Research for Technical Communication Technical Communication, DAHMEN

Steps Completed before Research Clear idea of job task, scope and resources Identification of audience Identification of general needs of this audience

Three Basic Sources Yourself and your experience  Previous experience with type of document  Previous experience with subject The library/internet  Public, Academic and Industrial libraries  Computerized indexes, databases, bulletin boards ‘the field’  What other people think  Observation  Conducting interview, focus groups, experiments etc…

What next? Analysis  Computer programs  Statisticians Decide what conclusions can be drawn Decide the best way to present your conclusions

Primary Research Observation Interviews/focus groups Questionnaires/surveys

Steps of an Interview Be prepared Stay involved Take good notes/record interview Keep and open mind Take thorough notes

Structure and Sequence 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 Open vs. Closed Probing Questions Nudging probes Clearing house probes Reflective or mirror probes Leading/loaded questions Hypothetical questions

Ending the Interview 1. Offer to answer questions 2. Review and summarize 3. Signal completion 4. Express appreciation and support 5. Plan next step

Survey and Questionnaire Tips Define survey’s purpose and target population  What is being measured?  What background is necessary?  Define audience Identify the sample groups  How are respondents selected?  Can you choose them randomly?

Tips continued… Define the survey method  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? What types of questions?  Open or closed? Develop an engaging intro and provide appropriate information. Make it brief, simple and inviting

Personal Observation & Experiments 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 inquiries The Web Bulletin boards

Electronic Research Tools CDs Online retrieval systems Card catalogs

‘Hard Copy’ Research Bibliographies Encyclopedias Dictionaries Handbooks Almanacs Directories Guides to literature Indexes Abstracts US Publications (Moroccan publications) Microforms/Microfi che

Scenario 1 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 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 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.