bct8_ppt10in.ppt

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 10 - 1

Finding, Evaluating, Finding, Evaluating, and Processing and Processing

InformationInformation


The Research The Research ProcessProcess

1. Make a Research Plan1. Make a Research Plan

2. Find Data/Information2. Find Data/Information

3. Process Data/Information3. Process Data/Information

4. Apply Your Findings4. Apply Your Findings

5. Manage the Information 5. Manage the Information


Plan Your ResearchPlan Your Research

Learn About the SubjectLearn About the SubjectLearn About the SubjectLearn About the Subject

Target Information GapsTarget Information GapsTarget Information GapsTarget Information Gaps

Prioritize Research NeedsPrioritize Research NeedsPrioritize Research NeedsPrioritize Research Needs


Ethics and Etiquette in Ethics and Etiquette in Business ResearchBusiness Research

DocumentDocumentSourcesSources

DocumentDocumentSourcesSources

RespectRespectProperty RightsProperty Rights

RespectRespectProperty RightsProperty Rights

Don’t Don’t MisquoteMisquote

Don’t Don’t MisquoteMisquote

Don’t SkewDon’t SkewResultsResults

Don’t SkewDon’t SkewResultsResults

RespectRespectPrivacy RightsPrivacy Rights

RespectRespectPrivacy RightsPrivacy Rights


Learn About the Learn About the SubjectSubject

Industry PublicationsIndustry Publications

Competitors’ WebsitesCompetitors’ Websites

Interviews with ExpertsInterviews with Experts


Information Gap Information Gap AnalysisAnalysis

1. Clarify the decision or conclusion

2. Identify subquestions

3. Clarify information requirements

4. Locate existing information

5. Assess the information gap


Data and Data and

InformationInformation

Primary Primary ResearchResearchPrimary Primary ResearchResearch

Secondary Secondary ResearchResearch

Secondary Secondary ResearchResearch


Purpose ofPurpose ofthe Materialthe Material

IndependentIndependentVerificationVerification

Logic andLogic andGood SenseGood Sense

Honesty andHonesty andReliabilityReliability

The Author’sThe Author’sCredibilityCredibility

TimelinessTimeliness

PotentialPotentialBiasBias

Sources ofSources ofInformation Information

CompletenessCompleteness

Evaluating SourcesEvaluating Sources


Secondary ResearchSecondary Research

A Specific CompanyA Specific Company

An Entire IndustryAn Entire Industry

Statistics and TrendsStatistics and Trends

Business IssuesBusiness Issues


Finding Information Finding Information at the Libraryat the Library

BusinessBusinessBooksBooks

BusinessBusinessBooksBooks

ElectronicElectronicDatabasesDatabasesElectronicElectronicDatabasesDatabases NewspapersNewspapersNewspapersNewspapers PeriodicalsPeriodicalsPeriodicalsPeriodicals

DirectoriesDirectoriesDirectoriesDirectories AlmanacsAlmanacsAlmanacsAlmanacs StatisticalStatisticalResourcesResourcesStatisticalStatisticalResourcesResources

GovernmentGovernmentPublicationsPublications

GovernmentGovernmentPublicationsPublications


Online Online InformationInformation

The InternetThe InternetPublic LibraryPublic Library

Company Company WebsitesWebsites


Internet Search Internet Search ToolsTools

Search EnginesSearch EnginesSearch EnginesSearch Engines

WebWebDirectoriesDirectories

WebWebDirectoriesDirectories

Meta-SearchMeta-SearchEnginesEngines

Meta-SearchMeta-SearchEnginesEngines

OnlineOnlineDatabasesDatabases

OnlineOnlineDatabasesDatabases


Search Search TechniquesTechniques

Keyword SearchesKeyword Searches

Boolean OperatorsBoolean Operators

Natural LanguageNatural Language

Forms-Based SearchesForms-Based Searches


Fine-Tune Search Fine-Tune Search

MethodsMethods

Review Your OptionsReview Your OptionsReview Your OptionsReview Your Options

Adjust Search ScopeAdjust Search ScopeAdjust Search ScopeAdjust Search Scope

Read the InstructionsRead the InstructionsRead the InstructionsRead the Instructions

