1. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

2. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Introduction to Research
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

3. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
“Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing?”
– Werner von Braun
father of the United States space program
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

4. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
What is Research?
Research is the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
“We undertake research when we wish to explore an idea, probe an issue, solve a problem, or make an argument that compels us to turn to outside help.”
– MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
5th Edition by Joseph Gibaldi
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

5. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Types of Research
There are two types of research:
Primary Research
generating original information
Secondary Research
gathering information that has already been generated
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

6. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Primary Research
Is original research
Generates up-to-date information
Includes methods such as observation, experiments, surveys, and interviews
Analyzes, synthesizes, and evaluates all information and data
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

7. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Primary Research
Advantages:
Is directly applicable to the need
Can result in extremely detailed, accurate, and relevant information or data
Can result in new information that cannot be found in secondary sources
Results in expert knowledge
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

8. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Primary Research
Disadvantages:
Is time consuming
Requires extensive planning
Can be expensive
May depend on the participation of unreliable sources for results
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

9. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research
Requires searching information that other researchers have already collected, analyzed, and reported
Includes published works: books, journals, magazines, newspapers
Includes unpublished works: business reports, operating manuals, masters theses, doctoral dissertations, web pages
Is the most commonly conducted type of research
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

10. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research
Advantages:
Requires less time and little to no cost in comparison to primary research
Helps the researcher to either focus or expand his/her scope
Elicits a sense of credibility and authority in that it shows others that the researcher has done his/her homework
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

11. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research
Disadvantages:
The researcher may have to sift through a tremendous amount of information.
Not all information sources are valid (i.e., internet web pages).
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

12. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Research Libraries
Support faculty and students in their research efforts in college/university libraries
Have extensive collections of books and periodicals
Contain theses, dissertations, and other useful unpublished works
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

13. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Books
One of the most reliable published sources.
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) has replaced the card catalog in most libraries.
Browsing library shelves may result in new sources.
Interlibrary loans result in more materials.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

14. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Magazines
Magazine Databases include ProQuest, Electric Library, and others.
Excellent related graphics may be discovered.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

15. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Reference Works
Indexes – guides to newspapers, magazines, and journals
Bibliographies – related publications
Collections of Abstracts – journal articles
Guides to Research – American Library Association’s Guide to Reference Books
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

16. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Reference Works
Dictionaries – The Oxford English Dictionary, Webster’s Dictionary
Encyclopedias
Biographical sources – Who’s Who
Yearbooks – Britannica Book of the Year
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

17. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Reference Works
Atlases – map collections
Gazetteers – geographic information
Statistical data sources – Statistical Abstract of the United States
Almanacs – good for statistics
Books of quotations
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

18. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Newspapers
ProQuest
Electric Library
Microfiche
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

19. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Multimedia
Films
Videos/DVDs
Audiotapes
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

20. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Secondary Research Sources
Internet Web Pages
Search Engines: Google, Yahoo
Associations, Organizations, Businesses
Government Agencies
Public Institutions: Museums, Libraries
Note: Anyone can invent information and put it on the internet.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

21. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Research Techniques
Define and list your topic, project, or problem.
Identify key words of the topic.
Identify all resources with which you are familiar that may provide information.
Use the Internet to conduct quick keyword searches and record the URL addresses.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

22. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Research Techniques
Use what you’ve learned thus far to check libraries for books, periodicals, journals, and other reference works.
Contact schools, companies, and organizations in your local area to identify persons who are knowledgeable in your research topic.
Assemble your list of resources, and begin systematically exploring them.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

23. Introduction to Research
Introduction to Engineering Design TM
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to a DesignProcess
Evaluating Information
The quality of any source should be evaluated before using and citing its information.
It is up to the researcher to differentiate between fact, opinion, and propaganda.
Legitimately published sources contain the most reputable information.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007