CHAPTER 4: Step 2 (Research Your Topic)Whether your communication goal is to persuade or inform, you'll need more than fancy words to win the day -- you'll need substance as well as style. Once you're clear on your purpose and audience (Step 1), you'll need to research your topic to uncover information that will support your communication goals. In some ways, research has never been easier -- electronic databases and the Internet give us access to quantities of information unthinkable 20 years ago. But new opportunities bring new challenges. With so much information, how do we find the data we need to meet our purpose? And how do we know a source should be trusted? This chapter gives some basic suggestions that will be useful in nearly any assignment.When you're trying to inform or persuade others, you need to do some research -- there is no substitute for good research. Use the Internet, library, your office files, and your coworkers to get the best information possible and be sure to critically evaluate your sources. With good research, you will find more than you need. Carefully select what is important to advance your argument and you will find that research is enjoyable and rewarding. Stay focused on your purpose and you can stay on schedule. U.S. Air ForceUSAF_f44f343c-b6c9-11e2-b3e2-1be1e2f52354Communication goals are achieved._545deb2e-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3cTo uncover information to support communication goals._545decf0-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3cPlanning & PreparationPlan and prepare for your research._545dedcc-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3cStart Smart -- The day will come when you need to research a topic; how do you approach the task? If you do a little early planning, you'll be more focused and effective when searching for data and information. Start smart and do a little preparation before starting your research. The word "research" is often used to describe a multistep investigation process used to either answer a question or solve a problem. Academic research expands knowledge by finding answers to questions, while nearly all military staff research revolves around identifying and solving problems. This chapter emphasizes information retrieval and evaluation of sources -- this chapter does not describe the end-to-end process associated with academic research (see Appendix 2) or details of systematic problem solving (also covered in a separate chapter). Nonetheless, for simple projects, planning means spending a few quiet moments thinking about your task. For longer projects, you may write out a detailed research plan. Regardless of the scope, think through these issues: Purpose & ScopeReview the Purpose and Scope of the Overall Project_545dee6c-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c1After completing Step 1, Analyzing Purpose and Audience, you should have a good idea of what you need, but sometimes your purpose and scope may evolve as you learn more about the topic. You may also need to do some preliminary research just to get smart enough to scope out the effort. If you’ve been handed a vague topic, try to get some feel for how far you should go in your research, what you can realistically do and where you should stop. DeadlinesAssign Yourself a Deadline for the Research Effort_545def0c-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c2It's easy to get lost in the research process. Don't do an outstanding job of data retrieval, then a marginal job on the presentation because you ran out of time. For larger projects, assign yourself a timeline for the data gathering process.SourcesDetermine if there are unusual sources or knowledgeable individuals you should seek out._545defa2-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c3Get a Vector from the Boss -- Ask the boss if there are unusual sources or knowledgeable individuals you should seek out. Your boss gave you this research problem for a reason -- he or she thought that you were capable of finding the answer. Even if you can eventually find the answer on your own, you might save some time by asking for suggestions on where to start. An early vector could be particularly helpful if you’re working on a practical problem that’s "local," specialized, or requires information that isn’t available to the general public.Knowledge & BiasesAssess your own knowledge and biases._545df038-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c4How Much Do I Know Already; What Are My Biases? Before you look for answers outside yourself, look in the mirror first. You may have valuable knowledge about an assigned research project, but you need to acknowledge and guard against your own biases in working a research problem. It's tough to keep an unbiased attitude; in fact, it's probably impossible if you know anything about the subject in question. The good news is once you realize you may be biased, you’ll be less likely to automatically dismiss data that's not consistent with your personal philosophy. DataGather data._545df0f6-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5Getting Data -- Three things will probably influence how you approach the data gathering process: * Your research topic. * Your experience as a researcher and your expertise in this research area. * Your experience with Internet and electronic database searches. If you are seeking information that's publicly available and are comfortable with electronic search tools, you’d probably start with the Internet. If you are dealing with a local problem, a sensitive topic, or feel