1 LIR 30 Information Literacy for Research Projects Fall 2007 Instructor: Jean Filkins
2 LIR 30: Information Literacy for Research Projects Information Types and Categories Type of Information Data Factual Analytical Subjective Objective Primary Secondary Definition Examples Library Location and Format Often numerical Hourly temperature Compiled in piece of factual readings for San statistical tables in information Francisco, number Reference books, used for of burglaries per circulating books, analysis or week for Sonoma periodicals, factual County websites information Consists of facts, verifiable, can be checked, supported by multiple s Interpretation of facts Opinions, personal views (ideally based on facts) Nonjudgmental, does not point to conclusion based on opinion, balanced Information from the horse s mouth, direct from without interpretation. Works of art Interpretations or analysis of primary or other secondary s Date the 19 th Amendment was ratified, population of Santa Rosa, unemployment figures for 2004 Book examining the Allies offensive strategies in Normandy Invasion, article analyzing California election results Review of recent biography of Abraham Lincoln, editorial about Measure M, your evaluation of your instructor List of the tenets of Buddhism found in an Encyclopedia of Religion, MLB definition of infield fly rule The Diary of Anne Frank, Picasso s Guernica, Collected letters of Beethoven Journal article on the relationship between television viewing and weight gain based on Kaiser study Reference: handbooks, encyclopedias, statistical abstracts, almanacs Periodical articles, circulating books, some reference works Books, Opposing Viewpoints, periodical articles, newspapers, websites, listservs, interviews Reference works: encyclopedias, almanacs, handbooks, etc. Books: search catalog for personal narratives, correspondence or diaries Represents majority of s: books, articles, Internet s Useful when statistics to support your research short, precise answers to specific questions interpretations and/or analyses of facts from experts an opinionated view for a persuasive paper, or you re evaluating information about a subject trustworthy information about a topic You want to read original historic s, you are interpreting a work of art such as a novel or painting analysis, evaluation of interpretation of topics Reliability check check check Adapted from Information Research by Carla J. List
3 LIR 30: Information Literacy for Research Projects Quick Guide to Sources Source (Circulating) Books Reference Journals Magazines Newspapers Databases Websites Personal Interview/listservs, mailing groups, etc. Editorial Process editor, publisher, organization, academic peers publishers, experts, government organizations peer review, researchers, professional or academic organizations assigned writers, editorial board Short: departmental assigned writers, editorial board from extensive (scholarly journals) to short (newspapers) open publishing, DIY authors, no overseeing editor Expert information to gossip, no publisher, no criteria Audience and Topics Broad: general audience, students, academics, professional, all topics covered Broad: intended for all levels, covers all topics. Overviews, backgrounds, bibliographies Specialized: Scholarly/Professional. Research findings, indepth articles on specific topic, research reviews. Highly technical, specialized language Broad: Popular topics, general audience. Current interest. Broad: General audience, first-hand accounts, editorials/opinions, local interest, current topics. Timely material. Broad: general interest to scholarly, professional. All topics. Broad: general to scholarly, professional audience. All topics. Broad: general to scholarly, professional audience. Opinions, subjective information Publication Cycle Variable, often lengthy monthly, yearly to several years Periodically: monthly, often quarterly Periodically: often monthly, sometimes weekly Daily, weekly daily, weekly, several times a day monthly, daily, hourly, often sporadically depends on participants Purpose research to professional to entertainment Easy-to-access information. Collects data, information for specific use. Research for scholarly, professional use. Book reviews and research reviews for peers in field. entertainment, popular topics, general interest Current and local information, opinions for specific area site & information Reliability generally high in academic libraries High High Medium rapid news cycle leads to possibly low reliability depends on actual Highly variable! Highly variable
4 Santa Rosa Junior College Libraries: The Research Process STEP 1 Define Your Topic Identify the question or problem. Determine major concepts and develop a list of synonyms. Identify broad subject disciplines. STEP 2 Gain General Overview STEP 3 Use Multiple Search Tools to Find Appropriate Sources Consult general and subject-specific reference s. handbooks encyclopedias almanacs BOOKS dictionaries statistical abstracts Use the Library Catalog - Search by subject or keyword. Write down the Library, Location and Call Number. Find the book on the shelf. If book not found, ask the Reference librarian about Interlibrary Loan. PERIODICAL ARTICLES Use Magazine/Newspaper Databases and Print Indexes. - Search by subject or keyword. Print or email if articles are in full text. If not in full text then copy entire citation information. Check SRJC Periodicals Holding List for paper or microform formats. If not found, ask the Reference librarian about Interlibrary Loan. INTERNET SOURCES Use Search Engines or Subject Directories. - Search by Keyword, Advance Search or broad Subject Category. Print or download information from the World Wide Web, including citation information. STEP 4 Evaluate Sources Check credibility using the How To Evaluate guide. Review information to see if it is relevant to research topic. Compare if has consistent information verified by other s. Distinguish between fact, opinion, and point of view. STEP 5 Read and Take Notes Take notes. - paraphrase or quote according to academic plagiarism standards. Record all citation elements needed to cite the. - book: author, title, publication place, publisher, date. - article: author, title, periodical title, volume, date, pages. - website: Author, title, date, name of site sponsor date of access, URL. Prepare a bibliography (Works Cited or References). - consult a style manual or How to Cite guide.
