[Chapter 6, pages 118-119]

I decided to take a trip to Panera Bread for some quality free internet time. I read both chapter 6 and 7 from the Technical Communication textbook. Chapter 6 focused on conducting the research while chapter 7 focused on organizing the information. I really appreciated that those two chapters were strategically placed together.

What I found interesting is the section on research questions and methods. I’ve noticed a trend in both chapters where charts are utilized to clearly organize how to use resources, although I do not agree with a few items listed. The first would be the use of encyclopedias, because it seems to be obsolete, it’s like telling people to pull out their cassette tapes and listen to radio recorded music. I guess honoring the fact that those items still exist is worth the print, meanwhile we can all recycle our old encyclopedias into something more useful, like a handy broom.

Another surprise is that fact that Web 2.0 resources are also listed as a research technique. I find it conflicting when this chapter later emphasizes to evaluate the information to ensure it is correct and unbiased. How can one make sure someone’s blog or their social networking site is deemed as correct and unbiased? Especially when the example provided was, “How are companies responding to the federal government’s new laws on health-insurance portability” and Wed 2.0 resources were listed as a source.  I do not believe there is an APA format for quoting someone’s twitter account, well at least not yet.

Appropriate Research Techniques?