edtechdev/chatbotfiles · Datasets at Hugging Face

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a website. Look up the author, and see if they have written anything else and if there are any obvious biases
present in that writing. As an example, if you find a website about vaccinations and autism, and this website
was put up by a parent group that opposes vaccinations, you have found information that has biases built in
from the start. The point of view presented is most likely one-sided, and thus you need to look for more
balanced sources to learn if there is in fact some relationship between childhood vaccinations and the onset of
autism. This is just an example; you can find sources ranging from reasonably trustworthy to totally
untrustworthy on any topic.
Interpretation
Interpretation is the task of drawing inferences from the facts that you collect in your research. It is a search
for the broader meaning of your research findings. This is where you try to make sense of what you
discovered. In this part of your research, you should discuss the most important knowledge you gained about
your topic from your sources. Here is where you go back to your hypothesis and research questions to discuss
your findings and whether or not your hypothesis is correct.
Significance
Remember that earlier it was stated, “Life is a series of problems needing solutions.” Consequently, an
increased amount of inquiry leads to progress as we continue to expand our knowledge base on a variety of
topics. Whatever you find in your research study has significance, as it adds to our knowledge in a particular
area. In this section of your writing, it is important to describe the process by which you located your
information and then provide advice to other researchers on how to effectively and efficiently find information
on this topic. This allows for the continuation of inquiry and the development of more data and knowledge.
This is where you communicate to others the new knowledge you discover in your research.

I Did the Research—How Do I Present It?
Estimated completion time: 12 minutes.
Questions to consider:
• How do I communicate my research findings?
• What are the elements of a good oral presentation?
• How do I successfully prepare a visual presentation?

Oral Presentations
When giving an oral presentation, you should pay special attention to voice, body, and attitude. If you take the
following tips into consideration, you should do a fine job of conveying your ideas to an audience.
Voice
Voice is more than the sum of the noises you make as you speak. Pay attention to inflection, which is the
change in pitch or loudness of your voice. You can deliberately use inflection to make a point, to get people’s
attention, or to make it very obvious that what you are saying right now is important. You can also change the
volume of your voice. Speak too softly, and people will think you are shy or unwilling to share your ideas; speak
too loudly, and people will think you are shouting at them. Control your volume to fit the audience.
Some people have a tendency to rush through their presentations. This means they speed up their speech,
and the audience has a difficult time following along. Take care to control the speed at which you give a
presentation so that everyone can listen comfortably. Also, to add to the comfort of the listeners, it is always
nice to use a conversational tone in a presentation.

404

A • Conducting and Presenting Research

Body
This includes such components as stance, gesture, and eye contact—in other words, overall body language.
How do you stand when you are giving a presentation? Do you move around and fidget? Do you look down at
the ground or stare at your note cards? Are you chewing gum or sticking your hands in and out of your
pockets nervously? Obviously, you don’t want to do any of these things. Make eye contact as often as possible.
Stand in a comfortable manner, but don’t fidget. Use gestures sparingly to make certain points.
Attitude
Attitude is everything. Your enthusiasm for your presentation will prime the audience. If you are bored by your
own words, the audience will be yawning. If you are jazzed by what you have to offer, they will sit up in their
seats and listen intently. Also, be interested in your audience. Let them know that you are excited to share your
ideas with them because they are worth your effort.

Visual Presentations
You might also think about using technology to make your presentation. Perhaps you will do a slide
presentation in addition to orally communicating your ideas to your class or another group. Keep in mind that
the best presentations are those with minimal words or pictures on the screen, just enough to illustrate the
information conveyed in your oral presentation. Do a search on lecture slides or presentation slides to find
myriad suggestions on how to create them effectively. You may also create videos to communicate what you
found in your research. Today, there are many different ways to take the information you found and create
something memorable with which to share your knowledge.
When you are making a presentation that includes a visual component, pay attention to three elements:
design, method, and function.
Design
The design includes such elements as size, shape, color, scale, and contrast. You have a vast array of options
for designing a background or structuring the visual part of your presentation, whether online or offline.
Method
The method is how you visually present your ideas. Will it be better to show your ideas by drawing a picture,
including a photograph, using clip art, or showing a video? Or will it be more powerful to depict your ideas
through a range of colors or shapes? These decisions you make will alter the impact of your presentation. Will
you present your ideas literally, as with a photograph, or in the abstract, as in some artistic rendition of an
idea? For instance, if you decide to introduce your ideas symbolically, a picture of a pond surrounded by tall
trees may be the best way to present the concept of a calm person.
Function
The function is the purpose of the visual part of your presentation. Are you telling a story? Communicating a
message? Creating movement for the audience to follow? Summarizing an idea? Motivating people to agree
with an idea? Supporting and confirming what you are telling your audience? Knowing the function of the
visual element of your presentation will make your decisions about design and method more meaningful and
successful.