5 Santa Rosa Junior College Libraries: List of Broad Topics Science, Technology & Environment Social Issues Economics and Foreign Affairs Legal and Political Issues Air Quality Standards Animal Communication Aquaculture Alternative Fossil Fuels Alternative Medicine Biodiversity California Droughts, Floods, Earthquakes Chlorofluorocarbons Cloning Creationism &Intelligent Design vs. Evolution Cultural Survival of Native Peoples Dentistry Diseases (cancer, diabetes, etc.) Deforestation Electromagnetic Radiation Endangered Species Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified Foods Global Warming Habitat Loss / Conservation Human Genome Project Hybrid Car Technology Infectious Diseases Infertility Medicine Invasive Species / Medical Imaging Nuclear Waste Management Organic Farming Phobias/Anxiety Pollution Public Transportation Relativity Soil Conservation Solar Energy Space Exploration Stem Cell Research Sustainable Development Water Issues Wetlands Abortion Adoption Affordable Housing AIDS Alcoholism Animal Rights Anti-Semitism Assisted Suicide/ Euthanasia Athletes and Drugs Bilingual Education Cell Phone Use Child Care Children and Divorce Civil Liberties Civil Rights Credit Addiction Domestic Violence Federal Faith Based Initiatives Food addictions Fundamentalism Gambling Gangs Gays in the Military Hate Crimes Health Insurance Home Schooling Homelessness Immigration Job Stress and Burnout Medical Care Military Recruitment Multiculturalism Pornography Racism Sex Education Surrogate Motherhood Teenage Suicide Transgender Issues Violence Women and the "Glass Ceiling" in Business Welfare/Government Assistance Programs Advertising Advertising on the web/ Infomercials Automobile Industry Biological Weapons Business Corporations and the Environment Capitalism Censorship Corporations- Moral and Ethical Aspects Fossil Fuel Dependency Global Warming Human Rights Illegal Immigration International Arms Sales International Law and Rogue Nations Iraq War Labor Issues (minimum wage, benefits...) Mass Media Migrant Labor Missile Defense Military Intervention Military Spending Monopolies & Giant Mergers Nationalism News Reporting Nonviolence Strategy for Political Change Nuclear Proliferation Palestine and Israel Poverty Prisons Private Retirement Accounts Real Estate Investing Role of the United Nations Tax Reform Terrorism War Crimes Waste Management World Trade Organization Affirmative Action Anabolic Steroids Campaign Finance Reform Casino Proliferation vs. Tribal Rights Cybercrime Capital Punishment Copyright Laws Democracy Forensic Evidence Gay Marriage Genocide (definition & intervention) Gun Control International Courts Legalization of Marijuana Mandatory Military Service (the Draft) Obscenity and Artistic Expression Organized Crime Pharmaceutical Industry (vs. affordable drugs) Plea Bargaining Police Brutality Political Apathy Political Lobbyist Privacy and Computers Propaganda Regulating Pesticides Reparations for Slavery Right to Die Separation of Church and State Sexual Harassment Social Security Term Limits Tobacco Industry/ Smoking Two- Party System Use of Torture Voting Procedures / Election Reform War on Drugs Welfare Reform