{"id":380,"date":"2025-05-12T17:40:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T17:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom1150publicspeaking\/?post_type=chapter&p=380"},"modified":"2025-07-13T19:31:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T19:31:51","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom1150publicspeaking\/chapter\/research\/","title":{"raw":"Research","rendered":"Research"},"content":{"raw":"When preparing to write or speak about a topic, your first step is to gather information. You will need to do research to ensure that you provide your audience with sufficient background information and support your claims.\r\n\r\nDoing research involves more than finding a few books or articles on a topic; a researcher\u2019s job is to find useful, relevant, and reliable information, which can be challenging. This chapter will help by providing an introduction to research terminology and the research process.\r\n

Primary and Secondary Sources<\/h2>\r\nYou may hear sources described as either \u201cprimary\u201d or \u201csecondary,\u201d and understanding this distinction can help you assess what types of information are useful for your various needs.\r\n
\r\n\r\nPrimary Research<\/strong>\r\n\r\nnew research, carried out to acquire data first-hand rather from previously published sources to answer specific questions or issues and discover knowledge\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nA\u00a0primary source\u00a0<\/strong>is one that is original and first-hand. This has different meanings depending on the disciplinary context, but generally refers to the product of someone\u2019s original work, such as the results of a scientist\u2019s study, or an author\u2019s novel. You may access published primary sources in introductory college courses like this one, and you will definitely do so as you progress in your discipline. Keep in mind that primary sources are generally factual rather than analysis or interpretation, although not in all cases.\r\n
\r\n\r\nPrimary Sources<\/strong>\r\n\r\ninformation that is first-hand or straight from the source; information that is unfiltered by interpretation or editing\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn your research, you more frequently use\u00a0secondary sources<\/strong>, which are articles, books, and websites that involve analysis or interpretation of primary sources. While a scientific study would be a primary source, a magazine article about the findings of that study would be considered a secondary source.\r\n
\r\n\r\nSecondary Sources<\/strong>\r\n\r\ninformation that is not directly from the first-hand source; information that has been compiled, filtered, edited, or interpreted in some way\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nWhether you use a primary or a secondary source depends on our purpose, topic, audience, and context. If you engage in undergraduate research in your junior or senior year and present at a conference, you will be expect- ed to have some primary research. However, for most of your college work, you will be looking for reliable secondary sources. One way to assess the quality of a secondary source is to look at its references or bibliography. A reliable source will cite other sources to support its claims. Likewise, a well-researched speech will provide support for its argument by using evidence obtained from reliable sources.\r\n\r\nMost researchers begin their work by evaluating the current information that exists on their topic. They may look at a combination of primary and secondary sources during this process. Their goal is to find out what is currently known about a topic and where the research may be headed. Students completing a research-based assignment will begin much the same way.\r\n
\r\n

Research as an Avenue for Curiosity<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nAs you think about your course of study, what fascinates you most in the world, and what you'd like to share with your audience, begin to get curious. Get curious about learning more, taking advantage of the Pikes Peak State College library to explore articles from professionals in the field, and keep asking great questions. In the Tedx Talk, examine both the importance of curiosity as well as the approach to this presentation from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs student Abby Graese.\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/_yMar42gdQo?si=x_9UhCUm7t6sxSNt[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n ","rendered":"

When preparing to write or speak about a topic, your first step is to gather information. You will need to do research to ensure that you provide your audience with sufficient background information and support your claims.<\/p>\n

Doing research involves more than finding a few books or articles on a topic; a researcher\u2019s job is to find useful, relevant, and reliable information, which can be challenging. This chapter will help by providing an introduction to research terminology and the research process.<\/p>\n

Primary and Secondary Sources<\/h2>\n

You may hear sources described as either \u201cprimary\u201d or \u201csecondary,\u201d and understanding this distinction can help you assess what types of information are useful for your various needs.<\/p>\n

\n

Primary Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

new research, carried out to acquire data first-hand rather from previously published sources to answer specific questions or issues and discover knowledge<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A\u00a0primary source\u00a0<\/strong>is one that is original and first-hand. This has different meanings depending on the disciplinary context, but generally refers to the product of someone\u2019s original work, such as the results of a scientist\u2019s study, or an author\u2019s novel. You may access published primary sources in introductory college courses like this one, and you will definitely do so as you progress in your discipline. Keep in mind that primary sources are generally factual rather than analysis or interpretation, although not in all cases.<\/p>\n

\n

Primary Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

information that is first-hand or straight from the source; information that is unfiltered by interpretation or editing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In your research, you more frequently use\u00a0secondary sources<\/strong>, which are articles, books, and websites that involve analysis or interpretation of primary sources. While a scientific study would be a primary source, a magazine article about the findings of that study would be considered a secondary source.<\/p>\n

\n

Secondary Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

information that is not directly from the first-hand source; information that has been compiled, filtered, edited, or interpreted in some way<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Whether you use a primary or a secondary source depends on our purpose, topic, audience, and context. If you engage in undergraduate research in your junior or senior year and present at a conference, you will be expect- ed to have some primary research. However, for most of your college work, you will be looking for reliable secondary sources. One way to assess the quality of a secondary source is to look at its references or bibliography. A reliable source will cite other sources to support its claims. Likewise, a well-researched speech will provide support for its argument by using evidence obtained from reliable sources.<\/p>\n

Most researchers begin their work by evaluating the current information that exists on their topic. They may look at a combination of primary and secondary sources during this process. Their goal is to find out what is currently known about a topic and where the research may be headed. Students completing a research-based assignment will begin much the same way.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Research as an Avenue for Curiosity<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

\n

As you think about your course of study, what fascinates you most in the world, and what you’d like to share with your audience, begin to get curious. Get curious about learning more, taking advantage of the Pikes Peak State College library to explore articles from professionals in the field, and keep asking great questions. In the Tedx Talk, examine both the importance of curiosity as well as the approach to this presentation from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs student Abby Graese.<\/p>\n