© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 1 Chapter 3 The Research Process in Technical Communication Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace Laura J. Gurak John M. Lannon

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 2 Thinking Critically About Research Ask the right questions. Ask the right questions. Explore a balance of views. Explore a balance of views. Explore your topic in sufficient depth. Explore your topic in sufficient depth. Evaluate your sources. Evaluate your sources. Interpret your findings objectively. Interpret your findings objectively.

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 3 Comparison Benefits Hard Copy Sources  Organized and searched by librarians  Often screened by experts for accuracy  Are easier to preserve and keep secure Electronic Sources  Are current, efficient, and accessible  Allow for searches that can be narrowed or broadened  Can offer material that has no hard copy equivalent

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 4 Comparison Drawbacks Hard Copy Sources  Time-consuming and inefficient to search  Offer only text and images  Hard to update Electronic Sources  Provide access to recent material only  Are not always reliable  User might get lost

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 5 Web-Based Secondary Sources Use Subject directories and Search Engines to locate Web-based Secondary Sources  General Commercial, Organizational, and Academic Web Sites  Government Web Sites  Online News Outlets and Magazines  Blogs  Wikis  Internet Forums and Electronic Mailing Lists  E-Libraries  Periodical Databases

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 6 Strategies for Researching on the Internet  Expect limited results from any one search engine or subject directory.  When using a search engine, select keywords or search phrases that are varied and technical.  When using a subject directory, target an appropriate level of specificity.  Consider the domain type.  Identify the site’s source and sponsor.  Look beyond the style of a site.  Assess the currency of the site and its materials.  Assess the author’s credentials and assertions.  Use bookmarks and hotlists for quick access to favorite Web sites.  Save or print what you need before it changes or disappears.  Download only what you need, use it ethically, obtain permission, and credit your sources.

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 7 Hard Copy Secondary Sources Books and Periodicals Books and Periodicals Reference Works Reference Works  Bibliographies, indexes, encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, almanacs, directories, abstracts  Gray Literature

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 8 Sources for Primary Research  Informative Interviews  Surveys and Questionnaires  Inquiry letters, Phone Calls, and s  Observation and Experiment  Public Records and Organizational Publications

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 9 Informative Interviews Phone interviews In-person interviews Fax interviews interviews

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 10 Strategies for Informational Interviews  Know exactly what you are looking for.  Do your homework.  Request the interview at your respondent’s convenience.  Make each question clear, specific, and open-ended.  Avoid loaded questions.  Save the most difficult, complex, or sensitive questions for last.  Be polite and professional.  Let your interviewee do most of the talking.  Ask for clarification if needed, but do not put words in the respondent’s mouth.  Stick to your interview plan.  Ask for closing comments.  Ask for permission to follow-up.  Invite the interviewee to read your version of the interview.  End on time and thank the interviewee.  As soon as possible, transcribe your notes.

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 11 Surveys and Questionnaires A survey helps you to form impressions of the concerns, preferences, attitudes, beliefs, needs, or perceptions of a large, identifiable group by studying representatives of that group. A questionnaire is the tool used to conduct a survey.

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 12 Strategies for Successful Surveys  Define the purpose and the target population.  Identify the sample group.  Define the survey method.  Decide on the types of questions.  Develop an engaging and informative introduction.  Phrase questions precisely.  Avoid loaded questions.  Make the survey brief, simple, and inviting.  Have an expert review your questionnaire whenever possible.

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 13 Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter, please visit the Companion Website for your text at