Week 3 Assignment: Blogging About Technical Research

What is Technical Research?

There is a lot of information available to us at any given moment. We can retrieve information from the Internet, books, magazines, and television. When doing technical research, the trick is in finding suitable information. What information is needed, where is it located, and what does one do with this information once it is retrieved? To understand how to properly conduct technical research in a workplace, one should have an understanding of primary and secondary data, how to properly document sources, plagiarism, and how to evaluate electronic sources for credibility.

Primary and Secondary Data

Primary sources are firsthand accounts or observations, like diaries or eyewitness accounts, where the speaker or writer was the one who developed the idea or witnessed the event (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 46). Primary data can be more difficult to obtain, as consulting with the primary source may be more expensive or impossible for a variety of reasons. Primary research can be either qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative research involves opinions or feelings, and it gives us an idea of the bigger picture rather than numbers that can be analyzed (NSW HCS Online, 2011, Primary research, para 2). Quantitative research, on the other hand, has data that can be measured mathematically and takes a scientific approach, involving a hypothesis and measuring techniques (NSW HCS Online, 2011, Primary research, para 3).

Secondary sources are those that are indirect or secondary sources of information. They describe events that the writer or speaker did not witness (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 46). Secondary sources compile research rather than being the original sources of the ideas. Generally, most technical research involves exploring secondary data. For example, this blog entry is using secondary research, as I am using data from other authors. Secondary research may involve statistical analysis or information research. Statistical analysis uses readily available information, like census studies or other governmental statistics to determine if there is a need for a project (NSW HCS Online, 2011, Secondary research, para 1). Information research includes all forms of print, like books and pamphlets, as well as the Internet, but these have to be checked for credibility before being used (NSW HCS Online, 2011, Secondary research, para 2).

Documenting Sources

Documentation is when credit is given to another person's work. It uses a citation method that notes whose ideas were referenced and where the ideas were found (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 52).  Document whenever you use someone else's idea.  However, common knowledge does not have to be cited. There is no need to cite an author for stating that George Washington is the first President of the United States, for example.  On the other hand, a direct quotation from Washington should certainly be cited.

How does one document properly? Most fields have a style manual, or a book with rules on how to document and format a paper (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 54). My school, Ashford University, utilizes the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. All of the citations in this blog entry use the APA format. Documentation comes in two parts:  the bibliography, or works cited (or, for the purposes of this blog, references), and the internal citations (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 54).

The bibliography is at the end of the paper and lists the sources used in the research. It has three main purposes: 1) to allow others to use your information path to continue their own research, 2) to show readers which works you consulted, and 3) to give credit to the thoughts, words, and sentences of others (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 54). Keep a list of sources you have used, either on notecard or electronically, and discard any sources that you did not use before placing them on the final draft.

Internal citations are indications within the main body of text of borrowed items, particularly quotations, but may also be used when summarizing or paraphrasing. Throughout this blog entry, thoughts that were borrowed were cited. Citations usually involve the author's name and source's year within parentheses. Indications of page number, paragraph number, or headings may be used as well.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is when one uses another's words or ideas as his or her own without properly giving credit. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism is a punishable offense at an academic institution and will often result in failing a class or, even worse, being expelled from the school. In a professional work setting, plagiarism can result in loss of a job, shaming, lawsuits, and other negative events. While we often think of plagiarism as intentional, it can be accidental as well. Always be sure to properly credit sources to avoid potentially damaging events from occurring.

Evaluating Electronic Sources for Credibility

It can be hard to determine the credibility of electronic sources. Anyone can put information on the Internet. Even major news organizations may use a faulty source and further spread misinformation. There are a few ways that one can ensure credible sources are used.

• --Look for a publication date. Sites with more recent publication dates are more likely to have up-to-date information.
• --Research the author's credentials. Is there an author listed, and if so, is the author highly respected? Check the website for information on the author. If no information is available, consider the reputation of the business, journal, or publisher presenting the information (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 57).  
• --Evaluate the methods and resources used by the author. Are references and links used? If you disagree with the methods used, the source may not be credible. Looking into author's resources, listed in the text and the bibliography, may help you find other credible sources as well (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 58).
• --Critically review the depth and coverage of your sources. Are they thorough? Do they provide opposing viewpoints? If the source appears to only offer one point of view or if there is not enough detail, it may not be very reliable.
• --When looking at electronic sources in particular, look at the abbreviation at the web address.  If it ends with .edu (a school), .mil (military), or .gov (governmental entity), it is likely a reliable (but potentially biased) source. A website that ends in .org is a nonprofit organization and is usually trustworthy but may also be biased. A .com is for-profit or commercial and is almost certainly biased. For this blog, the class textbook and a website for an Australian college were used.
• --Design and presentation do matter. Sites that are well-designed are more likely to feature information that has been treated with the same amount of care (Smith-Worthington & Jefferson, 2011, p. 60). Check to see that proper grammar and spelling have been used.

Technical Research is Easy!

Technical research doesn't have to be hard! Take notes as you conduct your research. Make sure that your purpose is clear. If you need to find primary sources, schedule interviews or conduct surveys. Make observations and support your findings with images and details. When using secondary sources, check their credibility by looking for publication dates, considering the reputation of the author or organization, and evaluate their design and presentation. Be sure to be thorough in your notetaking and document your sources as you go along. Follow your workplace's style guide(s) of choice. By using the tips above, you are well on your way to properly conducting technical research.

References:

NSW HCS Online (2011). Design and technology. Retrieved from: http://hsc.csu.edu.au/design_technology/producing/develop/2662/primary.htm

Smith-Worthington, S., & Jefferson, S. (2011). Technical writing for success (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.