Syllabus Focus: Unit 1 Module 1 Content 9

Specific Objective 9: identify characteristics of information sources;

Content: Include availability, cost, currency of information, amount of detail
(depth), breadth of coverage, reliability, format and medium.

Selecting the Best Information Source

See the below table to determine which sources are best for finding the type of
information you need for your research project.
To learn more about�when�these types of sources are published on an event or topic,
see the�Information Cycle.
Source Best For� Intended Audience� Watch For/Consider
Newspapers
Daily local, national, and international news, events, and editorial coverage
Statistics and photojournalism
Record of events and quotes from experts, officials, and witnesses General
audience Authors usually not experts
If a story is breaking, corrections to initial report likely
Editorial bias of a publication
Popular Magazines� Current information�
Short, easy to understand articles (including analysis, interviews, opinions, etc.)
Photographs and illustrations General audience, or those with a specific,
recreational interest (e.g. sports, fashion, science, etc.)� Authors usually
not experts
Sources not always cited
Editorial bias of a publication
Professional/Trade�
Magazines Current information�
Specialized articles related to a particular discipline or profession (including
context and analysis) Professional organizations or professionals/scholars with
similar interests Articles vary between short and easy to lengthy and highly
specific
Sources not always cited
Has characteristics in common with both popular magazines and scholarly journals
Scholarly/Academic
Journals Recent research on a topic�
Focused, peer-reviewed articles written by experts
Data, statistics, charts, and graphs
Bibliographies of other sources Scholars, researchers, professionals, and
university students in particular field� Terminology and/or data may be difficult
for novices to understand
Books Comprehensive overview of topic
Background and historical context
Bibliographies of other sources Varies (general audience through scholars)�
Dated information
Bias (dependent on author, publisher, etc.)
Websites News
Government information�
Company information
Alternate points of view General audience Credibility and accuracy cannot
always be assured�
Bias (dependent on author, publisher, etc.)
Sources not always cited
Taken from: http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/selectingsources.html, on
July 6, 2016

Evaluating Information Sources:

Evaluating Books
You need to evaluate the information you are finding. It is an essential part of
the research process! Consider these five criteria:
Authority: Who wrote the book? What are the author�s credentials? Who is the
publisher? If the publisher is an academic press, this generally means a scholarly
resource.�
o Tip: You can find this information on the title page of the book.
Audience: Who is the book written for? A specialized audience? Or a more general
one? Is the focus appropriate for your topic?�
o Tip: You can sometimes locate this information in the preface of the book.
Accuracy: Does the information appear to be well-researched or is it unsupported?
Is the book free of errors?�
o Tip: See if the author is footnoting information and providing a bibliography of
sources consulted.
Objectivity: Does the book appear biased or is the authors viewpoint impartial? Is
the author trying to influence the opinion of the reader?�
o Tip: Is the author�s viewpoint very different than others in the field? In that
case you will want to examine the data and supporting evidence closely.
Currency: When was the book published? Is it current or out of date for your topic?
In general, areas in the humanities don�t need up-to-the minute research while
areas in the sciences do. Has the book been revised or is this a new edition?�
o Tip: This information is located on the back of the title page.

Evaluating Journal Articles

Articles in databases have already been published, and have gone through a review
and editing process, unlike web sites. But it is still a good idea to evaluate
them.
Source - Look for articles from scholarly journals, written by experts in the
subject. There will be references that can lead you to additional books and
articles on the topic. In some databases, you can limit your search by type of
article -- a research article, an editorial, a review, or a clinical trial.
Length - The length of the article, noted in the citation, can be a good clue as to
whether the article will be useful for research.
Authority- Use authoritative sources in your research. Use articles written by
experts in the subject area, and who are affiliated with an academic institution.
Date - research in many subjects requires the most current information available.
Is the article sufficiently up-to-date for your purpose?
Audience - For what type of reader is the author writing? If an article is written
for other professionals, it will use terms and language special to the subject
area.
Usefulness - Is the article relevant to your research topic?

