Information literacy training Sven Cerulus – [email protected]
Dec 17, 2015
Information literacy trainingSven Cerulus – [email protected]
Table of contents
1. Some basic concepts
2. Research plan
3. Information sources
4. Research outcome
5. Weblinks
Desk and field research
What is desk research?
= involves the summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research secondary information advantage:
- quicker and cheaper- probably better quality
disadvantage:
- might be unavailable
What is field research?
= involves the collection of information through experiments primary information
Collecting information
Three ways of collecting information
1. Observation
= through senses (hearing, seeing, etc.)
2. Conversation
= asking questions (face-to-face, telephone, email, letter, chat, etc.)
3. Consultation
= using documented information (on paper, cd-rom, dvd, etc.) which has been made systematically accessible through information management (libraries, archives, museums, companies, etc.)
DOCUMENTARY INFORMATION= information that has been documented and published by others
High and low complexity
Two types of search instructions
1. Low complexity
Basic questions: Where can I find correct information? What is the quality of the information? Is this information reliable?
2. High complexity
Basic questions: What literature is important? What is known at this point? Are there different theories?
Information sources
Different information sources1. Primary sources
= contain original information (e.g. book) concrete contents proof in argumentation
2. Secondary sources = refer to original information (e.g. search engine)
discussing primary sources overview of information
3. Tertiary sources = refer to secondary information (e.g. list of search engines)
discussing primary and secondary sources useful for quick information research
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Putting into practice
How important is desk research in a research project?Literature review = basis for a good research project
1. What is known about the topic?2. How was previous research carried out?3. How are concepts defined and measured?
+ other relevant information: Who has been doing research on this topic? What websites, books and journals contain important information? How should the data be processed? Are there any recommendations for this type of research? What could be a good methodology?
Overview
How do I write an effective research plan?A research plan consists of:
1. Element 1: defining the research questione.g. state your topic as a question
2. Element 2: defining keywordse.g. take into account synonyms
3. Element 3: defining research methodse.g. citation indices
4. Element 4: defining information sources to be usede.g. social media
Step 1: Research question
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 1: defining the research question
definition of the problem > research question
a specific definition of the problem as a research question
= questions posed will be answered in the research project- defines the topic;- defines the scope of the topic- defines in place and time;- puts theory into practice;- puts forward a personal or specific idea.
Example
How do I write an effective research plan?
Definition of the problem:- topic: advertising- scope: advertising and children- time and place: children between 4 and 8 years old in the UK- practice: advertising strategies- personal idea: effective advertising strategies
Research question:What are effective advertising strategies with children between 4 and 8 years old in the UK?
Step 2: Keywords
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 2: defining keywords
research question > keywords
words or phrases you use to retrieve information
= important links to the information available in search engines
- synonyms, homonyms, translations and abbreviations
- Boolean operators
- keyword-based and concept-based search engines
Example
How do I write an effective research plan?
Research question:What are effective advertising strategies with children between 4 and 8 years old in the UK?
Keywords:effective, advertising, advert, ad, strategy, children, toddler
Step 3: Research methods
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 3: defining research methods
keywords > research methods
1. Snowball method
2. Citation indices
3. Keyword expansion
4. Keyword refinement
5. Building block method
6. Pearl growing
7. Interactive scanning
Different methods
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 3: defining research methods
1. Snowball method source > references > source > references disadvantage: older information
2. Citation indices overview of articles which refer to other articles advantage: recent information
3. Keyword expansion keyword > + keyword > + keyword advantage: specific information
Different methods ctd.
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 3: defining research methods
4. Keyword refinement keyword > - keyword > - keyword disadvantage: time-consuming
5. Building block method AND, OR, NOT, proximity search, truncation, nesting, etc. advantage: effective
6. Pearl growing trial and error disadvantage: less structured
Different methods ctd.
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 3: defining research methods
7. Interactive scanning use of web directories advantage: serendipity
Example
How do I write an effective research plan?
Keywords:effective, advertising, advert, ad, strategy, children, toddler, UK
Research method:((‘ad’ OR ‘advert’ OR ‘advertising’) AND ‘strategy’ AND ‘toddler’) NOT ‘US’
Step 4: Information sources
How do I write an effective research plan?
Element 4: defining information sources to be used
research methods > information sources
a broad range of possibly valid information sources = research question has an impact on choice of source
- free and deep web
- social media
- libraries, multimedia centres and archives
- government agencies, research bureaux and specialists
- scientific information sources
Example
How do I write an effective research plan?
Research method:((‘ad’ OR ‘advert’ OR ‘advertising’) AND ‘strategy’ AND ‘toddler’) NOT ‘US’
Information sources:EbscoHost, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Google Books
Free web
Free web
The free web contains lots of low-quality information, so: use different search engines (not just Google) use advanced search options use Boolean operators browse weblogs and forums use RSS-feeds or alerts
Examples: Google Yahoo! online dictionaries
Deep web
Deep web
The deep web contains lots of high-quality information, but: information is often not public information is not free retrieved via databases, e.g. MD Info
host organisations, e.g. EbscoHost
Examples: market information sales figures LibriLinks
Different possibilities
Deep web
Consider the following sources:
- Google Scholar and Google Books
- social media, e.g. LinkedIn
- classification codes, e.g. NAICS
- government agencies, e.g. Eurostat
- scholarly journals, e.g. Journal of Applied Psychology
- trade magazines, e.g. Industry Week
- popular magazines, e.g. Discover
Check credibility
Assessing search outcome
Questions: Does the website contain information on the author? Can you ask the author any questions? Has the author won his spurs? Does the author work for an organisation? Is this organisation well-known and reputable? Have the contents been peer reviewed?
Don’ts:
Anonymity, lack of quality control, bad reviews, spelling or grammar mistakes
Check accuracy
Assessing search outcome
Questions: Is the information correct? Is it a clear comprehensible document? Does it provide its readers with much detail? Is the information up-to-date? Does the author withhold any information?
Don’ts:
No date, vague assumptions, old information in a dynamic field of research, one point of view, etc.
Check reasonableness
Assessing search outcome
Questions: Does the author mention both arguments and counterarguments? Does the author write in an objective way? Could the author be a webrep? Does the information come from an annual report? Does the information come from a weblog or forum? Does the information come from a review site?
Don’ts:
Unsuitable tone and attitude, exaggeration, contradictions, conflict of interest, tone of voice, etc.
Check support
Assessing search outcome
Questions: Is there a clear reference list? Can you ask the author any questions? Can you find any contact information on the website? Can the information be confirmed?
Don’ts:
No reference list, lack of information, no contact information, information cannot be confirmed, etc.
Interesting weblinks
http://bib.kuleuven.be/apps/cba/tutorial_en/
http://www.vtstutorials.ac.uk/detective/index.html
http://guides.library.uwm.edu/infolit
https://ilrb.cf.ac.uk/index.html
http://www.clipinfolit.org/