Practical models for technical communication - Shannon Kelley 2021
Why research matters
Research methods for technical communication
Abstract: The fundamentals of research for technical documents are similar to the research strategies for other types of documents. However, technical communication tends to focus less on research for rhetorical goals and more on research for analytical purposes. The primary purpose of research in technical communication is to test a hypothesis. Because research quite often turns up information that disproves your hypothesis, you should allow ample time to revise and narrow your research question. Even a failed hypothesis can produce useful results. Effective research for most technical documents includes analyzing data and studies. Efficient researchers keep detailed notes so they can cite their sources and avoid claims of plagiarism or theft of intellectual property. Ultimately, this chapter guides you in taking responsibility for finding answers, evaluating the answers proposed by others, and delivering the best answers to those who need them to make informed decisions.
Looking Ahead
1. Why Research Matters
2. Steps for Research
3. Primary and Secondary Research
4. Using Sources
5. Effectively
6. Citing Sources
7. Intellectual Property
8. Advanced Research
Key Terms
” analysis
” APA style
” Chicago style
” copyright law
” fair use
” hypothesis
” IEEE style
” intellectual property
” MLA style
” paraphrase
” peer review
” plagiarism
” primary research
” public domain
” secondary research
” subject matter expert (SME)
” summary
” work for hire
Why research matters
As a college student, you’ve likely had considerable experience with conducting research. This prior experience forms a good basis for your research skills as a technical communicator. This chapter reinforces what you already know about effective research, but it takes research a step farther by showing you what’s important and unique in technical communication.
See Chapter 11 for more on feasibility reports.
Here’s a scenario to demonstrate how one might conduct the research process in a professional setting. Jessamyn works for Tomorrow’s Taxi Company. Jessamyn’s job involves researching issues for the company and putting her findings into technical documents so that her boss can make informed decisions. Jessamyn’s boss has asked her to research the feasibility of adding electric cars to the company’s fleet of vehicles. Jessamyn needs to do considerable research about the cost associated with adding these vehicles before she can create her deliverable (a feasibility report).
Research Defined
Fundamentally, research functions the same way regardless of your field or industry: you look for the most credible information to arrive at a conclusion, and you present your findings in a format that meets the audience’s needs and expectations. The techniques you employ while researching an argumentative academic paper and those you use for technical communication are similar enough that you shouldn’t feel lost while reading this chapter. There are, however, some differences to take into consideration.
Ideological concerns or biases do not have a place in research for technical documents. In other words, technical communication does not have room for opinions. In academic writing, your informed opinion often contributes to your conclusions. Frequently, the goals of academic writing are rhetorical—that means your purpose is to convince an audience to see the topic your way. Technical communicators rely less on rhetoric and more on research to lead decision-makers to the best conclusion. For technical communicators, sometimes a failed hypothesis is as useful as a successful one. The technical document you create may recommend further study or taking a different course of action than originally planned.
Research at Work
Back at Tomorrow’s Taxi Company, Jessamyn begins her research on electric vehicles (EVs). Her company has identified an issue with its fleet of cars. Its gasoline-powered cars break down frequently and contribute to air pollution, costing the company money on repairs and missed revenue opportunities. Jessamyn’s boss asks her to investigate whether adding EVs to the company’s fleet is affordable and reasonable.
A professional approach to this assignment means that Jessamyn does not simply decide on the recommendation she thinks is best and find evidence to back up that opinion. Jessamyn needs to do considerable research to find out whether adding EVs makes sense. Rather than leaping to conclusions, she needs to allow the data to guide her toward her conclusions.
Like most people, Jessamyn has a personal preference when it comes to gas-powered versus electric-powered vehicles. These preferences came into play when she decided to purchase her own car. When it comes to the recommendations she offers Tomorrow’s Taxi Company, however, she needs to be guided by data. She needs to consider what’s better for the company. Jessamyn’s job in this situation is to help her company make the best decision. Ultimately, she is solving a problem.
Research and Problem-Solution Writing
Jessamyn thinks through the case of Tomorrow’s Taxi Company. The problem is the cost of vehicle maintenance and fuel. Quarterly expense reports confirm this problem. Jessamyn’s boss has narrowed the possible solutions that she could consider by directing her to investigate EVs. So, her researchable problem has been made more particular—she must find a solution in the form of an answer. Her answer must justify whether or not EVs will save money.
Jessamyn needs to consider the interplay between audience, purpose, and message as she researches a solution. The members of her audience are decision-makers in her business, including her boss, other administrators, and investors in the company. These people aren’t interested in Jessamyn’s feelings on the subject. Instead, they want to be convinced by the evidence Jessamyn finds.
The purpose of Jessamyn’s project is to provide administrators with a recommendation regarding adding EVs to the taxi fleet. This purpose focuses her research. Even if she finds other useful information along the way, she needs to avoid getting off topic in her research. She also needs to avoid biased or inaccurate information sources, even if they confirm her suspicions about whether EVs are a good idea.
Jessamyn’s message needs to be a clear recommendation in favor of or against using EVs. She needs to present this message in a way that is rooted in research. Her recommendation will only be respected by her audience if she can demonstrate that it is warranted by data and clear reasoning.
Having established how to solve the problem, Jessamyn can proceed with her research. She follows a set of steps in her research that she learned as a college student. The next section explains how you can follow a similar methodology for how you conduct research.