Evaluating Web Sites

Anything can be published on the Internet, so it is extremely important to
critically evaluate Web sites.
Currency: The timeliness of the information.
When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
Are the links functional?
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropirate level (not too elementary or advanced for your
needs)?
Have you loooked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will
use?
Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?
Authority: The source of the information.
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
examples: .com, .edu, .gov, .org
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose: The reason the information exists
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to informal, teach, sell, entertain
or persuade?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal
biases?

Taken from: http://library.buffalo.edu/help/research-tips/evaluate/, on July 7,

2016

Sources of Information

Magazines Sources
Magazines publish articles on topics of popular interest and current events.
Magazine articles are typically written by freelance writers or professional
journalists and are targeted to the general public. They often contain photographs
and advertisements.
Like journals and newspapers, magazines are called "periodicals" because they are
published at regular intervals throughout the year. You can find print magazines at
newsstands and in libraries. Some are now available on the Web as electronic
magazines.
Use a Magazine
to find information or opinions about popular culture
to find up-to-date information about current events
to find general articles written for people who are not necessarily specialists in
a topic area

Examples of Magazines
U.S. News and World Report
Working Woman
Business Week
Rolling Stone
Journals Sources
Journals are typically published by a professional association or a scholarly
press. Journal articles are written by scholars in an academic or professional
field. An editorial board reviews journal articles to decide whether they should be
published. Journal articles may be based on a study (or relate to a study) and can
cover very narrow fields of research.

Since journals are published at periodic intervals, they are grouped in the
category called "periodicals." They may be in print format or on the Web as
electronic journals (or �e-journals�). An academic library purchases a good number
of journal subscriptions in both print and online form.
Use a Journal
when doing scholarly research or when looking for a scholarly article
to find out what has been studied on your topic or field of research
to find bibliographies that point to other relevant research
Examples of Journals
Journal of Communication
The Historian
Journal of Business Research
Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis
Newspaper Sources
�
Newspapers provide articles about current events and news. There are newspapers
published locally and nationally. Like journals and magazines, newspapers are
"periodicals" because they are published regularly and a good percentage of
newspapers are published on a daily basis.
Newspapers can be found in print and in microform. (Microform is a miniature
version of a publication converted into film or fiche that requires a special
microform reader). Many newspapers also have their own Web sites with today�s news
although they don�t necessarily provide free access to back issues. Newspapers are
made available to you by subscriptions purchased by your library.
Use a Newspaper
to find current information about international, national and local news
to find editorials, commentaries, expert or popular opinions

Examples
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Capitol Times
Book Sources
�A room without books is like a body without a soul. �
-- Cicero (106-43 B.C.)
Books can cover virtually any topic, fact or fiction. Books can be lengthy and give
detailed information or they can be short and concise. They can cover one subject
or many. They can give real-life examples or provide research findings. Books
almost always have a table of contents, with or without an index, to help you
locate information or specific chapters. When doing research, you will be looking
for books that can provide in-depth coverage or an overview of a topic.

Libraries organize and store their book collections on shelves called "stacks." E-
books are available electronically on the Web. Libraries may have e-books in their
collections relating to your topic as well as print books.
Use a Book
to find in-depth information on a subject
to put your topic in context with other related issues
to find historical information or �the classics�
to find summaries of research to support an argument

Examples
Nash, Gary B. ed. The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, 1990.
Coupey, Eloise. Marketing and the Internet, 2001.
Smith, J. T. Roman Villas: A Study in Social Structure, 1997.
Encyclopedia Sources
Encyclopedias are books that contain factual information about many different
subjects. They are typically organized alphabetically by the name of the subject
or topic. The amount of information provided in encyclopedias can vary from a few
paragraphs to several pages.
There are two types of encyclopedias -- general and subject-specific. General
encyclopedias provide overviews on a variety of topics. Subject-specific
encyclopedias contain many entries that all focus on one field of study. Typically,
general encyclopedias are published as multiple-volume sets whereas subject-
specific encyclopedia may be made up of one volume or multiple-volume sets.
Use an Encyclopedia
when looking for background information on a subject or topic
when trying to find key ideas, important dates or concepts
to get a basic context behind a subject or topic