Vary the Search TermsVary the Search TermsVary the Search TermsVary the Search Terms

Employ Search AgentsEmploy Search AgentsEmploy Search AgentsEmploy Search Agents

Understand the DetailsUnderstand the DetailsUnderstand the DetailsUnderstand the Details


Documenting Documenting SourcesSources

DirectQuotes

ParaphrasedMaterial

CommonKnowledge

CopyrightLaw

SpecializedKnowledge

Fair UseDoctrine

Credit Your SourcesCredit Your SourcesCredit Your SourcesCredit Your Sources

Help Your ReadersHelp Your ReadersHelp Your ReadersHelp Your Readers

Build Your CredibilityBuild Your CredibilityBuild Your CredibilityBuild Your Credibility


Primary InformationPrimary Information

• Surveys

• Interviews

• Experiments

• Observations


Survey QuestionsSurvey Questions

Ask Easy-to-AnalyzeAsk Easy-to-AnalyzeQuestionsQuestions

Ask Easy-to-AnalyzeAsk Easy-to-AnalyzeQuestionsQuestions

Pretest AllPretest AllQuestionsQuestions

Pretest AllPretest AllQuestionsQuestions

Avoid LeadingAvoid LeadingQuestionsQuestions

Avoid LeadingAvoid LeadingQuestionsQuestions

Ask One ThingAsk One ThingAt a TimeAt a Time

Ask One ThingAsk One ThingAt a TimeAt a Time

Relia

bility

Validity

Keep the Questionnaire Short

Provide Clear Instructions


Effective InterviewsEffective Interviews

General PurposeGeneral PurposeGeneral PurposeGeneral Purpose

Collect InformationCollect Information

Make DecisionsMake Decisions

Clarify IssuesClarify Issues

Overall StructureOverall StructureOverall StructureOverall Structure

Length and DepthLength and Depth

Stylistic IssuesStylistic Issues

OrganizationOrganization


Types of QuestionsTypes of Questions

Open-EndedOpen-EndedDirect

Open-EndedDirect

Open-Ended RestatementRestatement Close-EndedClose-Ended

Information Quality

Interviewer Control

More

MoreLess

Less


Preparing QuestionsPreparing Questions

Think AboutThink AboutSequenceSequence

Think AboutThink AboutSequenceSequence

Mix Types ofMix Types ofQuestionsQuestions

Mix Types ofMix Types ofQuestionsQuestions

Ask SmartAsk SmartQuestionsQuestions

Ask SmartAsk SmartQuestionsQuestions

EditEditQuestionsQuestions

EditEditQuestionsQuestions

Rate theRate theQuestionsQuestions

Rate theRate theQuestionsQuestions

Limit NumberLimit Numberof Questionsof Questions

Limit NumberLimit Numberof Questionsof Questions


Processing Processing Data and InformationData and Information

Quoting

Paraphrasing

Summarizing


Analyzing Analyzing the Datathe Data

Mean, Median, Mean, Median, and Modeand Mode

Overall TrendsOverall Trends

Cause Cause and Correlationand Correlation

Cross-TabulationCross-Tabulation


Minimize Mistakes Minimize Mistakes and Misinterpretationsand Misinterpretations

Avoid FaultyAvoid FaultyComparisonsComparisons

Don’t PushDon’t PushResearch ResultsResearch Results

Avoid MisleadingAvoid MisleadingPresentationsPresentations


Applying Your FindingsApplying Your Findings

Unbiased SummaryUnbiased SummaryUnbiased SummaryUnbiased Summary

Feasible Feasible RecommendationsRecommendations

Feasible Feasible RecommendationsRecommendations

Logical ConclusionLogical ConclusionLogical ConclusionLogical Conclusion


Knowledge Knowledge

ManagementManagement

InformationInformationInformationInformation

ExperiencesExperiencesExperiencesExperiences

InsightsInsightsInsightsInsights

ResearchResearchResearchResearch

Technology

bct8_ppt10in.ppt