Reporting IIExploring a topicFinding information sources

Objectives To identify the goals of good research To formulate questions for research in order to focus a

topic, to explore gaps in information, and to identify relevant stakeholders

To strategize finding information by identifying likely sources and evidence

Identify the goals of good research

What does good research look like in a piece of reporting? (#1)Form groups of 2-3 and start a Word document. Discuss as a group and write a response in 3 minutes.

Background, evidence, analysis

New perspective and understanding through evidence

Research and critical thinking

WYSIATI and other failures of human cognition One aspect of critical thinking - overcoming the

prejudice of overemphasizing what is already known

Explore a topicConcept mapping, writing research questions, finding new perspectives

Women in STEM fields

Women in

STEM fields

Inspirational figures from

history

Local women in

STEM

Dallas/SMU

support for

women in STEM

Workplace realities

Bias?

Opportunities?

Girls in

STEM

Programs

Cultural influenc

es

My example concept map

How do you explore a topic?

How do you discover a new angle?

Protests on campusIn your groups, create a concept map.Come up with subtopics and possible questions.Write everything down – don’t edit yet!Use any means you wish to explore your topic.

Girls in STEMGirls

in STEM

Programs

Attendance Availability

Peer pressure

Cultural influence

Media

Stakeholders

Girls

Parents

Educators

What affects girls’ interest in STEM fields?

Girls in STEM

What programs are available to encourage girls to achieve/enjoy STEM subjects? What age levels? Levels of participation?

Does participation in these programs lead to increased interest in STEM long term?

Are there cultural or peer influences that discourage girls to enjoy STEM subjects?

What about girls in low socioeconomic areas? Need to narrow further to the DFW area? Relevant stakeholders

Girls Parents Teachers/administrators Government Scholarly researchers – sociology, psychology?

What affects girls’ interest in STEM fields?Questions and relevant stakeholders

Protests on campusIn your groups, choose one branch of your concept map.Write a research question about this subtopic. (#2)

Are you describing a problem?Are you covering an event/trend from a new perspective?

Protests on campus

What questions need answering in order to answer your research question? Who are your relevant stakeholders? (#3) What are the various facets of your research question?

Who is affected by this issue? Who might be interested in gathering information about this topic?

What voices are left out of the conversation?

Strategies for finding informationStart with sourcesConsider evidence

Start with sources and evidence

Put yourself in the right place to find information. Think of your stakeholders. Who would be interested

in producing information on the topic? What is the primary evidence?

Studies, data, documents, previous reporting Use other news media org’s reporting only as a starting

place, not as evidence What would it take to prove an answer?

Girls in STEM

Possible sources and possible pieces of evidence National Science Foundation for statistics on girls

enrolled in STEM courses National Center for Education Statistics UTD Center for STEM education and research National Girls’ Collaborative Project and similar sites Gender demographics of local programs Scholarly studies in sociology on the effects of STEM

programming in databases like Academic Search Complete

Interview with a class of girls or teachers in a local program?

Map locations of STEM programs in DFW and compare to socioeconomics of those areas

What affects girls’ interest in STEM fields? Does DFW support girls in STEM?

Finding information – the usual suspects

Personal interview with an expert Public records Statistics Academics, scholarly work Government Research centers, think tanks Public officials, private officials, PR people Organizations – interest, professional Surveys Business docs, budgets Background – specialized encyclopedia Databases – articles, news Newspapers, magazines, books

How to look for sources

Directories Associations Government sources

Library resources including the journalism guide

Citation trails and networks of info

Specialized search engines

Google tricks

Keyword search for topic and…

“LibGuides” “database” “government” “association” or

“organization” “directory”

Related:URL for similar sites

Site:URL to search within a site

Filetype:URL for specific filetypes

Protests on campusWhat sources might you use to find answers? Where is the primary evidence? (#4)You may start to look for sources and/or conjecture what may be possible pieces of evidence.

Confirmation bias #5

What are you expecting to find? How can you actively pursue finding evidence

contrary to your assumptions? (WYSIATI)