Chapter 10 Searching for Information Summary

The main goal of Chapter 10 is to explain why you can and should use field research when collecting information. Field research is a good way to experience and consider the issue through your eyes and by interviewing other people close to issue. Sometimes you can't find the needed information about your topic through print or media. Other times you can't get the whole perspective that you could by doing field research. Even if you have the information you need, field research can only make your topic more strong. Interviewing others is one of the types of field research. Whether it be convenient because that person is around and has knowledge of the subject, or you get to speak with an important person related to your topic, interviews are always a good way to get perspective. Planning and deciding who and what you should ask in your interview can help make it so you get the best information possible. Make questions specific when planning for your interview. Also stay away from general yes or no answers to get the best information. Decide how to conduct your interview and what the advantages/disadvantages of each method will be. Observing everything in your interview can also be useful in collecting information. Figuring out the who, what, where, and why before observing can lead to better analysis. Chapter 10 goes over how surveys can be useful in collecting information.  Surveys help most in the what or who questions. Just like the other topics in the chapter you need to plan accordingly and decide if surveys would be worthwhile for your topic. The  last two ways of collecting information are correspondence and public events/broadcast media.  Correspondence is textual communication or social networks.