WP#2:
Conducting Field Research for
Longer Referential Papers
Observations
Survey Questionnaires
Interviews
Purpose of FIELD RESEARCH
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Supplements traditional library research
Adds authenticity to the research
project
Takes the student beyond the classroom
Requires planning and preparation
Leads to interesting resources
Let’s start with
OBSERVATIONS
OBSERVATIONS
Planning the visit
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Gain access
Announce intentions
Take tools:
notebook, pen, tape
recorder, camera
Conducting the visit
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Observe
Take notes
Reflect
Write up notes
Next we’ll consider
INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
PLANNING STEPS
Who to interview?
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Choose person
Schedule interview
Compose questions
Bad INTERVIEW Questions
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Forced Choice Questions
“Don’t you agree that … ?”
Creates a dead end to the conversation
 Leading
Questions
Assumes too much
(agreement, knowledge, etc.)
Good INTERVIEW Questions
There are two types:
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OPEN QUESTIONS
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CLOSED QUESTIONS
Open Questions
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Give the respondent range & flexibility
Generate anecdotes
Generate personal revelations
Allow expressions of attitude
Example: “Tell me about a time when you
….” or “What did you think of …?”
Closed Questions
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Request specific information
Examples
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“How do you do (name a process)?”
“What does (name a word) mean?”
“How was it made?”
Conducting the INTERVIEW
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Take tools (travel directions, notebook,
pen/pencil, tape recorder -- only with
permission though)
Arrive on time
Take notes
Reflect on notes
Write up notes
Be mindful of the person’s time
Now let’s move on to
SURVEY
QUESTIONNAIRES
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES
Focus your study
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What do you need to study?
What information or opinions do you
wish to gain from the study?
Write your questionnaire
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Use 7-15 questions
Gather demographic info first
Combine CLOSED with OPEN questions
Use a variety of types of closed
questions
Types of CLOSED Questions
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Checklists
2-Way questions
(yes-no)
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Multiple choice
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Ranking scales
Type up the Questionnaire
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Start with a centered title at the top of
the page
Have introductory paragraph explaining
purpose for questionnaire
List the name or names (first and last)
of all author(s) on survey form
Continued on next page
Type up the Questionnaire
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Give directions for how to fill out the
survey form
Photocopy the survey questionnaire
(make more copies than you will
distribute)
Distribute questionnaires to appropriate
number of your target audience
The Last Step with Q-aires
Tally questionnaires
(use a blank survey form for the
tallies)
A final word of advice ...
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Though not required for WP #2, all
three types of field research are
appropriate methods of gathering
source information for your research
paper. Nevertheless, the methods
should NOT supplant traditional library
research; instead, they should
supplement your library resources.
Truly the end of WP#2
Photograph of the Main-Line Five used by permission of Ruth M. Wynne