Conducting Primary Research
Typically, we learn about a subject by gathering secondary information through traditional research methods. While this is a good way to learn, field research is also an interesting way to gain insight about your topic. Field research is considered primary research because you are going out into the field and gathering the information on your own. Collecting data through survey
Assignment: Choose one method for collecting data about your topic. When choosing a method, consider what is most appropriate for the topic. After the data collection is complete, you will then review the written data and come up with a thesis (the argument) based on those findings. You will develop a discussion that includes claims (reasons) that support the thesis and evidence from the data to support those claims. You will engage in a discussion that assists readers with understanding the meaning of these findings in both a local and global manner.
Your essay should:
Be comprised of 750 words.
Include an introduction, body, and conclusion to structure the essay.
Include in-text citations for direct quotes pulled from the data (survey) in proper APA or MLA format.
Remember to include:
Transcript or Survey with results: A typed copy of your interview or survey data needs to be attached to your completed project. Do not include the word-for-word transcript in your essay, but keep it as a separate document that you will turn in at the end of your essay.
Works Cited Page (for MLA) or References Page for APA (APA does not require citations of personal interviews on a reference page.)
collecting data from:
Conducting a Survey
You will want to survey at least 15-20 people for this assignment, though more would probably be required for a statistics or sociology class.
Come up with a list of 10-20 questions.
When putting the survey together, include information at the beginning that explains the purpose of the survey.
Include questions that help you identify the demographic of the people surveyed, so that you can analyze the connections between responses and respondents.
Make sure that you have time to administer the survey, collect results, and analyze the results.
Writing an Essay Based on Primary Research
Writing an essay based on primary research really is not that different from writing any essay that uses sources. You will use the data that you collect as the source in your essay by referencing it the same way you would a secondary source. In other words, you have collected data that is now a source.
Below are some tips to assist you with writing an essay based on primary research:
Survey Data Writing Process
Review your original claim from the previous and then review the interview transcript or survey results to locate the claim you will make about the topic. This will function as the thesis in the essay.
You should include some background information, things like whom you interviewed or surveyed, etc. In other words, in the opening paragraph to help readers understand why this data is credible.
Tell your audience about the details and information that emerged from your data. This information will be the evidence you use throughout your essay to support your thesis and discussion.
Be sure to include your responses to the interview/survey (what you make of the answers you received). I am looking for you to integrate the three types of writing techniques in the essay: narrative, paraphrase, and direct quotations.
Develop what this data has revealed to you about your topic. Why is this revelation important to think about? What broader social context does this revelation fit into?