WP#2: Conducting Field Research for Longer Referential Papers
Observations
Survey Questionnaires
Interviews
Purpose of FIELD RESEARCH
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
Gain access
Announce intentions
Take tools:
notebook, pen, tape recorder, camera
Conducting the visit
Observe
Take notes
Reflect
Write up notes
Next we’ll consider
INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
Who to interview?
PLANNING STEPS
Choose person
Schedule interview
Compose questions
Bad INTERVIEW Questions
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:
OPEN QUESTIONS
CLOSED QUESTIONS
Open Questions
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
Request specific information
Examples
“How do you do (name a process)?”
“What does (name a word) mean?”
“How was it made?”
Conducting the INTERVIEW
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
What do you need to study?
What information or opinions do you wish to gain from the study?
Write your questionnaire
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
Checklists
2-Way questions (yes-no)
Multiple choice
Ranking scales
Type up the Questionnaire
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
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 ...
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
