Chapter 15 Fieldwork and the Research Report. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights...

Chapter 15

Fieldwork and the Research Report

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 15 | 2

Chapter overview

• The chapter looks at the use of fieldwork, or research done through observation, interviews, and questionnaires

• Looks at the genre

• Examines how researchers design fieldwork

• Then looks at the three methods


The genre of the research report

• Reports are the primary method of communication for natural and social scientists, engineers, computer scientists, and other researchers

• Academic journals publish them

• Research reports follow a standardized form


Research report format

• An introduction—defines the problem.

• A literature review—shows how the question addressed in the research grows out of prior work.

• A methods section—shows how research was conducted.


Research format, cont.

• A results section—reports the findings, using tables, graphs and other visual media.

• A discussion section—interprets the findings by explaining how they relate to the question.

• A conclusion that summarizes the main findings and points out implications.


Sample report

• See pages 478-484 for a sample report, which illustrates the format, as well as the different components of a report.

• See pages 485-486 for analysis of the genre, by looking at each section and examining its function in the overall report.


Designing a project

• See pages 486-487 for a list of five questions to help plan the project.

• What is the general problem?

• What background information is available?

• How can you use background information to help carve out a research space?


Designing a project, continued

• Is there research you could extend?

• What research method or combination of methods best fits your research question?


Writing a proposal

• Proposals are generally done before the actual project is undertaken; page 487 lists the six things explained by proposals.

• The proposal can also become the first draft of the introduction to the research report.

• Many students are required to do a proposal, and get it approved by their professor.


Gathering information

• As noted, there are three ways to gather information for reports: observation, interviews, and surveys.

• We will look at each one now.


Observation

• It’s important to plan first: see pages 488 for a list of questions.

• Vantage point— where to place yourself so that you can see what is going on, and not be in the way.


Observation, cont.

• Many use tape recorders or cameras to get additional material.

• You should take notes, including the setting, people, and your response to the situation.

• Make sure you record the basic facts.

• Later, take time to analyze your notes.


Interviews

Three common situation interviews can be used in:

• Interviews with experts

• Interviews with key participants

• Oral histories


Planning interviews

• Background

• Choosing subjects

• Preparing questions

• Considering the type of interview: in-person is best, but there are three other formats (telephone, e-mail, and online)


Conducting interviews

• See page 493 for tips on setting up and conducting interviews.

• Record the interview, but get permission to do so beforehand.

• Analyze the record after the interview.


Surveys

• Surveys get responses from a number of people in answer to a set of questions.

• There are different types of survey questions, but most of them tend to be closed, such as true/false, yes/no, checklists, ranking, etc.


Surveys, continued

• Describes the process of designing a survey, which includes selecting participants and designing the questions themselves.

• The box on page 496 cautions about the ethics of using “loaded” questions, such as the sample about approving casinos if it reduced property taxes. Loaded questions reveal bias, so the results are also altered.


Methods of conducting surveys

• In person

• By mail

• By telephone

• Online through listservs, newsgroups, or Web sites


Alternate methods


Compiling and presenting results

Four questions guide the process:

• What patterns that emerge?

• How would you explain these patterns?

• What is the significance of these explanations?

• What claims might you make based on your analysis of the results?


Student Companion Website

• Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter:

http://college.hmco.com/pic/trimbur4e

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Chapter 15 Fieldwork and the Research Report. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights...

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