Topic 3: Research

Activity 4: Reading – Conducting Research

^{This activity is adapted from Chapter 12: Public Speaking by Terri Johnson (2024) which is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license. In this revised version, we have added and removed content, inserted images, and reworded information to suit this course.}
Hearing the word “research” may make some students want to avoid the task or default to browsing Wikipedia, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In reality, you already engage in forms of research regularly—whether it’s comparing products, planning a trip, or deciding which movie to watch. The goal of this topic is to build your confidence and skills in conducting research, so you’ll feel prepared to find and evaluate the information you need for any project.

Research connects academic, personal, and professional learning, enabling you to comprehend, organize, and apply information effectively. By approaching research with a clear strategy, you can save time, simplify assignments, and connect ideas in meaningful ways. Informed learning helps develop these skills, encouraging active participation and higher standards for academic and professional success.

Information Literacy Model

Information literacy involves the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. One model of information literacy includes four key components: library skills, media skills, critical literacy, and information ethics.

• Library Skills: These skills involve navigating databases, catalogs, and other resources to locate relevant materials. For example, a library database might help you find peer-reviewed articles about Canadian Indigenous art or the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
• Media Skills: Media skills focus on using resources that combine text, images, and videos. Social media, online tutorials, and digital tools are increasingly important for creating and sharing information in today’s Digital Age.
• Critical Literacy: Critical literacy involves analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information. It encourages deep thinking by connecting ideas across disciplines, questioning assumptions, and evaluating arguments.
• Information Ethics: Ethics in research emphasize the responsible use of information, including respecting copyright, citing sources accurately, and protecting privacy. Understanding these principles is essential for maintaining academic and professional integrity.

Types of Research

There are several types of research methods, each suited to different contexts and purposes. This topic introduces personal and professional experience, interviews, internet research, and library research.

Personal and Professional Experience

Drawing on your personal and professional experiences can make your topic relatable and engaging. Personal stories provide authenticity, allowing you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. For example, sharing a personal experience about navigating financial aid as a university student can resonate with peers who may face similar challenges. Professional experience, such as an internship or co-op placement, can add credibility and demonstrate your expertise on a topic.

Interviews

Interviews allow you to gather firsthand insights from individuals with relevant expertise or experiences. They can be formal, semi-structured, or informal. Successful interviews require preparation, including researching the interviewee, formulating thoughtful questions, and setting clear expectations. Open-ended questions encourage detailed responses, while closed questions are useful for gathering specific data. For example, interviewing an environmental scientist about renewable energy could enrich a speech on Canada’s transition to sustainable energy sources.

Internet Research

Internet research encompasses a wide range of digital resources, including academic databases, websites, and multimedia content. Understanding search engine functions and evaluating URLs (.ca, .org, .edu) ensures you use credible sources. For instance, government websites like Canada.ca or university repositories often provide reliable, up-to-date information. Learning to identify scholarly resources online is a vital skill for informed research.

Library Research

Libraries offer access to books, journals, and reference materials that may not be available online. Using classification systems, such as the Library of Congress or Dewey Decimal System, helps locate specific resources. Reference works like dictionaries, atlases, and biographies can provide foundational knowledge, while periodicals and newspaper indexes offer current perspectives. For example, exploring a Canadian library’s archives could uncover primary sources about the fur trade or residential school histories.

How to Integrate and Present Research

Incorporating research into your work effectively involves organizing evidence to support your message. There are four primary ways to integrate research: definitions, examples, facts and statistics, and testimony.

• Definitions: Clarify complex terms or concepts. For instance, when discussing sustainability, define terms like “carbon neutrality” and explain their significance.
• Examples: Use real-world or hypothetical scenarios to illustrate your points. For instance, an extended example could be a narrative about a family transitioning to solar energy to reduce their environmental impact.
• Facts and Statistics: Present accurate data to support your claims. Using statistics like “one in three Canadians will experience mental health challenges” provides a clearer understanding of a topic’s scope. Be sure to explain the source and context to avoid confusion.
• Testimony: Incorporate perspectives from experts or peers. For example, quoting a professor specializing in Indigenous governance or sharing a peer’s account of navigating systemic barriers adds depth and relatability to your research.

Activity 5: Interactive – Dialog Cards Activity

Read the following text, then use the text to complete the following activity. After you complete the activity, please continue to read the text.

Evaluating Research

Evaluating the credibility of your sources involves asking five key questions—Who, What, When, Where, and Why:

^{This activity is adapted from Chapter 12: Public Speaking by Terri Johnson (2024) which is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license. In this revised version, we have added and removed content, and reworded information to suit this course.}

Referencing and Ethics

Properly citing your sources maintains academic honesty and avoids plagiarism. Whether paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting directly, always credit the original author and follow the appropriate citation style. Ethical research practices also include respecting copyright and protecting sensitive information. By adhering to these principles, you contribute to a culture of trust and integrity in academia and beyond.

This detailed approach to research equips you with the skills needed to confidently navigate academic and professional challenges, ensuring your work is thorough, credible, and impactful.

Activity 6: Personal Reflection Journal – Reflection Question 2

Please answer the following reflection questions in any format you like (such as in writing, a video, note form, or a drawing). Save your reflection responses in one large file so you can refer to them later in the course if needed.

Media Attributions

Bogulov, V. (2021, November 11). A pile of letters that spell out the word war [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-pile-of-letters-that-spell-out-the-word-war-MfBnqUOz_qY

Cagle, B. (2018, March 27). Three people sitting in front of a table laughing together [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/three-people-sitting-in-front-of-table-laughing-together-g1Kr4Ozfoac

Gupta, D. (2018, November 12). Man using silver iphone 6 [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/man-using-silver-iphone-6-r8q16QN40Xg

Ri, B. (2021, January 22). White braille paper on brown wooden table [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/white-braille-paper-on-brown-wooden-table-mBRtqyC_Iq0

Schaffner, A. (2023, July 24). A pole with a bunch of signs on it [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-pole-with-a-bunch-of-signs-on-it-qcIkeYYALT4

Visuals. (2020, March 20). Social distancing [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/social-distancing-ZS7Zzn_NnCU