Writing a Technical Research Report Step 1: Doing the Research

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Writing a Technical Research ReportStep 1 Doing
the Research

• Christina Bourgeois, Director, Undergraduate
  Professional Communication Program, ECE
• ECE 2031 Digital Design Lab
• Spring 2009

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Heres the Topic

• Describe, compare, and contrast at least two
  distinct methods of switch debouncing.

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Lets Dissect
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Describe, compare, and contrast at least two
distinct methods of switch debouncing.

• What is switch bouncing?
• What is switch debouncing?
• Where do you look for definitions?
• Where is switch debouncing used?
• Who cares about switch debouncing?
• Whats so important about switch debouncing?

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Describe, compare, and contrast at least two
distinct methods of switch debouncing.

• Are there different methods of switch debouncing?
• How do you debounce a switch?
• Where is debouncing essential?
• Applications

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Describe, compare, and contrast at least two
distinct methods of switch debouncing.

• Find out what methods exist.
• What are the advantages of Method A?
• What are the limitations of Method A?
• What about Method B?
• Method C?

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• Current
• State-of-the Art
• What is happening right now?
• What is the latest and greatest?

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Where Do You Find Reliable Technical Information?

• Types of sources
• Journal articles and conference proceedings
• Trade publications
• Product sales literature and technical manuals
• Patents
• Data sheets
• Codes and standards

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Is Wikipedia Reliable?

• The creators of Wikipedia are the first to admit
  that not every entry is accurate and that it
  might not be the best source of material for
  research papers.

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• In December 2005, the scientific journal Nature
  published the results of a study comparing the
  accuracy of Wikipedia and the printed
  Encyclopaedia Britannica.
• The researchers found that the number of "factual
  errors, omissions or misleading statements" in
  each reference work was not so different
  Wikipedia contained 162, and Britannica had 123.

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How to Find Sources

• General web search (e.g. Google)
• Basic definitions and explanations of switch
  debounce
• Miscellaneous web sites (e.g. users groups, trade
  organizations, web sites for hobby supplies,
  Wikipedia, etc.)
• Georgia Tech library web site
• www.library.gatech.edu
• Search for articles and conference proceedings
  (pick Databases)
• IEEE Explore, Compendex and SPIE Digital Library
  are the best data bases
• Browse on-line journals and SPIE Proceedings
• Browse print versions of technical magazines
  (articles and ads)
• IEEE Spectrum, Proceedings of the IEEE
• Electronic Design, EE Times, NASA Tech Briefs,
  etc.
• Direct contacts
• Talk to experts in the field (e.g. faculty
  members)
• Contact companies and ask for information

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Useful Links

• Georgia Tech Library
• www.library.gatech.edu
• Select Search Find
• Select Articles or Databases to execute
  specific searches
• Best options are Compendex, IEEE Explore and
  SPIE Digital Library
• Select eJournals or Journals to browse
  specific technical journals, or to locate a
  specific article in a journal
• Google Scholar
• http//scholar.google.com
• May have to use the GT library links to get to
  the articles you find
• US Patent Office
• http//www.uspto.gov
• Select Patents and the Search

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Your ECE Reference Librarian

• Ms. Bette Finn
• bette.finn_at_library.gatech.edu
• 404-894-1790
• Office is on the 2nd floor bridge

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Writing a Technical Research Report

• Step 1 Doing the Research
• Step 2 Organizing the Findings

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Basic Characteristics of Technical Documents

• Sectioned so that information is easy to find
• Use of descriptive headings and subheadings
• Visualshow info rather than tell it
• Figures, tables, schematics, diagrams

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Sections of the Document

• Abstract or Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Technical Details
• Discussion
• Conclusion

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Abstract/Executive Summary

• 1 paragraph summary of document
• Explicitly states the purpose and the findings
• Stands alone, gives it all away
• Doesnt refer to specific sections of the
  document
• Doesnt include graphics or citations

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Conclusions

• NOT a summary of the document
• Discusses and analyzes the findings
• Explains the significance of the findings

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What Not to Do

• No personal pronouns
• No contractions
• No slang or conversational language
• The problem was dealt with by
• You can hook up the circuit
• No fluff
• The findings are extremely important
• In todays society, circuits are ubiquitous

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No Vague Language

• NO
• somewhat accurate
• fairly consistent
• very reliable
• YES
• 75 accurate
• within a tolerance of 70 mm
• operating correctly 94 of the time

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Stay Tuned

• Details of the writing assignment coming soon
• Required 30 minute consultation with your GTA to
  review a full rough draft of your report (2/16
  2/27)
• Report due in lab the week of 3/2