Access for free at openstax.org

B • Recommended Readings

B

405

Recommended Readings

No list of this nature can be all-inclusive, so read online summaries and ask around before you devote time
and effort to resources related to thinking. Even a bad book can teach valuable lessons (such as how to be
more selective), but you also don’t want to waste your limited time.
• Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques by Michael Michalko. A former U.S. Army officer

a website. Look up the author, and see if they have written anything else and if there are any obvious biases

present in that writing. As an example, if you find a website about vaccinations and autism, and this website

was put up by a parent group that opposes vaccinations, you have found information that has biases built in

from the start. The point of view presented is most likely one-sided, and thus you need to look for more

balanced sources to learn if there is in fact some relationship between childhood vaccinations and the onset of

autism. This is just an example; you can find sources ranging from reasonably trustworthy to totally

untrustworthy on any topic.

Interpretation

Interpretation is the task of drawing inferences from the facts that you collect in your research. It is a search

for the broader meaning of your research findings. This is where you try to make sense of what you

discovered. In this part of your research, you should discuss the most important knowledge you gained about

your topic from your sources. Here is where you go back to your hypothesis and research questions to discuss

your findings and whether or not your hypothesis is correct.

Significance

Remember that earlier it was stated, “Life is a series of problems needing solutions.” Consequently, an

increased amount of inquiry leads to progress as we continue to expand our knowledge base on a variety of

topics. Whatever you find in your research study has significance, as it adds to our knowledge in a particular

area. In this section of your writing, it is important to describe the process by which you located your

information and then provide advice to other researchers on how to effectively and efficiently find information

on this topic. This allows for the continuation of inquiry and the development of more data and knowledge.

This is where you communicate to others the new knowledge you discover in your research.

I Did the Research—How Do I Present It?

Estimated completion time: 12 minutes.

Questions to consider:

• How do I communicate my research findings?

• What are the elements of a good oral presentation?

• How do I successfully prepare a visual presentation?

Oral Presentations

When giving an oral presentation, you should pay special attention to voice, body, and attitude. If you take the

following tips into consideration, you should do a fine job of conveying your ideas to an audience.

Voice

Voice is more than the sum of the noises you make as you speak. Pay attention to inflection, which is the

change in pitch or loudness of your voice. You can deliberately use inflection to make a point, to get people’s

attention, or to make it very obvious that what you are saying right now is important. You can also change the

volume of your voice. Speak too softly, and people will think you are shy or unwilling to share your ideas; speak

too loudly, and people will think you are shouting at them. Control your volume to fit the audience.

Some people have a tendency to rush through their presentations. This means they speed up their speech,

and the audience has a difficult time following along. Take care to control the speed at which you give a

presentation so that everyone can listen comfortably. Also, to add to the comfort of the listeners, it is always

nice to use a conversational tone in a presentation.

404

A • Conducting and Presenting Research

Body

This includes such components as stance, gesture, and eye contact—in other words, overall body language.

How do you stand when you are giving a presentation? Do you move around and fidget? Do you look down at

the ground or stare at your note cards? Are you chewing gum or sticking your hands in and out of your

pockets nervously? Obviously, you don’t want to do any of these things. Make eye contact as often as possible.

Stand in a comfortable manner, but don’t fidget. Use gestures sparingly to make certain points.

Attitude

Attitude is everything. Your enthusiasm for your presentation will prime the audience. If you are bored by your

own words, the audience will be yawning. If you are jazzed by what you have to offer, they will sit up in their

seats and listen intently. Also, be interested in your audience. Let them know that you are excited to share your

ideas with them because they are worth your effort.

Visual Presentations

You might also think about using technology to make your presentation. Perhaps you will do a slide

presentation in addition to orally communicating your ideas to your class or another group. Keep in mind that

the best presentations are those with minimal words or pictures on the screen, just enough to illustrate the

information conveyed in your oral presentation. Do a search on lecture slides or presentation slides to find

myriad suggestions on how to create them effectively. You may also create videos to communicate what you

found in your research. Today, there are many different ways to take the information you found and create

something memorable with which to share your knowledge.

When you are making a presentation that includes a visual component, pay attention to three elements:

design, method, and function.

Design

The design includes such elements as size, shape, color, scale, and contrast. You have a vast array of options

for designing a background or structuring the visual part of your presentation, whether online or offline.

Method

The method is how you visually present your ideas. Will it be better to show your ideas by drawing a picture,

including a photograph, using clip art, or showing a video? Or will it be more powerful to depict your ideas

through a range of colors or shapes? These decisions you make will alter the impact of your presentation. Will

you present your ideas literally, as with a photograph, or in the abstract, as in some artistic rendition of an

idea? For instance, if you decide to introduce your ideas symbolically, a picture of a pond surrounded by tall

trees may be the best way to present the concept of a calm person.

Function

The function is the purpose of the visual part of your presentation. Are you telling a story? Communicating a

message? Creating movement for the audience to follow? Summarizing an idea? Motivating people to agree

with an idea? Supporting and confirming what you are telling your audience? Knowing the function of the

visual element of your presentation will make your decisions about design and method more meaningful and

successful.

Access for free at openstax.org

B • Recommended Readings

B

405