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IT Skills
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Quite simply, if you use a computer, in the long run you will save yourself an immense amount of time. You will also be able to congratulate yourself that you have come to terms with computer technology.
Learning to use new technology frightens some people, especially when they see quite young children effortlessly manipulate the keyboard and produce 'all singing, all dancing' documents. There is no need to fear a computer, it can't bite you, it won't swear at you and it won't blow up! The worst thing it can do is lose your work, but losing work is not usually the fault of the computer; but the fault of the operator who does not save their file regularly or properly.
Remember, providing you take things step by step and practise regularly, you can succeed. You have only yourself to blame if everything goes wrong when you decide to try some advanced techniques before you've mastered the basics such as opening files, keying in information and saving them. Aim to walk before you run, then you will begin to understand what you are doing - a sure recipe for success.
In an ideal world everyone would be born with the ability to manipulate computer keys and cajole a computer into doing exactly what was required, but it is not an ideal world and we still need to learn these skills.
You have several choices:
1. Get hold of a computer and a textbook and try to teach yourself, which is not easy and some people find that working alone is the most difficult way of doing it. You wouldn't expect an engineer to suddenly just know how to construct bridges or a dentist to be born with the ability to treat teeth without some formal teaching.
2. You can ask a friend who is a little more experienced than you to help, but remember not everyone is good at explaining things, and just because someone can work a computer doesn't mean that they know the best way to carry out functions.
3. You can attend a training class and learn the basics. That may be all you need to give your confidence a boost and get you started. Some people blossom on their own once given the tools and ideas to develop.
It's a good idea at least to acquaint yourself with computer skills and software packages (see details on packages in Research Using IT, pp. 47, 182, 185) before you think about hiring or buying a computer, then you have some idea of what you want and need - which may not necessarily be the same.
Ideally the time to get acquainted with the computer is before you need it .
byte
Storage space in memory. To give you some idea of memory size, think of one byte as being one character on the keyboard.
CD-ROM disk
A disk that is used to store information. When a CD-ROM is placed in the CD drive of the computer it enables the machine to perform the functions it contains, for example play music, a game or a program.
CPU (the central processing unit)
The 'brain' of the computer'. Think of it as akin to the human brain.
DVD
Digital versatile discs and drives are similar to their CD-ROM relative but hold far more information and could, for example, play a full-length movie on your PC. DVDs. the video and the audio are digital, which makes for better quality.
database
A computer program or a collection of data that can be searched easily to find specific information. For example, a travel agent can access a database of holiday accommodation available for a certain resort on a specific date.
This is a way of sending messages between computers. An email can be just a simple piece of text, or could contain sound, pictures or even moving images.
floppy disk
A disk on which you save your work. It can be transferred easily from one computer to another so that the information saved can be accessed from any computer providing they have the same software. Always beware of the possibility of transferring viruses when moving disks between different computers. See virus checkers.
floppy disk drive
Insert a floppy disk in this drive if you want to save your work
and then take it away from your computer to use the information on another PC.
hard disk
Where data is stored within the computer. The size of this is an indication of how much information can be stored by the computer.
hardware
The physical equipment used in a computer system.
icon
Small image on screen.
internet
A network of millions and millions of computers linked by cables over telephone lines. Using the Internet you can shop, get information, talk with friends or make new ones.
KB
Kilobyte. A measurement that is just over a thousand bytes (1024 bytes). See Byte
MB
Megabyte. A measurement that is just over a million bytes (1,048,5776 bytes). See Byte
MHz
The symbol for Megahertz, meaning one million cycles per second. This is the CPU speed.
modem
A piece of hardware inside the computer. It enables you to send and receive information over a normal telephone line. Needed for emails, faxes and the Internet.
monitor (or VDU)
The screen on which information is viewed - looks like a television.
mouse
Hand-held manoeuvring device. Moving the mouse on a tabletop makes the pointer move on the screen. Just press the button on the mouse when you're ready to make a choice.
multimedia
All new machines come with multimedia nowadays, that is, they will come with at least external speakers and a CD-ROM drive, plus a sound card inside the machine. Multimedia allows the user to do a multitude of things, for example, play music, CD-ROMs, interactive responses and so on.
PC
Personal computer. Thought of as the home computer but often similar computers are used in offices.
printer
A printer reproduces what you see on the screen to paper so you can print out what you have created. Some printers print in colour as well as black and white.
RAM
A form of memory that is essential to a computer. RAM means 'random-access memory'. Data stored in this area can be changed by the computer operator.
ROM
A form of memory that is essential to a computer. ROM stands for 'read-only memory'. Data that you can only look at and not alter.
scanner
A scanner copies pictures, photos, images - almost anything you want. It is rather like a photocopier to use but the finished image can be saved on your PC, edited, faxed or used in any document and printed.
software
Programming information that is used by the computer. It is stored within the computer or on CD-ROM. When installed it enables the computer to follow a set of instructions telling it what to do; this could be anything from a game to a word-processing program.
SPSS
The Statistical Package for Social Scientists, one of the most common software packages used to analyse and present survey data. Versions of the software available for PC-compatible machines.
spreadsheet
A computer program (or data) that enables the user to manipulate figures, equations and text. Useful for budgeting and financial planning.
video camera
A digital camera lets you take photographs that are instantly available on your PC. You can then add special effects, save to documents or send via email.
video card
A video card predetermines the image resolution on screen and how many colours the computer will display.
virus checking software
A software that gives you an opportunity to check whether or not you have picked up certain viruses on your disks or computer.
word processing
A computer program that enables the user to organise, manipulate and store written text by electronic means.
For more advice on research, see also research strategies and essay writing: research.
This content has been written by Hilary Coombes, author of Research Using IT .
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