Transcript COMM11003 Professional & Technical Communication

COMM11003
Professional & Technical
Communication
Lesson 9
Information Gathering:
Research and Information Literacy
What is Information Literacy?
• Information Literacy – “the ability to know
when there is a need for information, to be
able to identify, locate and effectively use that
information for the problem at hand”
(National Forum on Information Literacy)
• Will help you become a knowledge expert,
innovative in your work practice, and identify
funding opportunities.
Methods of Information Gathering
• Two categories of research methods:
• Primary – action
• Market research, user focus groups, interviews
• Experiments, prototype development
• Product analysis
• Secondary – reference
• Literature searches (journals, research papers)
• Web-based searches (product information)
Where to Start?
• Keep yourself informed as standard work
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practice (read journals, newspapers, subscribe
to relevant e-mail lists)
Define your topic and purpose.
Define your method of research.
Know your budget.
Find out if there is any information within your
organisation already.
Key Points
• Have a thorough understanding of your
problem.
• Establish a time frame and set yourself
limits.
• Develop a network of knowledge experts.
• Use appropriate keywords when
searching databases.
Readings
• Business Communication: Building Critical Skills
• Module 22 – Finding, Analysing, and
Documenting Information
• Module 23 – Short Reports
• Module 24 – Long Reports
Exercise 9
This week, you should use the CQU Library’s
INFOTRAC database to find five articles that are
relevant to your area of interest.
You should reference these correctly using the
Harvard Referencing Style.
See your study guide for more details.