Chapter 2

Determining the Information You

Need

Chapter 2

3 | 2Copyright 2012 Wadsworth © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Chapter Topics

• The Research Process• Primary and Secondary Information Sources• Library Information Sources• Information Retrieval Systems


The Big Picture

Now that you have a foundational knowledge of information literacy, including an understanding of its importance, the next step is to explore the actions that lead to efficient use of information. This chapter focuses on methods for defining and obtaining the information you need.


Learning Objectives

• Explain the need for a main research question and relevant, focused research questions.

• Develop effective main research questions and focused research questions.

• Differentiate between primary and secondary information sources.


Learning Objectives (cont’d)

• Explain various ways information to present information.

• Explain various ways to access information.• Identify and describe 21st-century information

sources.


Case In Point Questions

• How well do you think you could determine the kind and extent of the information you need to accomplish your information goal?

• How effective do you think you would be at creating a research question and focused questions to guide your research?

• What specific types of resources could you use to find the information you need?


The Research Process


Step 1: Define the need.


Main Research Question

Effective Research Questions• What effect does divorce have on academic achievement in

elementary school children?• How did the Electoral College affect the outcome of the 2000

presidential election?• What are the differences between the various processors available

for computers?

Why are these effective research questions?

Why are these effective research questions?


Main Research Question

Ineffective Research Questions• Who was Benjamin Franklin?• Should older people be allowed to drive?• Does the United States have a good foreign policy?

Why are these ineffective research questions?

Why are these ineffective research questions?


Focused Research Questions

Main Research Question• Does exercise level positively or negatively impact food

consumption in obese individuals?

Effective Focused Questions• What is the definition of an obese individual?• What is the definition of exercise? • How is exercise measured?• Do obese individuals who increase their level of exercise increase

or decrease their food intake measured in calories?• What level of exercise shows a change in food intake?


Primary and Secondary Information Sources

• Primary information sources: Those sources closest to the actual event, time period, or individual in question.

• Secondary information sources: Those sources removed from the primary source that examine, interpret, or reflect on the primary source information to restate or reuse the information.


Primary and Secondary Information Sources

Primary• Memoirs• Diaries• Autobiographies• Interviews• Public records• Transcripts• Correspondences• Discussions• Minutes• Newspaper reports• Surveys• Government documents• Artifacts• Literature• Photographs and art

Primary• Memoirs• Diaries• Autobiographies• Interviews• Public records• Transcripts• Correspondences• Discussions• Minutes• Newspaper reports• Surveys• Government documents• Artifacts• Literature• Photographs and art

Secondary• Books and textbooks• Review articles• Scientific reports• Technical reports• Conference papers and proceedings• Handbooks• Databases• Catalogues• News analyses• Dictionaries and encyclopedias• Magazine articles• Video and audio tapes,

CD-ROMS, and DVDS thathave been edited

Secondary• Books and textbooks• Review articles• Scientific reports• Technical reports• Conference papers and proceedings• Handbooks• Databases• Catalogues• News analyses• Dictionaries and encyclopedias• Magazine articles• Video and audio tapes,

CD-ROMS, and DVDS thathave been edited


Library Information Sources


Books: Fiction and Nonfiction


Reference Resources

• Reference desk• Reference

librarian• Reference source


Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia: A collection of detailed articles on a wide range of subjects.

What general and subject-specific encyclopedias are useful in your specific

field of study?

What general and subject-specific encyclopedias are useful in your specific

field of study?


Dictionary

• Dictionary: An alphabetical listing of words used for quick search of word or topic to find meaning, spelling, and pronunciation.

What general and subject-specific dictionaries are useful in your specific field

of study?

What general and subject-specific dictionaries are useful in your specific field

of study?


Directories

• Directory: A collection of data that is organized to easily access information.

What directories are useful in your specific field of study?

What directories are useful in your specific field of study?


Almanacs

• Almanac: A publication that provides statistics, lists, figures, tables, and facts for a specific area.

What almanacs are useful in your specific field of study?

What almanacs are useful in your specific field of study?


Atlases

• Atlas: A collection of geographical, historical, and other descriptive information.

What atlases are useful in your specific field of study?

What atlases are useful in your specific field of study?