Examples
Encyclopedia Britannica (general encyclopedia)
Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns (subject encyclopedia)
Database Sources
A database is an organized collection of information or data stored in electronic
format and searchable online. There are typically two kinds of records in
databases:
Citations - include author, title, date and other information to describe the
journal and newspaper articles. (Often citations will also include an abstract
which briefly summarizes an article).
Full-text articles - include both a citation and the full text of the journal or
newspaper article.
Databases are also known as periodical indexes. They may be general in nature
meaning they cover all subject areas, or they may be subject-specific meaning they
contain information covering a certain subject like education or history. When you
enter search terms on your topic, the database will retrieve articles and citations
pertaining to that topic. It may be necessary to refine your search in order to
retrieve more specific information.
Use a Database
when you want to find articles on your topic in magazines, journals or newspapers
when you need to research a very current issue or topic
Examples of Databases
Expanded Academic ASAP from InfoTrac (a general database)
AcademicSearch Full Text Elite from EbscoHost (a general database)
PsycInfo (a psychology database)
World Wide Web Sources
The World Wide Web (or Web) is another type of information source. It allows you to
access information, specifically Web sites, from the Internet. Software
applications known as Web browsers allow you to locate and display Web sites or
"pages". The two most popular Web browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft
Internet Explorer which can display both graphics and text. One of the main
features of the Web is the ability to link quickly to other related information.
As an information source, the Web is best known for providing very current
information on any imaginable topic. Authors of Web sites vary greatly from subject
experts to 10-year old school children.
Use the Web
to find very current information on different topics
to link to information provided by the library over the Internet
to find information about companies
to find information from all levels of government - federal to local
to find both expert and popular opinions
Examples of Web Addresses
www.lcweb.loc.gov (The Library of Congress)
www.google.com (Google, a search engine)
www.alverno.edu (Alverno College)
The Internet
The Internet provides a vast amount of information with a diverse range of
complexity and reliability.
A web site can be created by a child, a government department, or a person or
organisation with a stated or unstated agenda or bias.
The Internet provides a wide range of high quality information that is widely and
freely available.
Information provided by government departments and reputable organisations and
institutions can be highly valuable.
Information on the Internet may be current to the second - but this is not always
the case.
Information from the Internet should always be evaluated according to criteria
particularly applicable to that source.
Online Library Catalog Sources
An online library catalog is an electronic resource that provides a record for
each item that a library owns (or each item found in a library's collection).
Within each catalog record you can find out where an item is located within the
library as well as if it is available or checked out. Online catalogs include
records for books, journals, magazines, newspapers, videos, sound recordings, maps
and more. There are also links within some catalog records that allow you to access
the contents of certain e-journals and other electronic library items. TOPCAT is
the name of the Alverno Library's online catalog.
REMEMBER, you won't find journal or newspaper articles in an online catalog. For
that you need to start in an online database.
Use an online library catalog
to find out what books and other materials (videos, periodicals, etc.) the library
owns on a topic
to find where a specific item is located within the library
Dictionary Source
Provide definitions of terms.
Are particularly useful when dealing with terminology specific to a subject area
(e.g.. A concise dictionary of business).
Meanings are useful in understanding how a word is commonly used.
Provide synonyms - useful in ensuring comprehensive keyword searches.
The Library holds dictionaries in print and electronic form.
Experts
Experts in a field will often use the Internet to discuss and debate issues.
Experts are also available for consultation at the University, in industry,
business and special interest groups.
Online and offline, self professed "experts" are readily available and willing to
provide information and advise on almost any topic imaginable. While much valuable
information may be available, it is extremely important to know what credentials a
person has to deem themselves an expert and what institutional or organisational
affiliations they have. You should be able to find support for their ideas by other
reputable people or organizations with knowledge of the topic.
When consulting a subject expert always make sure you have done comprehensive
research on the subject first - this allows you to ask valuable questions and make
the most of the time you have with them.

How do I select a source?

