Thinking Critically about the Research Process

Chapter 7
Thinking Critically about the
Research Process
Technical Communication,
13th Edition
John M. Lannon
Laura J. Gurak

Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives
 Think critically about the research process
 Differentiate between procedural stages and

inquiry stages of research
 Differentiate between primary and secondary
research
 Explore online secondary sources using
various search technologies
 Explore traditional secondary sources (books,
periodicals, reference works)

Learning Objectives (continued)
 Explore primary sources (inquiries,

interviews, surveys)
 Understand copyright in relation to research
practices


The Research Process
Major decisions in the workplace are based on
careful research, with the findings recorded in
a written report. These decisions require you to
think critically about each step of the process
and about the information you gather for your
research.


The Research Process (continued)
Following are the procedural stages in the
research process:


The Research Process (continued)
Following are the critical thinking stages in the
research process:


Asking the Right Questions
The answers you uncover will only be as good
as the questions you ask:


Exploring a Balance of Views
Instead of settling for the most comforting or
convenient answer, pursue the best answer.
Consider a balance of perspectives from
up-to-date and reputable sources:


Achieving Adequate
Depth in Your Search
Balanced research examines a broad range of
evidence; thorough research, however,
examines that evidence in sufficient depth.
There are three levels of information:
At the surface level are publications from the popular

media, designed for general readers.
At the moderate level are trade, business, and
technical publications, designed for moderately
informed to specialized readers.
At the deepest level is specialized literature, designed
for practicing professionals.

Achieving Adequate Depth in
Your Search (continued)
Do research at all three levels to achieve
adequate depth:


Evaluating Your Findings
Not all findings have equal value. Some
information might be distorted, incomplete,
misleading, or biased. Ask yourself these
questions as you evaluate your sources:
Is this information accurate, reliable, and relatively

unbiased?
Do the facts verify the claim?
How much of the information is useful?
Is this the whole or the real story?
Do I need more information?


Interpreting Your Findings
Once you have decided which of your findings
seem legitimate, you need to decide what they
all mean by asking these questions:
What are my conclusions and do they address my

original research question?
Do any findings conflict?
Are other interpretations possible?
Should I reconsider the evidence?
What, if anything, should be done?


Primary versus
Secondary Sources
 Primary research means getting information directly

from the source by conducting interviews and
surveys and by observing people, events, or
processes in action.
 Secondary research is information obtained second
hand by reading what other researchers have
compiled in books and articles in print or online.
 Combine primary and secondary research. Start with
secondary research, but expand on what others have
already learned and add credibility to your research
by conducting primary research.

Exploring Secondary Sources
Secondary sources include:
Web sites
online news outlets and magazines
blogs and wikis
books in the library
journal, magazine, and newspaper articles
government publications
other public records


Web-based Secondary Sources
To find various sites on the Web, use two basic
tools: subject directories and search engines .
Subject directories are indexes compiled by editors

and others who sift through Web sites and compile the
most useful links.
Search engines, such as Yahoo and Google, scan for
Web sites containing key words. When using search
engines, be sure to adequately refine your search to
avoid too many results.


Web-based Secondary Sources
(continued)
 Wikipedia is a popular Web-based source,

but use it only as a starting point, as
Wikipedia is not peer-reviewed and contains
many errors.
 Other Web-based secondary sources include:
general, commercial, and academic Web
sites; government Web sites; online news
outlets and magazines; blogs; wikis; internet
forums and electronic mailing lists; e-libraries;
and periodical databases.

Guidelines for Online Research
When conducting online research, keep the
following guidelines in mind:
Expect limited results from any one search engine or

subject directory.
When using a search engine, select keywords or
search phrases that are varied and technical rather than
general.
When using Wikipedia or other online encyclopedias,
check out the footnotes and other citations.
Consider the domain type (where the site originates).

Guidelines for Online Research
(continued)
 Identify the site’s purpose and sponsor.
 Use bookmarks and hotlists for quick access to

favorite Web sites.
 Save or print what you need before it changes or
disappears.
 Download only what you need; use it ethically; obtain
permission; and credit your sources.


Traditional Secondary Sources
 Traditional secondary research tools are still

of great value. Most hard-copy secondary
sources are carefully reviewed and edited
before they are published.
 Locate hard-copy sources by using your
library’s online public access catalog (OPAC).
 Traditional secondary sources include: books
and periodicals; reference works; government
publications; and gray literature (pamphlets,
brochures, and other documents not found at
the library, but which may be useful).

Exploring Primary Sources
Primary sources include unsolicited inquiries,
informational interviews, surveys, and
observations or experiments:
Unsolicited inquiries include letters, phone calls, or

email inquiries to experts or others who can clarify or
supplement information you already have.
Informational interviews allow you to talk with an
expert on your subject and uncover more in-depth
information than unsolicited inquiries can. When
conducting interviews, plan and prepare ahead, be
courteous, avoid loaded questions, listen actively, and
take good notes.

Exploring Primary Sources
(continued)
 Surveys allow you to achieve a wider range of

viewpoints by sending survey questionnaires to a
sample group of people within a target population.
When conducting a survey, keep the questionnaire
short, ask questions that can be tabulated, and keep
your questions unbiased and unambiguous.
 Observations and experiments allow you to
uncover information my making site visits or
conducting controlled tests. When conducting
observations and experiments, follow a careful plan,
try to avoid bias, and record results accurately and
completely.

Review Questions
1. What are the four procedural stages of the
research process?
2. What are the five critical thinking stages in
the research process?
3. What are the three levels of depth in the
research process?
4. What is the difference between evaluating
findings and interpreting findings?
5. What are primary and secondary research?


Review Questions (continued)
6. What are the two ways of locating Webbased secondary sources?
7. What cautions should you observe when
using Google and Wikipedia?
8. What are five other Web-based secondary
sources?
9. What tool should you use to locate
traditional secondary sources at the library?
10. What are the four types of primary sources?

Thinking Critically about the Research Process

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