Information Technology Handout

Sources of Information (Continue)

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 todays news although they dont 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 reallife 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 to to to find in-depth information on a subject put your topic in context with other related issues find historical information or the classics 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 subjectspecific 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 organisations 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. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 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. 8

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.: 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.

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Types of Information Sources and Selecting Sources Review

1. If you need popular articles about new movies or social trends, what would you use?

Books Magazines or the Web Journals Online library catalog 2. If you were looking for scholarly articles on psychology, what source would you use?

Books Magazines or the Web Journals Newspapers or the Web 3. If you wanted to find out what books and other materials the library owns on a topic, you would use:

Books Magazines Journals Online Library Catalog 4. To find both expert and popular opinions, you would use:

The Web Books Journals Online Library Catalogs 5. When you need to research a very current issue or topic, you would use:

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Journals Databases Books Encyclopedias 6. When you need to find general articles written for people who are not necessarily specialists in a topic area, you would use:

Magazines Books Journals Encyclopedias 7. To find where a specific item is item is located within the library, you would use: Books Magazines Journals Online Library Catalog

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What about the Web for

information?

Although many people go to the Web first for information, it is not always the best place for what you need. While it's difficult to make definitive statements about something as diverse as the Web, here we go. . . .

Most information on the Web does not go through a review process. You should be skeptical about some of the information on the Web because anyone can publish information without its content passing through any type of editor. Pages might be written by an expert on the topic, a journalist, a disgruntled consumer or a sixth grader. Some information on the Web is NOT free. Many Web pages are free to view, but some commercial sites will charge a fee for you to access all or even part of their web sites content.

Information on the Web is not organized. There is a very large portion of the Web that simply is not organized. There are directory web services, such as yahoo, that collect links to web sites and organizes them into subject lists. However, no single directory or search engine is capable of arranging and indexing the millions of sites and variety of subject matter on the web.

Most information on the Web is not comprehensive. The web is comprised of millions of web pages; these pages contain a hodgepodge of information, some valuable and reliable, some not. In addition, finding information in an historical context, (i.e., over time) is a very difficult task and finding a variety of sources can be challenging for even the most experienced web searcher. REMEMBER: the majority of printed information is not available on the web. Some materials will never be digitized due to cost, size or format issues.

Most information on the Web is not permanent. There are many well-maintained sites that are updated with current and accurate information. However, a large percentage of Web sites cease to be maintained, become dead links or disappear altogether.

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What about the library for

Although its tempting to go when you need information for assignments, its best to library first.

information?
right to the Web class consult the

College and university libraries specialize in collecting and organizing a wealth of materials covering various academic fields. In addition, they provide both online and print resources which the Web is unable to do. Why else should you start with the library? Library resources go through a review process. Librarians evaluate and then select worthwhile books, magazines, journals, databases and even Web sites. This allows the library to collect sources considered reliable, historically relevant, and valuable to their particular group of library users.

Library resources are organized. Library materials are organized so that users can find materials easily and so materials on the same subject are grouped together. Each item in a library catalog has a unique call number that indicates where it be found in the library. Because books and other materials are organized by subject, you can often locate other relevant materials by browsing the shelves nearby.

Library resources are permanent in nature. One of the primary functions of a library is to be an organized storehouse of published materials over time. Along with collecting current information, libraries also retain older materials including some items that are no longer being published. Libraries may hold on to these older items because they have historical value or are unique in some way.

Library resources come with personal assistance. It is important to remember that libraries come with people; people who can help you locate what you need. Unlike the Web, which is primarily do-ityourself, libraries employ skilled staff that can assist you in selecting and searching different information sources. In addition, they can answer a myriad of questions. Along with face-to-face assistance, more and more libraries are providing online help via their library Web pages.

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