© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 1

Finding, Evaluating, Finding, Evaluating, and Processing and Processing

InformationInformation

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 2

Research Research ProcessProcess

Find and Find and AccessAccess

InformationInformation

Find and Find and AccessAccess

InformationInformation

Evaluate andEvaluate andFinalize SourcesFinalize Sources

Evaluate andEvaluate andFinalize SourcesFinalize Sources

UnderstandUnderstandTopic and Topic and

AssignmentAssignment

UnderstandUnderstandTopic and Topic and

AssignmentAssignment

InterpretInterpretFindingsFindingsInterpretInterpretFindingsFindings

AnalyzeAnalyzeDataData

AnalyzeAnalyzeDataData

ProcessProcessInformationInformation

ProcessProcessInformationInformation

1

2

4

35

6

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 3

Understand theUnderstand theTopic and AssignmentTopic and Assignment

Understand theUnderstand theTopic and AssignmentTopic and Assignment

PreliminaryPreliminaryInformationInformationPreliminaryPreliminaryInformationInformation

ProblemProblemStatementStatementProblemProblem

StatementStatementQuestions andQuestions andSubquestionsSubquestionsQuestions andQuestions andSubquestionsSubquestions

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 4

Using Secondary Using Secondary Sources of InformationSources of Information

BusinessBusinessBooksBooks

ElectronicElectronicDatabasesDatabases NewspapersNewspapers PeriodicalsPeriodicals

DirectoriesDirectories AlmanacsAlmanacs StatisticalStatisticalResourcesResources

GovernmentGovernmentPublicationsPublications

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 5

Business Information Business Information in Cyberspacein Cyberspace

InternetPublic Library

Company Websites

News Release Sites

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 6

SearchingSearching

The InternetThe InternetSearch Search EnginesEngines

DirectoriesDirectories

PortalsPortals

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 7

Select Select Appropriate DatabasesAppropriate Databases

Select Select Appropriate DatabasesAppropriate Databases

Use MultipleUse MultipleSearch EnginesSearch Engines

Use MultipleUse MultipleSearch EnginesSearch Engines

Replace ConceptsReplace Conceptswith Key Wordswith Key Words

Replace ConceptsReplace Conceptswith Key Wordswith Key Words

Use Short PhrasesUse Short Phrasesand Single Termsand Single Terms

Use Short PhrasesUse Short Phrasesand Single Termsand Single Terms

Avoid StopwordsAvoid StopwordsAvoid StopwordsAvoid Stopwords

Avoid Words in Avoid Words in the Database’s Namethe Database’s Name

Avoid Words in Avoid Words in the Database’s Namethe Database’s Name

Searching DatabasesSearching Databases

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 8

Use VariationsUse Variationsof Search Termsof Search TermsUse VariationsUse Variations

of Search Termsof Search Terms

SpecifySpecifyLogical RelationshipsLogical Relationships

SpecifySpecifyLogical RelationshipsLogical Relationships

Use BooleanUse BooleanOperatorsOperators

Use BooleanUse BooleanOperatorsOperators

Use ProximityUse ProximityOperatorsOperators

Use ProximityUse ProximityOperatorsOperators

Use WildcardsUse WildcardsUse WildcardsUse Wildcards

Refine Searches Refine Searches as Neededas Needed

Refine Searches Refine Searches as Neededas Needed

Searching DatabasesSearching Databases

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 9

GatheringGatheringInformationInformation

Searching in CyberspaceSearching in Cyberspace

Pull Pull TechnologyTechnology

Push Push TechnologyTechnology

PersonalPersonalAgentsAgents

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 10

Tracking ProgressTracking Progress

Take NotesTake NotesCopyCopy

Search ResultsSearch Results

BookmarkBookmarkWebsitesWebsites

RecordRecordCommentsComments

DownloadDownloador Print Filesor Print Files

Prepare aPrepare aBibliographyBibliography

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 11

Primary InformationPrimary InformationPrimary InformationPrimary Information

DocumentsDocuments ExperimentsExperimentsObservationsObservations

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 12

Effective SurveysEffective Surveys

ProvideProvideClear InstructionsClear Instructions

Use ShortUse ShortQuestionnairesQuestionnaires

Get Easy-to-AnalyzeGet Easy-to-AnalyzeQuestionsQuestions

Avoid LeadingAvoid LeadingQuestionsQuestions

Ask One Ask One Question at a TimeQuestion at a Time

Pretest AllPretest AllQuestionnairesQuestionnaires

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 13

Effective InterviewsEffective InterviewsInterview

ParticipantsReq

uire

dIn

form

atio

n PurposePurposePurposePurpose StructureStructureStructureStructure

Overall LengthOverall Length

Stylistic Issues Stylistic Issues

OrganizationOrganization

Overall LengthOverall Length

Stylistic Issues Stylistic Issues

OrganizationOrganization

Collect InformationCollect Information

Make DecisionsMake Decisions

Clarify IssuesClarify Issues

Collect InformationCollect Information

Make DecisionsMake Decisions

Clarify IssuesClarify Issues

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 14

Types of QuestionsTypes of Questions

Open-EndedOpen-EndedDirect

Open-EndedDirect

Open-Ended RestatementRestatement Close-EndedClose-Ended

Information Quality

Interviewer Control

More

MoreLess

Less

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 15

Preparing QuestionsPreparing Questions

Think AboutThink AboutSequenceSequence

Think AboutThink AboutSequenceSequence

Mix Types ofMix Types ofQuestionsQuestions

Mix Types ofMix Types ofQuestionsQuestions

Ask SmartAsk SmartQuestionsQuestionsAsk SmartAsk SmartQuestionsQuestions

EditEditQuestionsQuestions

EditEditQuestionsQuestions

Rate theRate theQuestionsQuestionsRate theRate the

QuestionsQuestions

LimitLimitthe Numberthe Number

LimitLimitthe Numberthe Number

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 16

ProcessingInterview

Information

ProcessingInterview

Information

Write DownWrite DownYour IdeasYour Ideas

Review NotesReview Notes

OrganizeOrganizethe Materialthe Material

TranscribeTranscribeRecordingsRecordings

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 17

Purpose ofPurpose ofthe Materialthe Material

IndependentIndependentVerificationVerification

Logic andLogic andGood SenseGood Sense

Honesty andHonesty andReliabilityReliability

The AuthorThe Author

TimelinessTimeliness

PotentialPotentialBiasBias

Data CollectionData CollectionMethodsMethods

CompletenessCompleteness

Evaluating and Evaluating and Selecting SourcesSelecting Sources

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 18

Process the Process the InformationInformation

Getting Organized

Reading theMaterial

Taking Notes

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 19

Presenting Information Presenting Information

Direct QuotesDirect Quotes

EnhanceEnhancethe Argumentthe Argument

PreservePreserveOriginal TextOriginal Text

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

EnhanceEnhanceYour UnderstandingYour Understanding

CondenseCondenseOriginal TextOriginal Text

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 20

Documenting SourcesDocumenting Sources

QuotationsQuotationsParaphrasedParaphrased

MaterialMaterial

GeneralGeneralKnowledgeKnowledge

Fair UseFair UseDoctrineDoctrine

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 21

Analyzing Analyzing the Datathe Data

MeanMean

MedianMedian

ModeMode

TrendTrend

CorrelationCorrelation

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter 10 - 22

Interpreting Your Interpreting Your FindingsFindings

Assumptions

Judgment

Valu

es FactsConclusionsConclusions RecommendationsRecommendations