Transcript Research for Technical Communication

Research for Technical
Communication
Technical Communication, DAHMEN
Steps Completed before Research
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Clear idea of job task, scope and resources
Identification of audience
Identification of general needs of this
audience
Three Basic Sources
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Yourself and your experience
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The library/internet
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Previous experience with type of document
Previous experience with subject
Public, Academic and Industrial libraries
Computerized indexes, databases, bulletin boards
‘the field’
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What other people think
Observation
Conducting interview, focus groups, experiments etc…
What next?
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Analysis
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Computer programs
Statisticians
Decide what conclusions can be drawn
Decide the best way to present your
conclusions
Primary Research
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Observation
Interviews/focus groups
Questionnaires/surveys
Steps of an Interview
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Be prepared
Stay involved
Take good
notes/record
interview
Keep and open mind
Take thorough notes
Structure and Sequence
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Distinguish between personal
and private information
Vary types of questions
(directive or non directive)
Listen to complete answer
before asking another
Be able to move the interview
along
Types of Questions
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Open vs. Closed
Probing Questions
Nudging probes
Clearing house probes
Reflective or mirror probes
Leading/loaded questions
Hypothetical questions
Ending the Interview
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Offer to answer
questions
Review and summarize
Signal completion
Express appreciation
and support
Plan next step
Survey and Questionnaire Tips
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Define survey’s purpose and target
population
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What is being measured?
What background is necessary?
Define audience
Identify the sample groups
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How are respondents selected?
Can you choose them randomly?
Tips continued…
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Define the survey method
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What types of questions?
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What type of data (opinions, ideas, facts, figures) will be
collected?
How will it be administered?
How will it be collected, recorded, analyzed and reported?
Open or closed?
Develop an engaging intro and provide appropriate
information.
Make it brief, simple and inviting
Personal Observation & Experiments
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Observe ‘master performers’ at a task
Observe ‘novices’ at the task
Record or take images when possible
Workplace research (scientific and
controlled) may be relevant.
Internet Research
Usenet news
 Listservs
 Electronic Magazines
 Email inquiries
 The Web
 Bulletin boards
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Electronic Research Tools
CDs
 Online retrieval systems
 Card catalogs
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‘Hard Copy’ Research
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Bibliographies
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
Handbooks
Almanacs
Directories
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Guides to literature
Indexes
Abstracts
US Publications
(Moroccan
publications)
Microforms/Microfi
che
Scenario 1
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Your team needs to provide training in
Morocco for how to properly install
broadband cables which are made in
Germany. These are completely new
cables which have not been installed in
Morocco before, though they have been
installed in Tunisia.
Scenario 2
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The UN committee on disease control is
concerned about the spread of AIDS in
North Africa, which has typically not been
affected. The spread has been especially
high among drug users. Your team has
been asked to create an information
campaign for this high risk audience.
Scenario 3
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Apple computers wants to break into the
computer sales market in Morocco and has
decided to do so by introducing the iPod, a
portable music devic, to the market. In
order to do so, it needs to make an exciting
website that provides clear instructions on
how to use the iPod to download music.
They currently have a successful site that
does this for a Latin American audience.