Chapter 8
Topic Research: Gathering Materials and Evidence
By Boundless
Gathering information can help speakers gain credibility and make their speech current and relevant.
When you begin the research process, explore a variety of sources to discover the most useful information.
Start the research process early, consult a bibliography to find credible sources, and evaluate those sources critically.
Internet search engines are powerful tools for delivering easily accessible sources of information in the research process.
The Internet can provide you with a wealth and variety of resources for your research process.
Given the widespread authorship of the Internet, carefully evaluate all Internet sources for credibility, reliability, bias and accuracy.
Prepare for your interview by researching your interview subject and coming up with a list of prepared questions.
Listen to your interviewee, ask questions, respect boundaries, avoid leading questions, and don't interrupt to ensure a successful interview.
Content analysis is an essential part of the follow-up, in order to summarize who said what and when.