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©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 Developing New Developing New Information Information 8 Research Matters Research Matters by Rebecca Moore Howard by Rebecca Moore Howard and Amy Rupiper Taggart and Amy Rupiper Taggart

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©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.

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Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Primary research may involve analysis or

interpretation of:

• Works of literature

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Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Primary research may involve analysis or

interpretation of:

• Works of literature

• Speeches

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Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Primary research may involve analysis or

interpretation of:

• Works of literature

• Speeches

• Historical documents

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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• Historical documents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

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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• Historical documents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

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Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Archives or special collections may include:

• Diaries, correspondence, and other written

records

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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

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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

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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!)

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Researching Archives and Primary

Documents

Meaningful research on primary documents

requires the researcher to:

• Persevere

• Think innovatively

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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

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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

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Contacting an Archive

• Archives have rules to protect their valuable

collections, so find out:

– Where they are and when they are open

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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

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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?)

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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?

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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.

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Conducting Interviews

Three forms of interviews:

• Informal

– Casual and unscripted

– Conducted early in research process to gain broad

perspective

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Wrapping Up and Processing

When the interview is complete:

• Send a thank-you note

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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To prepare an observational study, consider:

• Your purpose

• Your role

– Participant?

– Impartial observer?

Making Observations:

Preparing to Observe

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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

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When conducting the research, try to:

• Minimize the Big Brother factor

Making Observations:

Conducting the Observation

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Making Observations:

Conducting the Observation

When conducting the research, try to:

• Minimize the Big Brother factor

• Be invisible (observe unobtrusively)

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Preparing to Survey

When developing a survey, consider:

• Your purpose (write down the hypothesis)

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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?

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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?

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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?

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Administering the Survey

To maximize the viability of your results,

remember to:

• Distribute enough surveys to get a statistically

relevant response

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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

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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

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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

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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.

©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 54

Developing New Developing New

InformationInformation8

Research MattersResearch Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard

and Amy Rupiper Taggartand Amy Rupiper Taggart