an object or concept works or lists the steps that make up that process. A definition by example clarifies a term not by describing it or giving its meaning but by mentioning or showing an example of it.

Facts and Statistics Fact: A documented occurrence Facts are used to give credibility to opinion and clarify statements based on objectively gathered and documented occurrences, such as statistics. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Statistics Statistics are numerical data that show relationships or summarize or interpret many instances. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Figure 8.2: Visualizing Statistical Data A chart with statistics can help summarize complex data and make ideas interesting to your audience. Source: Based on Africa’s Orphaned Generations, Ch 2, UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/sowc06/pdfs/africas_orphans.pdf, retrieved March 31, 2012.

Types of Statistics Frequency: How often a relationship or characteristic occurs – ex. 1 out of 5 Average/Mean: The ‘typical’ occurrence – ex. The average American… Percentage: A portion of a whole – ex. 50% Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Guidelines for Statistics Sources must be reliable/neutral Explain statistics you are using Use sparingly Round off large numbers when possible Use visual aids to present statistics if appropriate/possible

Using statistics ethically Check the source – Remember that while statistics are made of numbers that are objective and absolute; the people gathering them can be unreliable. Do not “cherry- pick”: Do not use only the statistics that reflect your opinion without first acknowledging that there may contradictory ones Use statistics in their context – statistics are not eternal and are always subject to being updated. They are essentially quantitative captures of a moment in time. Statistics of populations never reflect the ENTIRE population, only the portion that participated. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Finding Web Information Sources Read page 204 titled, “Finding Web Information Sources” Answer questions 1-5 with a partner Be prepared to share aloud