uncomfortable with the research process or search technology, you'll probably want to start by talking to another person. Regardless of the order you approach them, here are four major categories of information: CoworkersCheck with coworkers._545df272-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.1CoworkersCoworkers, Base Personnel -- These are colleagues that you can easily meet face to face who may be subject matter experts on your topic. They may also know where you can get valuable information on local projects, even if they are not subject matter experts themselves. The person who gave you the research assignment may also be a resource. Get clear on the big picture and be specific when you ask others for information -- you'll save everybody’s time. Files & ReferencesCheck your office files and references._545df31c-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.2Data from work, in hard copy and electronic files, may be valuable sources of information. Some older files may still be stored in hard copy records in your office, but in most offices, the majority of current information on policies and procedures is contained on computer networks, the Electronic Records Management (ERM) solution (file plan), or electronic record keeping system Paper files are still used for correspondence, sensitive information and older archives; however, the US Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-12-18, Managing Government Records Directive, requires that to the fullest extent possible, Federal agencies such as the Air Force to create and manage records electronically and not in paper. Each office has its own policies, check them out. In addition to office files, larger units typically produce unit histories that can be very useful for staff research. They tell what happened as well as when it happened, why, and where. A good history also shows how past experiences relate to current plans and how recent experiences relate to future plans. InternetCheck the Internet._545df42a-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.3The amount of information available from your computer is nearly limitless. The Internet can be intimidating if you didn't grow up with computers, but set your fears aside -- the payoffs are enormous. The two biggest challenges in using the Internet are 1) finding the information you need; and 2) sorting out what you can believe and what you can't. Anyone with an ax to grind can build a website and there’s no one out there checking to see if the facts are correct. It's an interesting environment -- information ranges from official, credible sources to the lunatic fringe, and websites may appear and disappear without notice. Later in this chapter, we’ll give you details on searching the net and evaluating what you find. Be aware that copyright law now protects all materials the instant it is reduced to tangible form.DiscoveryFind the information you need_545df506-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.3.1EvaluationSort out what you can believe and what you can't._545df5ba-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.3.2LibrariesCheck the libraries._545df6aa-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.4LibrariesLibrariansVirtual LibrariesMuir S. Fairchild Research Information Center (MSFRIC)(http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/lane.htm) has online research tools and traditional library resources that include access to databases, bibliographies, online library assistance, fulltext journal articles, relevant research links and assignment assistance for the Professional Military Education (PME). Internet Public Library(http://www.ipl.org/) organizes websites, e-texts, online magazines and other journals by subject/topic.WWW Virtual Library(http://vlib.org/) has topic-based links to sites usually maintained by universities and research centers.The Library of Congress(http://www.loc.gov) has excellent tools for research, including an Ask the Librarian feature for some topics.The Library of Congress Online Catalog(http://catalog.loc.gov/) includes online help pages on a variety of different searches–from basic to complex.Libraries have unique benefits for the researcher: * Librarians (real, honest-to-goodness humans!) who can help you find information and give basic research advice. * Free access to books and periodicals -- some of which may be available on the Internet. * Access to the Internet and other electronic databases not always free to the public. * Interlibrary loans that let you borrow nearly any book in print -- even at small libraries Though the Internet is a convenient source of information, you may eventually run into a point where the information you need is not available on the Internet, but it may still be found in books and periodicals, available for use freely at your local library. Libraries can also be of assistance in evaluating the quality of the information since most content in a library has been reviewed by someone other than the author. The end result is less trash and outright errors than you find out on the Internet. You will find a wealth of resources at your local base, city, or college and university libraries. Even if you can't borrow books, many of them allow nonstudents to visit and read books. "Virtual libraries" are another important resource -- they're websites that give you access to several library resources. Though these can be reached through an Internet browser, the information meets the same quality standards as the material in the physical library. Search Engines & DatabasesUse search