Chapter Seven

Gathering, Evaluating, and

Documenting Information
 Asking Productive Questions
 Personal experience?
 Previous reading?
 Information from friends and/or colleagues?
 Questions for a specialist?
 Keywords for a catalog or WWW search?
 Asking Productive Questions
Remember . . .
 Think creatively.
 Return to this phase.
 Document as you go.
 Planning Your Research Phase
1. Ask productive questions.
 Brainstorm a variety of sources, prepare for each.
 Think broadly and narrowly about your topic.
 Plan your use of sources and narrow as you go.
 Planning Your Research Phase
2. Look for answers.
 Use what’s available—
 Interviews, newsgroups, listservs
 Encyclopedias, e-libraries, abstracts
 Physical libraries, e-journals, databases
 Have a plan (save time, effort).
 Make notes (avoid repetition or cross-check sources).
 Use initial answers to formulate more/better
questions.
 Planning Your Research Phase
3. Evaluate your answers.
 Decide on evaluation criteria early.
 Do a quick preliminary evaluation to spot-
check.
 Skim away inappropriate sources quickly so
you know what you have and what you need.
 Planning Your Research Phase
4. Cite your sources.
 Use your audience to decide on formal or
informal.
 Be clear and credible.
 Err on the side of caution.
 Remember that you represent your company.
 Interview Etiquette
1. Complete background reading.
 Check the encyclopedia, the Web, and current
publications to ensure that you’re prepared.
 Make notes for potential questions during this
phase.
 Interview Etiquette
2. Know your subject specialist.
 Check with colleagues, the library, the Web:
 Qualifications? Approach?
 Potential bias? Reputation?
 Previously written or said on topic?
 Use this in conjunction with background reading
to compose your list of questions (see step 3).
 Interview Etiquette
3. Compose a list of questions.
 Target your interviewee’s area of expertise.
 Use questions that require explanation.
 Acknowledge the specialist’s expertise
 Stay focused.
 Anticipate/prepare follow-up questions.
 Check accuracy by reiterating important
information.
 Interview Etiquette
4. Be polite.
 Call or write ahead of time to request the
interview.
 Try to give a week or two notice, maybe more.
 Offer to submit questions ahead of time.
 Offer to conduct the interview by email if
necessary.
 Set a scheduled time slot (15-30 min?).
 Interview Etiquette
4. Be polite.
 Be on time; finish on time.
 Offer to provide a copy of the final document.
 Thank the interviewee.
 Write a thank you note and send within one
week.
Newsgroup/Listserv Etiquette
 Observe the discussion before you start
asking questions.
 Check archives (and newsgroup FAQ) for
review, if possible.
 Use clear subject lines.
 Keep your message to the point.
Newsgroup/Listserv Etiquette
 Be careful about what personal information
you divulge online; don’t ask others to
divulge personal information without good
reason.
 Pursue extended discussions with one or
two using private email.
Newsgroup/Listserv Etiquette
 Define acronyms or abbreviations the first
time you use them (brb, lol, fye, etc.).
 Use emoticons J, :-O, etc. to indicate
emotion, but be frugal so you avoid looking
silly.
 Don’t flame or respond to a flame in-kind.
The Progression of Research: General
to Specific Sources
 Encyclopedias
 Online catalogs, databases
 Journals, indexes
 Web pages
 Newsgroups, listservs
 Chat rooms, email, interviews