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,  General audience  Authors usually
national, and not experts
international news,  If a story is
events, and breaking,
editorial coverage corrections to
 Statistics and initial report
photojournalism likely
 Record of events  Editorial bias of
and quotes from a publication
experts, officials,
and witnesses

Popular Magazines  Current  General audience, or  Authors usually

information those with a specific, not experts
 Short, easy to recreational interest  Sources not
understand articles (e.g. sports, fashion, always cited
(including analysis, science, etc.)  Editorial bias of
interviews, a publication
opinions, etc.)
 Photographs and
illustrations

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Source Best For Intended Audience Watch
For/Consider
Professional/Trade  Current  Professional  Articles vary
Magazines information organizations or between short
 Specialized articles professionals/scholar and easy to
related to a s with similar lengthy and
particular discipline interests highly specific
or profession  Sources not
(including context always cited
and analysis)  Has
characteristics in
common with
both popular
magazines and
scholarly
journals

Scholarly/Academic  Recent research on  Scholars,  Terminology

Journals a topic researchers, and/or data may
 Focused, peer- professionals, and be difficult for
reviewed articles university students novices to
written by experts in particular field understand
 Data, statistics,
charts, and graphs
 Bibliographies of
other sources

Books  Comprehensive  Varies (general  Dated

overview of topic audience through information
 Background and scholars)  Bias (dependent
historical context on author,
 Bibliographies of publisher, etc.)
other sources

Websites  News  General audience  Credibility and

 Government accuracy cannot
information always be
 Company assured
information  Bias (dependent
 Alternate points of on author,
view publisher, etc.)
 Sources not
always cited

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 9 2

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.

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  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.

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  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.
o When was the information published or posted?
o Has the information been revised or updated?
o Does your topic require current information, or
will older sources work as well?
o Are the links functional?
 Relevance: The importance of the information for your
needs.
o Does the information relate to your topic or
answer your question?
o Who is the intended audience?
o Is the information at an appropirate level (not too
elementary or advanced for your needs)?
o Have you loooked at a variety of sources before
determining this is one you will use?

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 o Would you be comfortable citing this source in
your research paper?
 Authority: The source of the information.
o Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
o What are the author's credentials or organizational
affiliations?
o Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
o Is there contact information, such as a publisher
or email address?
o Does the URL reveal anything about the author or
source?
 examples: .com, .edu, .gov, .org
 Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of
the content.
o Where does the information come from?
o Is the information supported by evidence?
o Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
o Can you verify any of the information in another
source or from personal knowledge?
o Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free
of emotion?
o Are there spelling, grammar or typographical
errors?
 Purpose: The reason the information exists
o What is the purpose of the information? Is it to
informal, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?

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 o Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or
purpose clear?
o Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
o Does the point of view appear objective and
impartial?
o 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

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  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

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 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”

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  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

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 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

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  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.

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  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

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 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.

1. Authority
2. Reliability
3. Currency
4. Completeness
5. 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?

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  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:
o .edu - an educational institution
o .gov - a government agency
o .com - a commercial entity
o .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.:

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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?

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 9 16

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.

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