engines and databases._545df75e-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.5Search EnginesSearch engines and Internet browsers are excellent tools to start your research but there are cautions. Search engines look for and find only what you ask of them -- they do not evaluate the quality of the source. This is a risky venture for most research that you will be called upon to generate in your career.Academic DatabasesA better option is to use the academic databases provided by your local university library, if you can get access, or through the MSFRIC for students and faculty enrolled in Air University courses. Academic databases contain thousands of rigorous, peer-reviewed articles that are suitable for substantiating claims with research-based evidence. Internet Starting PointsThere are many starting points on the Internet which may introduce you to your topic and/or point you to important resources. Reputable sources are those with verifiable, researched information, such as found in virtual libraries and library databases. There are also a host of shared content sites, such as wikis, that may also get you started; however, be warned that information from public sites where the content is generated by anyone with access to the internet should be questioned and subjected to verification before becoming that key point in your paper or presentation. Remember, starting points are best for getting to know some basics about your topic so you can refine your search engine terms to find reputable sources.WikipediaTM(http://www.wikipedia.org/) is considered by many to not be citable in a formal research paper, due to the anonymous nature of contributors. However, it often proves a very useful introduction to a subject and in the margin or at the bottom of the article there are usually links to usable sources, sometimes primary sources.Yahoo!TM Directory(http://dir.yahoo.com/) is an example of a directory of topics and subtopics, with links to references, to survey the resources available for a given topic.Open Directory Project(http://www.dmoz.org/) is another extensive directory of links organized by topic.Congressional Research Service (CRS)reports, short summaries written by subject matter experts at the Library of Congress, are excellent starting points for becoming familiar with a topic. See the government resources section later for information on finding CRS reports.GoogleIf you do not know exactly what you want, you'll need to use a search engine to find websites that have useful information. Search engines use key words and phrases to search the Internet. Some allow you to type in questions and most have catalogs that sort a limited number of sites by topic. For whichever search engine you’re using, look first for a link to "advanced" search tools on that search engine. You may also want to do a search for hints and tips for using that search engine. Getting to know your search engine may greatly improve your search results as well as speed up your search. One popular search engine is GoogleTM which can be found by typing "www.Google.com" into your Internet browser. Once you are at the site, type in a few words or phrases that describe the main concepts of a topic. GoogleTM only returns web pages that contain all the words you type in, making it easy to refine or narrow your search. It will definitely be worth your time to search for hints and tips on doing GoogleTM searches. Much of what you learn will also carry over to other search engines.Search engines and database searches were once the realm of only the experienced Internet surfer. Today, finding relevant, quality information is fairly simple. Simply choose a search engine, enter what you are looking for into the search window and select enter. Within a fraction of a second the search engine will typically find scores of resources for you in an instant. From this basic search, you can conduct your preliminary research, find outlying sources and different views, or refine your search criteria with the terms you find from each successive search. EvaluationEvaluate your sources._545df81c-f811-11e7-ba83-71e5ea215f3c5.5.1Primary SourcesA primary source is a first-hand account of an historical event, a physical artifact or record of that event or a description of research written by the people that actually performed it.Secondary SourcesA secondary source is one step removed from the event or research. It documents the findings of someone else who took the time to review primary sources.Tertiary SourcesA tertiary source summarizes findings published in secondary sources.When evaluating a source, one factor to consider is the distance between the writer and his or her subject. Since people and their research are often misquoted, it’s better to refer back to original material than rely on someone else's interpretation of existing work. This is true for research published in books and print journals, as well as Internet sites. The material you find can be classified as either a primary, secondary or tertiary source... In general, primary and secondary sources are considered more reliable than tertiary sources. Each level of interpretation can introduce potential errors or bias and ideas can be misquoted or quoted out of context. On the other hand, sometimes a tertiary source might be useful to get a "big picture view" of a topic before you start slogging through primary and secondary sources. 2018-01-12http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/saf_cio_a6/publication/afh33-337/afh33-337.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net