Skim Text 5B “How to Use a Computer for Research” and try to understand what it is about. Give a brief overview of its structure and contents.

Text 5B. HOW TO USE A COMPUTER FOR RESEARCH

As technology continues to advance, increasing numbers of tasks will be done by computer. An example is in the area of research. Computer research has its flaws, but by learning how to do it prop­erly, you will be able to get information efficiently.

Instructions.

1. Choose a computer with high-speed Internet service. A broad­band connection will allow you to surf the web faster and get more research done. Go to a library if you do not have a high-speed con­nection at home.

2. Take notes right on the computer. Open a blank document, us­ing Microsoft Word for instance, and type your notes rather than hand-write them, which can be faster and more legible. You can also copy and paste text from a site right into your notes to save time and ensure accuracy.

3. Look at the Internet sources with a critical eye. Although the web offers a vast amount of useful knowledge, it also contains a lot of inaccurate, biased material. The majority of your research should be from credible sources and professional texts. The Internet sources that link back to a text are sometimes more credible.

4. Save your documents often. Press the “Ctrl” key and the “S” key simultaneously to save documents and prevent losing data due to a computer crash or error.

5. Do not get distracted. Close all social networking sites and instant messaging programs, as it is easy to lose focus while on the computer. By doing this, you may be able to research more efficient­ly­

As computers become more sophisticated, researchers have more tools at their disposal to conduct their research.

Solving Mathematical Equations. Scientific research often re­quires that complex mathematical equations be solved in order to determine if data is valid or if a certain structure of molecules will remain stable. Computers are integral to this calculation process since scientists can write software programs specifically to provide answers to such questions. This removes the element of human error, which can cost research institutions millions of dollars in fixing a product that was created with even the smallest amount of flawed data.

Database Technology. Computing has advanced the way re­searchers conduct literature searches, the initial process of finding existing research on the investigator’s subject. Instead of thumbing through bound texts in a library, databases allow researchers to quickly locate articles about their research from multiple disciplines from anywhere they can access the Internet.

Library Research. Most sizable library systems now have their information online. Rather than using the card catalog to locate a specific book, library patrons can now find and reserve books via a computer account linked to their library card. Libraries also offer links to specific research sites that patrons may not otherwise be aware of. Access to dictionaries, encyclopedias and other research aids are also options via library websites that have reduced the need to travel to the library in search of a particular piece of information.

Climate Models. Climate scientists use computers to create com­plex models of the earth’s environment, helping to predict both short term weather and long term climate trends. By inputting historical data and extrapolating future trends, scientists can predict the climate for both the short and long term.

Product Testing. Determining the toxicity of products can be dif­ficult, but computers can make it easier. Scientists have built com­puter models that mimic the body’s reaction to pharmaceutical drugs and environmental toxins, streamlining the approval of lifesaving drugs and helping to assess environmental damage.

Looking at the Stars. Astronomers have been using computer technology for many years to look at the heavens and explore the world around us. Astronomers feed raw data into large supercomput­ers and use those data to determine the position of stars and even check the atmospheric composition of faraway planets.

Modelling Human Behaviour. Social scientists also make use of computer technology. This computer technology is used to model the behaviour of large groups of people, helping scientists understand why people behave the way they do.

Computers are used for many different reasons and are very valu­able in many aspects of research. Whether you are using CD ROM programs, the Internet or your own statistics, computers can be cru­cial when you want to start or finish a research programme [Moore, 2010].