Indexes

• Index: An alphabetical list that can be used to find information within a source.

What kinds of indexes are useful in your specific field of study?

What kinds of indexes are useful in your specific field of study?


Ready References

• Ready reference: Resource typically kept at the reference desk in a library because of its frequent use.

What ready references might you use at the library?

What ready references might you use at the library?


Concordance

• Concordance: An alphabetical list of the most pertinent words in a given text and a notation of where they are found within that text.

When might you use a concordance?When might you use a concordance?


Handbooks

• Handbook: Provides concise data in table or chart form on a specialized subject area.

What handbooks are used in your field of study?

What handbooks are used in your field of study?


Thesaurus

• Thesaurus: A collection of synonyms, near-synonyms, antonyms, phrases, and slang terms for words.

When might you use a thesaurus in your field of study?

When might you use a thesaurus in your field of study?


Manual

• Manual: Provides detailed and “how to” information on very specific topics.

What manuals might you use in your field of study?

What manuals might you use in your field of study?


Style Manual

• Style manual: A writing guide that provides guidelines for writing mechanics and documentation format.

What style manual is commonly used in your field of study?

What style manual is commonly used in your field of study?


Periodicals

• Periodical: A resource published on a regular or recurring basis.

What are three periodicals you read regularly?

What are three periodicals you read regularly?


Scholarly Journals

• Scholarly journals: A periodical published by an educational institution or professional association containing peer-reviewed articles and other information.

What scholarly journals apply to your field of study?

What scholarly journals apply to your field of study?


Popular Magazines

• Popular magazines: A periodical published commercial entity providing information on topics of interest to the general public.

What popular magazines apply to your field of study?

What popular magazines apply to your field of study?


Trade Publications

• Trade publications: A periodical published for a specific industry or business.

What trade publications are written for your field of study?

What trade publications are written for your field of study?


Newspapers

• Newspapers: A periodical published for a local, regional, national, or international venue to cover events and news.

What newspapers would be good to read to help you succeed in your career? Why?

What newspapers would be good to read to help you succeed in your career? Why?


Multimedia

• Multimedia: A form other than print for library resources.

What kinds of multimedia might you use from the library in your field of study?

What kinds of multimedia might you use from the library in your field of study?


Information Retrieval Systems

• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)• Databases• The Internet


Internet Terms

• WWW (World Wide Web)

• Web site• Web page• URL• Plug-in• Home page• Navigation bar

Common Plugins

FlashQuicktime

Acrobat ReaderRealMedia

ieSpellAdShield

Common Plugins

FlashQuicktime

Acrobat ReaderRealMedia

ieSpellAdShield


Internet Terms

• Web browser• Search engines• Metasearch engines

Common Browsers

Netscape NavigatorInternet Explorer

MozillaMozilla Firefox

Opera

Common Browsers

Netscape NavigatorInternet Explorer

MozillaMozilla Firefox

OperaWhat is your favorite search

engine? Why?What is your favorite search

engine? Why?


Internet Subject Directories

• Subject directory: A collection of links to a large number of Internet resources, typically highly organized.

What Internet subject directories are useful in your field of study?

What Internet subject directories are useful in your field of study?


Online Reference Resources

• Refdesk• Questia• Merriam-Webster Online• Gove Dictionary of Art• Encyclopedia.com• Occupational Outlook Handbook

What online reference resources are useful in your field of study?

What online reference resources are useful in your field of study?


Online Periodicals

• Online periodicals: Full-text (or abstract only) presentations of periodicals accessible online free or for a fee.

What online periodicals are available for your field of study?

What online periodicals are available for your field of study?


Web Portal or Gateway

• Web portal: A site on the Internet that provides links to many different kinds of information.

What Web portals are available and useful for your field of study?

What Web portals are available and useful for your field of study?


Professional or Trade Organizations

• Professional or Trade Organizations: Groups of professionals with similar interests or positions.

What professional or trade organizations focus on your field of study?

Which ones should you belong to?

What professional or trade organizations focus on your field of study?

Which ones should you belong to?


Chapter Summary

• The Research Process• Primary and Secondary Information Sources• Library Information Sources• Information Retrieval Systems

Chapter 2

Education

Transcript of Chapter 2