Research tech writing

Research in the workplace solves a problem. Tasked with a problem in the workplace, you may be asked gather the information necessary to fully understand the issue at hand, solve that problem (or offer potential solutions), prove that your solutions are viable, and/or test your solution(s). Doing this work requires different types of research that go beyond simply querying a library database or using Google. You often will need to speak directly to target populations and audiences, and directly contact resources and experts in different professions and in the community. You also may need information in addition to or instead of scholarly resources. Local and national journalism may add context and perspective. Professional experts, government agencies, state and local authorities all may be relevant sources, as are individuals in target populations. Essentially, research in the workplace requires you to think critically and creatively about

• The type of information you need; and
• The best way to get that information.

Your job as a researcher is to address, explain, and/or solve a problem using the most relevant and applicable methods and resources. If a resource can supply information you need, then it is the right resource for the job.

It’s also important when thinking about a problem your researching to keep in mind that you probably aren’t the first person or organization to deal with this issue. Look at other organizations, groups, or communities negotiating the same or similar issue. Research how those groups describe and deal with the problem. The perspective of experience is invaluable to your work.

Assignment

This project asks you to do workplace research into a local problem impacting USF or the surrounding community. Your goal for this project is to describe a local problem in detail using as much information as you can gather from as many different sources as are useful. That means you are looking at research gathered by others (e.g., government agencies, non-profit organizations, professional and academic experts, as well as local sources from USF or the immediate community), but also you will gather your own data by asking impacted population for their perspective. You will produce a memo that reports your findings, giving readers a robust understanding of the local problem you have researched.

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Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Engage with a problem-based scenario similar to those found in the workplace
• Apply research skills appropriate for addressing a specific problem
• Integrate research into a project deliverable
• Practice professional and technical writing and editing skills
• Practice writing for a specific purpose and audience
• Produce a specific genre of professional discourse (informational report)

To complete this project, you will choose a local problem occurring at USF or in the community. You must select a problem from the list below.

Sample Problems:

ENC 2210

• Mental health awareness and/or access to mental health services at USF
• The variety and availability of healthy food choices at USF dining halls
• Vaccination rates and vaccine availability at USF and/or in the surrounding community
• Binge drinking at USF

Once you have selected a problem, you will research the problem, to include the following topics:

• Background information: Put the problem in context. What does the audience need to know to understand why the problem is a problem?
• Explanation of the problem at USF/In the local community: Describe the local problem in detail. What is happening here?
• Causes of the problem: Describe the factors contributing to the problem’s occurrence. Why is the problem happening?
• Impacted Population: Describe the people most directly impacted by the problem. Who is the problem happening to? Be specific. Target a local population that could benefit from intervention.

To conduct your research you may wish to use any of the following methods and resources, or anything else that helps you explain the scope of your problem:

• Newspapers (local, university, national)
• Reports from government agencies, universities, and/or NGOs
• Scholarly research
• Facts and statistics compiled by government agencies and/or NGOs or USF
• Interviews with experts and/or impacted individuals
• Surveys (social media makes doing surveys easy)

Deliverables

Major Deliverable

• A report in memo format that describes your problem in detail using all the research you have conducted. The memo should have the following section headings:
  • Background Information
  • Explanation of the Problem at USF/In the Local Community
  • Causes of the Problem
  • Impacted Population
  • Works Cited with at least 6 sources

Supplemental Deliverables

• Research Plan: A memo that identifies the problem you have selected and your plans for researching it, including research methods and potential sources for each required topic listed above.
• Research Progress Report: An update that describes a) the research you’ve done to date; b) which topics that research applies to; c) what you have left to do before completing a draft