Research Initiated Information
Research initiated information usually evolves
from a need to address a problem or question.
e.g. How do we prevent the spread of disease?
How do we reduce the number of accidents in a given
industry?
How do we reduce spam e-mail?
How do we improve numeracy and literacy skills in
society?
How do we reduce the possibility of the Port Arthur
massacre being repeated?
A researcher formulates an idea to address a problem
and begins researching to discover, develop or invent
something. This process can take several years of
research and trials before they have success.
Unofficial and official information may appear
well before the research is released.
Idea is formed
After reading an article about an
American surgeon who was able to make a profoundly
deaf person obtain some hearing sensation from electrical
stimulation, Professor Graeme Clark generated the
idea to develop a Bionic Ear.
| Timeframe |
Information Type |
Example |
Pre-Development
to
Current -
|
Research and Development
After background reading and many trials
a researcher discovers or develops an idea.
Information can be produced throughout the
development stage |
The development of the Bionic Ear, the
first multiple-electrode cochlear implant
in the world.
The archives at the National Library of Australia
hold copies of: (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8696add.html):
Progress reports
Circuit diagrams
Diaries
Research notes
Experimental and observational records |
Weeks - |
Informal Information
Network of colleagues in the field who are
in contact with the researcher provide feedback
on the research development.
e.g. Conversations
Phone calls
e-mails
Listserv’s
Conference networking |
The archives at the National Library of
Australia hold copies of: (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8696add.html):
Correspondence with colleagues
Meeting records
Photographs |
Months - |
Non Commercially Published Information
(Grey Literature)
This may take the form of conferences, preprints,
research reports etc.
Researchers may present their discovery or
development at professional conferences before
they actually publish it. |
The archives at the National Library of
Australia hold copies of: (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8696add.html):
Research reports
Conference records
Lecture notes
Speeches
Example:
Black, RC & Clark, GM 1980, ‘Biophysical
design considerations of the cochlear prosthesis’,
Proceedings of the 10th International
Congress of Acoustics, Sydney, 1980:
B-2.2. |
| |
Scholarly/academic journals
The discovery or development is published
to be shared with other researchers and scholars |
Clark, GM, Tong, YC, Black, RC, Forster,
IC, Patrick, JF & Dewhurst, DJ 1977, ‘A
multiple electrode cochlear implant’
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, vol.
91, pp. 935-945. |
| |
Trade Journals |
A search in a database found:
Weaver, B 2001, ‘The Bionic Ear’,
Scientific Computing and Instrumentation,
vol. 19, no. 1, pp.16. |
| |
Databases &
Print Indexes
Articles may be indexed in a database or
print index that allows the information to
be accessed by other researchers or the general
public.. |
Database
A keyword search in the Meditext database
found numerous articles related to the cochlear
implant.
Print Index
APAIS: a print index to current literature.
1984 issue.
Under the subject headings “hearing”,
“multiple cochlear implant, “industrial
development and research” found:
Hirsham, M 1984, ‘ The Bionic Ear’,
Ascent, no.3, pp. 16. |
| |
Government Information
The research may be presented and discussed
in parliament or by relevant government committees |
“PARLINFO WEB” contains millions
of documents relating to the work of the Australian
Parliament. A search on this site found:
Kelly Mrs R.J. Thomson The Hon D.S. ‘Question
on notice: grants for Australian inventors’
House of Representatives Hansard, Question
no. 771, 9 April 1981
http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/PIWeb/view_document.aspx?id=170502&table=HANSARDR
Adermann, The Hon AE, Jones, Barry, Question
without notice: Bionic Ear, House of Representatives
Hansard, 25 May 1983.
http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/PIWeb/view_document.aspx?id=435742&table=HANSARDR |
| |
Popular Press
If the research is successful it may be reported
in the popular press.
Examples include newspapers, magazines, TV
aimed at the general public |
Newspapers
Newspaper cuttings relating to the Bionic
Ear may be found in the archives at the National
Library of Australia.
http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8696add.html#s7
IN BRIEF: Bionic Ear developed to help the
deaf. 1979. The Globe and Mail. 12
March, p. 19.
Magazines
‘Past, present, future - Department
of science and technology - Three notable
inventions - Bionic ear’ 1984, Scientific
American, January
Television:
‘Professor Graeme Clark’,
George Negus Tonight, Broadcast 6:30pm 27
May 2004.
http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/profiles/Transcripts/s1117832.htm |
Year - |
Books
The finding may be published as a book or
a book chapter. |
Scholarly
Clark, GM & Tong, YC 1985, ‘The
engineering of future cochlear implants’,
in Gray, RF, (ed.) Cochlear Implants,
Croom Helm, London, pp. 211-228.
Popular
Clark GM 2000, Sounds from silence: Graeme
Clark and the Bionic Ear story, Allen
& Unwin, Sydney. |
Years - |
Reference Works:
The research is summarised and placed within
the context of a particular subject area.
Encyclopedia’s, Dictionaries, Handbooks,
textbooks |
Turkington, C & Sussman, AE 1992, The
encyclopedia of deafness and hearing disorders,
Facts on File, New York.
‘Clark, Graeme Milbourne’ 1994,
in Monash biographical dictionary of 20th
century Australia, Reed Reference Publishing,
Port Melbourne.
Barker, A 2000, What happened when: a
chronology of Australia from 1788, Allen
& Unwin, St Leonards. |
Characteristics
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