Now that you know a range of information sources available to you, how do you
select the best one for your research needs?
If you need: You might try:
Background information, such as the history of the railroads or statistics on the
number of children immunized against diseases in the United States
Books
Popular articles about new movies or social trends
Magazines or the Web
Current information about a speech yesterday by the head of Ford Motor Company

Newspapers or the Web

Scholarly articles about the Chinese economy or the human genome
Journals
To retrieve the titles and call numbers for a variety of different resources on the
Underground Railroad
Online Library Catalog
Evaluation Criteria of Information Source
When you have any item of information you should critically evaluate it to
determine it's suitability to your needs, and the value of the information. This
applies no matter what format it might be in, including a story told by your
Mother, found on the Internet, or an article in a major journal. There is no one
test which you may use to judge your information's value, but there are a number of
clues, or criteria, you should use to base a judgment.

There are five basic criteria to consider.

Authority
Reliability
Currency
Completeness
Relevancy
Authority:
Where did the information come from? Did it come from an authority in the field?

Authority should be judged on both the author and the publisher of the material

Author:
Is the author's name available?
What is the author's training, education, experience in the field?
Are there other works by this author in this field? Books, articles?
Does the author have a reputation in the field - good or bad?
If your information source is a web site, this might be harder to figure out. Is
there an author or contact person listed, and is there a contact e-mail address
available. It could be at the top of the page with the title, or at the bottom of
the page.
Publisher:
Is the Publisher well known in the field?
How much do they publish?
Is this a "vanity press" where anyone can have something published, for a fee?
Is it a university press?
Is the publisher a professional organization or association?
Generally, you can assume that known publishing houses, university presses, and
professional organizations will publish quality materials.
Reliability:
How reliable is this information source? Can you trust and believe it?

Reliability is directly related to Authority, but is a separate criteria.

Reliability in this context relates to the accuracy and treatment of the
information.

Accuracy:
Is the information correct, as far as you can tell? Look at several information
source and compare them.
Does the author cite their sources? Does is have a complete bibliography?
Were primary or secondary sources used?
Does it appear to be well edited? Do you see poor grammar, nonstandard language or
miss-spelled words?
If your information source is a web site, what is the origin of the source? The
domain, or last part of the web address can tell you something about it's origin.
The most common are:
.edu - an educational institution
.gov - a government agency
.com - a commercial entity
.org - a not-for-profit organization
Keep in mind that while .com sites might provide valid information, they are
probably more interested in selling something.
Reliability, cont.:
How reliable is this information source? Can you trust and believe it?

Objectivity or Bias
Do you detect a bias on the part of the author in the writing?
Do the facts support the viewpoint of the author?
Is it written is from an objective viewpoint, or does it appeal to emotions or
biases?
Is the information presented facts, which can be documented, or opinions of the
author?
Bias is not necessarily a bad thing; we all have our own opinions and biases. But
you should be aware of them, and take that into consideration when looking at an
information source.
Completeness:
Is the information the most complete available? Is it comprehensive?
Is the information complete, or is it a summary of other work?
Is the subject covered completely?
What level is the information? Is it advanced, technical, basic information?
Who is the intended audience for the material? Is it popular or scholarly?
If your information source is a web site, does it include links and are they
annotated?
Relevancy:
After all is said and done, does the information source answer your questions? Does
it "fill your information need?"

While the other criteria are based on facts, things you can see or find out about
your information source, this one is a total judgment call. You must know what
information you need, what type of information source you need it to come from, and
what you will be using that information for (a final term paper, a short
composition, your personal knowledge or information, etc.).

You must make the judgment as to the relevancy of your information source. Is the
information source relevant to your information need?

It is entirely possible, and highly likely that you will find an item which is very
reliable, from a very authoritative source, very current, and very complete... but
not relevant to your topic.
Currency:
How old is this information? Is there newer information available?
When was the information published?
Can you tell when it was published? If it is not dated, you should be cautious of
the information source.
Is that information up-to-date? Have new discoveries been made, or have events
taken place since the information was published?
Is your topic one which is changing quickly, such as medical research or
technology, or one which is fairly stable and requires more background information
such as history or literature?
If your information source is a web site, the date of publication and/or last
updated date are usually found at the bottom of the page.
