The Technical Writing
Process
INTRODUCTION
Data collection is a term used to describe
a process of preparing and collecting data
Systematic gathering of data for a
particular purpose from various
sources, that has been systematically
observed, recorded, organized.
Data are the basic inputs to any decision
making process in business
PURPOSE OF DATA
COLLECTION
The purpose of data collection is-
to obtain information
to keep on record
to make decisions about
important issues,
to pass information on to others
CLASSIFICATION OF DATA
TYPES
PRIMARY SECONDARY
DATA DATA
PRIMARY DATA
The data which are collected from the field under
the control and supervision of an investigator
Primary data means original data that has been
collected specially for the purpose in mind
This type of data are generally afresh and collected
for the first time
It is useful for current studies as well as for future
studies
For example: your own questionnaire.
Primary Research Methods & Techniques
Primary
Research
Quantitative Data Qualitative Data
Surveys Experiments Focus groups
Personal
interview Individual depth
Mechanical
(intercepts) interviews
Mail observation
In-house, Human
self- observation
administered Simulation
Telephone,
fax, e-mail, Case studies
Web
Primary Research Methods & Techniques
Quantitative and Qualitative Information:
Quantitative – based on numbers – 56% of 18 year
olds drop out of college before completing the degree
- doesn’t tell you why, when, how.
Qualitative – more detail – tells you why, when and
how!
Primary Research Categories
Quantitative Research
Numerical
Statistically reliable
Projectable to a broader
population
Quantitative Research Categories
Sampling Methods:
Random Samples – equal chance of anyone
being picked
May select those not in the target group –
indiscriminate
Sample sizes may need to be Large to be
representative
Can be very expensive
Quantitative Research Categories
Stratified or Segment Random
Sampling
Samples on the basis of a
representative strata or segment
Still random but more focussed
May give more relevant information
May be more cost effective
Quantitative Research Categories
Quota Sampling
Again – by segment
Not randomly selected
Specific number on each segment are
interviewed, etc.
May not be fully representative
Cheaper method
METHODS
OBSERVATION METHOD
Through personal
observation
PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Through Questionnaire
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
Through Call outcomes, Call
timings
MAIL SURVEY
Through Mailed
Questionnaire
SECONDARY DATA
Data gathered and recorded by someone else prior
to and for a purpose other than the current project
Secondary data is data that has been collected for
another purpose.
It involves less cost, time and effort
Secondary data is data that is being reused. Usually
in a different context.
For example: data from a book.
SOURCES
INTERNAL SOURCES
Sales Records
Marketing Activity
Cost Information
Distributor reports and feedback
Customer feedback
SOURCES
EXTERNAL SOURCES
Journals
Books
Magazines
Newspaper
Libraries
The Internet
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Primary Data
Advantages
Targeted Issues are addressed
Data interpretation is better
Efficient Spending for Information
Decency of Data
Proprietary Issues
Addresses Specific Research Issues
Greater Control
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Primary Data
Disadvantages
High Cost
Time Consuming
Inaccurate Feed-backs
More number of resources is required
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Secondary Data
Advantages
Ease of Access
Low Cost to Acquire
Clarification of Research Question
May Answer Research Question
Disadvantages of Secondary Data
Disadvantages
Quality of Research
Not Specific to Researcher’s Needs
Incomplete Information
Not Timely
Empirical research is research
using empirical evidence. It is a way
of gaining knowledge by means of
direct and indirect observation or
experience.
In Analytical Research, the researcher
has to use facts or information already
available, and analyze them to make a
critical evaluation of the material. It
involves the in-depth study and evaluation
of available information in an attempt to
explain complex phenomenon.
• Applied research is a methodology used to solve a
specific, practical problem of an individual or group.
The study and research is used in business,
medicine and education in order to find solutions
that may cure diseases, solve scientific problems or
develop technology.
• The modern scientific method is really a
combination of empirical and conceptual
research. Using known experimental data a
scientist formulates a working hypothesis to
explain some aspect of nature. He then performs
new experiments designed to test predictions of
the theory, to support it or disprove it.
• Basic research, also called pure
research or fundamental research,
is scientific research aimed to
improve scientific theories for
improved understanding or prediction
of natural or other phenomena.
Writing Process
(Continued)
• Sort and Evaluate the Information
Once you have gathered your information, review your
material. As you review, highlight key terms and ideas that
relate to the purpose of the report. This highlighted
material may make up the findings section of the report.
Place these in a file and put any irrelevant material into a
background file. Don't discard any information until the
report is complete: circumstances can change and you will
save time if you need to make any major changes, or the
purpose of the report changes.
Organise the Information
Going back to the preliminary headings you drew up, begin
to sort your information under these headings if they are
still appropriate. This step is very important because you
must ensure that you have a suitable structure or outline of
the report. Keep the big picture in mind:
How do the ideas link together?
