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Developing New Developing New

InformationInformation8

Research MattersResearch Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard

and Amy Rupiper Taggartand Amy Rupiper Taggart


Primary research derives from

exploring archives, conducting

interviews and surveys, and

making direct observations.


Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Primary research may involve analysis or

interpretation of:

• Works of literature



Documents


interpretation of:


• Speeches



Documents


interpretation of:


• Speeches

• Historical documents



Documents


interpretation of:


• Speeches


• Drawing, paintings, sculptures, or dramatic

performances



Documents


interpretation of:


• Speeches


• Drawing, paintings, sculptures, or dramatic

performances

• Works from radio, television, film, or advertising



Documents

Archives or special collections may include:

• Diaries, correspondence, and other written

records



Documents



records

• Statistical data collected by governmental,

nonprofit, or commercial entities



Documents



records

• Statistical data collected by governmental,

nonprofit, or commercial entities

• Survey records



Documents

Meaningful research on primary documents

requires the researcher to:

• Persevere (finding what you need in an archive

will take more than a few keystrokes!)



Documents



• Persevere

• Think innovatively



Documents



• Persevere

• Think innovatively

• Find comparison data where possible to

independently corroborate or validate findings


Contacting an Archive

• Archives have rules to protect their valuable

collections, so investigate a facility’s policies and

procedures before attempting to access its

materials




collections, so find out:

– Where they are and when they are open






– What you will need for access

• An appointment or interview with a librarian or archivist,

• Special permission or a letter of introduction

• Request material in advance

• Money for a locker or copies






– What you will need for access

– What note-taking resources are permitted (can

you use a laptop? A pencil and pad? Photos?

Flashes permitted?)



Documents

Be pragmatic to make your search more

efficient.

• Does the archive or special collection have an

online catalog? Can you access it?

• Can you email questions to staff?



Documents

Find a list of university and government

archives accessible online in a Find Out

More 8b box in Research Matters.


Conducting Interviews

Three forms of interviews:

• Informal

– Casual and unscripted

– Conducted early in research process to gain broad

perspective




• Informal

• Semistructured

– Prepared questions in a preplanned order

– Some flexibility in set and order of questions, and in

asking follow-up questions

– Use for pursuing unexpected lines of inquiry




• Informal

• Semistructured

• Structured

– Similar to a survey or questionnaire

– Scripted and inflexible set and order for questions

– Use to standardize interviews administered to more

than one person



Considerations for administering:

• Face-to-face

– Lets the interviewer read facial expressions, gestures

– Nonverbal communication helps the interviewer

decide if and when to pursue follow-up questions

without alienating the interviewee



Considerations for administering:

• Face-to-face

– Lets the interviewer read facial expressions, gestures

– Nonverbal communication helps the interviewer

decide if and when to pursue follow-up questions

without alienating the interviewee

• Online

– Offers a written record of the responses

– Reduces tension, promotes thoughtful responses


Choosing and Contacting the

Interviewees

• Start with locals—on campus and in your

community

• Investigate whether organizations can suggest

experts, help you make contact

• Try to find participants or witnesses

• Connect your interviewees to your research

question


Preparing for the Interview

• Shape questions according to purpose

• Conduct background investigation of the

interviewees is appropriate and feasible

• Contact interviewees and explain who you are,

what you are doing, and why you wish to

interview them in particular

• Develop open questions (avoid yes/no, either/or

questions)

• Ask a teacher or classmate to review list of

questions for unity, coherence, gaps

Interviewing Guidelines

• Remind the interviewee why you want the

information and how you intend to use it

• Obtain signed consent to use the results of

the interview

• Minimize jitters; start with easy questions


Interviewing Guidelines

• For semistructured interviews, use your script

but follow up or skip questions as warranted

• Let the interviewee know you are paying

attention

• Ask the interviewee to repeat important

points

• Take careful notes or make a recording if

permissible to insure accuracy



Wrapping Up and Processing

When the interview is complete:

• Send a thank-you note





• Send the interviewee a transcript inviting

comment or confirmation (you are not bound to

use the comments, but you should offer the

opportunity to submit them)






comment or confirmation

• Ask for additional information or clarification by

email or phone







• Ask for additional information or clarification by

email or phone

• Send a copy of the finished product







• Ask for additional information or clarification

• Send a copy of the finished product

• Obtain consent for using the results

See the form entitled ―Consent for Using Interview

Results‖ in Research Matters, section 8b


Making Observations:

Preparing to Observe

To prepare an observational study, consider:

• Your purpose

– Write down your hypothesis before beginning

– Be prepared to refine it continually as the study

proceeds



• Your purpose

• Your role

– Participant?

– Impartial observer?





• Your purpose

• Your role

• Your methods

– Set up a classification scheme for the range of results

you expect to observe

– Take notes diligently

– Obtain permission as needed




When conducting the research, try to:

• Minimize the Big Brother factor


Conducting the Observation






• Be invisible (observe unobtrusively)







• Dress and groom appropriately to blend in







• Dress and groom appropriately to blend in

If laptops are not in common use at the

observation site, use a pad and pencil for

taking notes.


Making Observations: Processing

the Observation Information

To analyze and interpret the findings suggested by

the research:

• Review and reorganize notes, adding classes for

observations as necessary; look for patterns





the research:



• Reflect in writing on any patterns noted; consider the

implications for the hypothesis





the research:



• Reflect in writing on any patterns noted; consider the

implications for the hypothesis

• Compare and contrast your observations with those of

prior studies where possible to corroborate results or to

confirm the significance of the study to the discipline

Developing and Conducting Surveys

• Surveys collect verbal responses to questions

about beliefs, experiences, experiences, and

opinions

• Preparing surveys that do not skew data in the

process of collecting it is an advanced skill

• College-level surveys have limited reach but can

yield meaningful insight if developed and

administered properly



Preparing to Survey

When developing a survey, consider:

• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)


Preparing to Survey



• Target cohort or population

– To whom will you administer the survey instrument?

• Broad-based?

• Representative range?


Preparing to Survey





– How will you reach them?

• Hard copy?

• Online?


Preparing to Survey





– How will you reach them?

• Your survey

– What type and how many questions?

– Answer options objective? Range of response

adequate?


Administering the Survey

To maximize the viability of your results,

remember to:

• Distribute enough surveys to get a statistically

relevant response




remember to:


relevant response

• Locate a distribution site suited to reaching your

target population




remember to:


relevant response

• Locate a distribution site suited to reaching your

target population

• Insure and protect respondents’ anonymity

– Hard copy: no name, ID; available drop box

– Online: make units with generic IP addresses

available


Processing the Survey Results

Responses:

• May be expressed as percentages for closed

questions

• Must be analyzed for patterns and interpreted

for open questions

• Should be compared and contrasted to those of

prior surveys where possible

– Corroborate findings

– Confirm significance of findings


Conducting primary research not only

can yield results to help answer

questions or solve problems, but also

can help you build or significantly

enhance valuable critical thinking and

problem-solving skills.


Developing New Developing New

InformationInformation8

Research MattersResearch Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard

and Amy Rupiper Taggartand Amy Rupiper Taggart

Developing New 8 Information - Faculty Server...

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