Developing New 8 Information - Faculty Server...
Transcript of Developing New 8 Information - Faculty Server...
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
Developing New Developing New
InformationInformation8
Research MattersResearch Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard
and Amy Rupiper Taggartand Amy Rupiper Taggart
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2
Primary research derives from
exploring archives, conducting
interviews and surveys, and
making direct observations.
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Primary research may involve analysis or
interpretation of:
• Works of literature
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Primary research may involve analysis or
interpretation of:
• Works of literature
• Speeches
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Primary research may involve analysis or
interpretation of:
• Works of literature
• Speeches
• Historical documents
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Primary research may involve analysis or
interpretation of:
• Works of literature
• Speeches
• Historical documents
• Drawing, paintings, sculptures, or dramatic
performances
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Primary research may involve analysis or
interpretation of:
• Works of literature
• Speeches
• Historical documents
• Drawing, paintings, sculptures, or dramatic
performances
• Works from radio, television, film, or advertising
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Archives or special collections may include:
• Diaries, correspondence, and other written
records
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Archives or special collections may include:
• Diaries, correspondence, and other written
records
• Statistical data collected by governmental,
nonprofit, or commercial entities
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Archives or special collections may include:
• Diaries, correspondence, and other written
records
• Statistical data collected by governmental,
nonprofit, or commercial entities
• Survey records
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11
Researching Archives and Primary
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!)
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Meaningful research on primary documents
requires the researcher to:
• Persevere
• Think innovatively
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Meaningful research on primary documents
requires the researcher to:
• Persevere
• Think innovatively
• Find comparison data where possible to
independently corroborate or validate findings
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15
Contacting an Archive
• Archives have rules to protect their valuable
collections, so find out:
– Where they are and when they are open
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16
Contacting an Archive
• Archives have rules to protect their valuable
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17
Contacting an Archive
• Archives have rules to protect their valuable
collections, so find out:
– Where they are and when they are open
– What you will need for access
– What note-taking resources are permitted (can
you use a laptop? A pencil and pad? Photos?
Flashes permitted?)
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18
Researching Archives and Primary
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?
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 19
Researching Archives and Primary
Documents
Find a list of university and government
archives accessible online in a Find Out
More 8b box in Research Matters.
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20
Conducting Interviews
Three forms of interviews:
• Informal
– Casual and unscripted
– Conducted early in research process to gain broad
perspective
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21
Conducting Interviews
Three forms of interviews:
• 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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22
Conducting Interviews
Three forms of interviews:
• 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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 23
Conducting Interviews
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24
Conducting Interviews
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 25
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 26
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 27
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 28
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 29
Wrapping Up and Processing
When the interview is complete:
• Send a thank-you note
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 30
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)
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 31
Wrapping Up and Processing
When the interview is complete:
• Send a thank-you note
• Send the interviewee a transcript inviting
comment or confirmation
• Ask for additional information or clarification by
email or phone
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 32
Wrapping Up and Processing
When the interview is complete:
• Send a thank-you note
• Send the interviewee a transcript inviting
comment or confirmation
• Ask for additional information or clarification by
email or phone
• Send a copy of the finished product
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 33
Wrapping Up and Processing
When the interview is complete:
• Send a thank-you note
• Send the interviewee a transcript inviting
comment or confirmation
• 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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 34
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 35
To prepare an observational study, consider:
• Your purpose
• Your role
– Participant?
– Impartial observer?
Making Observations:
Preparing to Observe
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 36
To prepare an observational study, consider:
• 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
Making Observations:
Preparing to Observe
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 37
When conducting the research, try to:
• Minimize the Big Brother factor
Making Observations:
Conducting the Observation
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 38
Making Observations:
Conducting the Observation
When conducting the research, try to:
• Minimize the Big Brother factor
• Be invisible (observe unobtrusively)
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 39
Making Observations:
Conducting the Observation
When conducting the research, try to:
• Minimize the Big Brother factor
• Be invisible (observe unobtrusively)
• Dress and groom appropriately to blend in
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 40
Making Observations:
Conducting the Observation
When conducting the research, try to:
• Minimize the Big Brother factor
• Be invisible (observe unobtrusively)
• 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.
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 41
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 42
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
• Reflect in writing on any patterns noted; consider the
implications for the hypothesis
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 43
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
• 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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 44
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 45
Preparing to Survey
When developing a survey, consider:
• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 46
Preparing to Survey
When developing a survey, consider:
• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)
• Target cohort or population
– To whom will you administer the survey instrument?
• Broad-based?
• Representative range?
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 47
Preparing to Survey
When developing a survey, consider:
• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)
• Target cohort or population
– To whom will you administer the survey instrument?
– How will you reach them?
• Hard copy?
• Online?
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 48
Preparing to Survey
When developing a survey, consider:
• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)
• Target cohort or population
– To whom will you administer the survey instrument?
– How will you reach them?
• Your survey
– What type and how many questions?
– Answer options objective? Range of response
adequate?
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 49
Administering the Survey
To maximize the viability of your results,
remember to:
• Distribute enough surveys to get a statistically
relevant response
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 50
Administering the Survey
To maximize the viability of your results,
remember to:
• Distribute enough surveys to get a statistically
relevant response
• Locate a distribution site suited to reaching your
target population
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 51
Administering the Survey
To maximize the viability of your results,
remember to:
• Distribute enough surveys to get a statistically
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 52
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
©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 53
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.