Are there any gaps in the information?
What headings/issues are the most important, and what sub-
headings might come under them?
You may need to revise your headings/outline during this
process and add new topics or remove redundant or
irrelevant ones. Categorize your information under the
headings and then plan sub-headings. Having done this,
ensure that your sequence of heading and sub-heading is
logical and appropriate.
What goes in your ‘Introduction’?
A good technical report/thesis Introduction does four things:
1. It introduces the problem and motivation for the study.
Tell the reader what the topic of the report is.
Explain why this topic is important or relevant.
2. It provides a brief summary of previous engineering and/or
scientific work on the topic.
Here you present an overview what is known about the problem. You
would typically cite earlier studies conducted on the same topic and/or at
this same site, and in doing so, you should reveal the yawning void in
the knowledge that your brilliant research will fill.
If you are writing a thesis, you’re going to need a full-blown literature
review with very specific details of all of the scientific or engineering
work done on the topic to date. This literature review is usually
contained in its own chapter, particularly for PhD theses. In the
introduction, just present a brief overview, sufficient to establish the
need for your research.
3. It outlines the purpose and specific objectives of the project.
These are linked to solving the problem or filling the knowledge gap
identified above.
Often, the specific objectives are listed in point form. Sometimes a
numbered list is used.
4. It provides a ‘road map’ for the rest of the report.
This is so that the reader knows what’s coming and sees the logic of your
organization.
Describe (in approximately one sentence each) the contents of each of the
report/thesis chapters.
What doesn’t go in your Introduction?
Never put any results or decisions in the Introduction. Just because you are
writing it last doesn’t mean you should give away the story. After all –
it’s called the “Introduction” for a reason.
Introduction
The introduction should offer immediate context for the reader by
establishing why the problem being studied is important and by describing
the nature and scope of the problem. You should describe your specific
approach to the problem and establish how your investigative work meshes
with the needs of the field or with other work that has been done. The so
called "funnel system" of organization—moving from a broad approach to
a gradually narrowed scope—is highly recommended here. Present tense is
also highly favored, especially as you present accepted scientific truths and
the objectives of the report. Introductions range from one to several pages
in length, and must always include a clearly worded account of the report’s
objective, usually at the end of the introduction (Some writers even include
a short separate subsection labeled "Objective"). Most journals allow "we"
or "our" to be used in the introduction, especially as you outline your
objectives or summarize the common goals of researchers.
Here is an ideal opening sentence from a report introduction. Note how it
launches the reader directly into the science:
To produce highly reliable metal-ceramic joints, we must fully understand
the joining mechanisms. Therefore, today’s ceramic scientists aim to . . .
Abstracts
An abstract is a summary of a body of
information. Sometimes, abstracts are in
fact called summaries—sometimes,
executive summaries or executive
abstracts. Technical report may use two
types: the descriptive abstract and the
informative abstract.
• Descriptive Abstracts
• The descriptive abstract provides a description of the report's main
topic and purpose as well an overview of its contents.
• In this type of abstract, you don't summarize any of the facts or
conclusions of the report. The descriptive abstract does not say
something like this:
• WRONG: Based on an exhaustive review of currently available
products, this report concludes that none of the available grammar-
checking software products provides any useful function to writers.
• This is the style of summarizing you find in the informative
abstract. Instead, the descriptive abstract says something like
this:
• CORRECT: This report provides conclusions and recommendations
on the grammar-checking software that is currently available.
• Informative Abstracts
• The informative abstract, as its name implies,
provides information from the body of the
report—specifically, the key facts and
conclusions. To put it another way, this type
of abstract summarizes the key information
from every major section in the body of the
report.
READING MATERIAL
https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/te
xtbook/abstrax.html
http://my.chemeng.queensu.ca/courses/
reports/guide.html
ABSTRACT AND SUMMARY
The abstract is written for the potentially interested reader.
While writing it, keep in mind that most readers read the
abstract before they read the paper .The abstract should
give an impression what the paper will be about. It should
be understandable for non-specialists and even for people
from fields somehow far away. Abstract is short
description of the purpose of the writing, and also broad
specification what is whole document about.
Abstract is always at the beginning.
Summary is also short, but it focuses on showing what
was found out because of the research the paper is about.
PLAGARISM
Plagiarism is when you take (i) somebody else’s idea, or (ii) somebody
else’s words, and use them such that you appear to be the original
creator or author of the idea or words.
Even if you change a few words of someone else's sentence, it is still
plagiarism if the same idea is presented.
Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct that is prohibited by the
Student Code of Conduct.
Plagiarism is unacceptable in all academic work and all documents
authored by you, including assignments and project reports
Therefore, it is particularly important that you recognize plagiarism
and make special efforts to avoid it.
