Lecture 3 – Communication

Three points to be made in this lecture: Science is a public enterprise. There is no science without communication. Science is a public enterprise. There is no science without communication. Writing is self-presentation Writing is self-presentation Good writing follows from some simple guidelines. Good writing follows from some simple guidelines.

Science is a public enterprise Communication is important for two reasons: Communication is important for two reasons: A.Pollination A.Improving efficiency by avoiding wasted effort

A. Pollination We all need to talk to other people, and read about their ideas. We all need to talk to other people, and read about their ideas. We make progress faster when we test our ideas against other people’s understanding of a problem – and the more people the better. We make progress faster when we test our ideas against other people’s understanding of a problem – and the more people the better.

A. Pollination To maximize the number of people we talk to, we need to talk to people all over the world. To maximize the number of people we talk to, we need to talk to people all over the world. An important characteristic of science is that it is international. An important characteristic of science is that it is international. Science brings together people of different cultures, having different perspectives on most non-scientific questions. Science brings together people of different cultures, having different perspectives on most non-scientific questions. Write for them all. Write for them all.

B. Avoiding wasted effort Taxpayers want more research results for their hard-earned dollars. Taxpayers want more research results for their hard-earned dollars. Anything we can do to avoid wasted effort makes it easier to attract more money to research. Anything we can do to avoid wasted effort makes it easier to attract more money to research. Communication increases efficiency. Communication increases efficiency.

Writing is self-presentation Practice good writing in your s to professors and others. Practice good writing in your s to professors and others. – Avoid spelling and grammar errors – Include all relevant information, such as course number and your name – Be clear about your question or concern

Writing is self-presentation You will be judged on the basis of what you write. Publishing leads to… You will be judged on the basis of what you write. Publishing leads to… Credit for your work Credit for your work Access to the Invisible College Access to the Invisible College Jobs, research grants, and influence. Jobs, research grants, and influence.

Writing is self-presentation Neatness indicates care Neatness indicates care – It suggests the project was worth your best effort. Don’t give busy people a reason to ignore you. Don’t give busy people a reason to ignore you. – If you do, they’ll take it. You care about how you appear in person. Care also about how you appear in writing. You care about how you appear in person. Care also about how you appear in writing.

Effective writing guidelines Know your audience Know your audience Identify your purpose for the reader Identify your purpose for the reader Write clearly Write clearly Be interesting Be interesting Be concise Be concise Be grammatically correct Be grammatically correct Be precise in your choice of words (say what you mean!) Be precise in your choice of words (say what you mean!) Write fairly – be careful in your choice of words Write fairly – be careful in your choice of words

Be careful in your choice of words Avoid local slang specific to your culture Avoid local slang specific to your culture Avoid emotion-laden words Avoid emotion-laden words

Be careful in your choice of words Avoid words that inappropriately exclude segments of the population (e.g., use human race instead of man) Avoid words that inappropriately exclude segments of the population (e.g., use human race instead of man) Respect group preferences in naming (e.g., Asian, not Oriental) Respect group preferences in naming (e.g., Asian, not Oriental)

Three ways to present your work Written reports Posters Spoken presentations

Three ways to present your work 1.Written reports – peer-reviewed, thus the official record of what we know. – written reports are archival – considerable delay before available – use APA format (see course website for some relevant links).

APA Format – purpose of each section Abstract Abstract Introduction Introduction Method Method – Participants – Materials – Apparatus Design Design Results Results Discussion Discussion References & Figures References & Figures

Three ways to present your work 1.Written reports 2.Posters Combine oral and written forms Combine oral and written forms Prepared text presented on poster; scientist stands by poster to talk with anyone interested in the work. Prepared text presented on poster; scientist stands by poster to talk with anyone interested in the work.

Three ways to present your work 1.Written reports 2.Posters 3.Spoken presentations Fast propagation of results Fast propagation of results Less competition than with poster Less competition than with poster

Review 1.Science is a public, co- operative enterprise. Communication is essential. 2.Writing is self- presentation. If you take care over your appearance (or even if you don’t!) take care over your writing. 3.Write carefully, grammatically, clearly. Say what you mean.