Research skills (cont.) Source evaluation

By the end of the lesson you will be able to: evaluate sources using relevant criteria evaluate sources using relevant criteria

Imagine that you have to write an essayImagine that you have to write an essay on the following topic.on the following topic. -discuss areas you should research-discuss areas you should research -what types of sources would you use in-what types of sources would you use in this essay? this essay? The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be twenty-one rather than eighteen. Discuss.

Discuss. What type of sources should you use in your academic assignments? What type of sources should you use in your academic assignments? Why should you evaluate sources? Why should you evaluate sources? What do you need to take under consideration when evaluating sources? What do you need to take under consideration when evaluating sources?

Watch the video and take notes. Use abbreviations and symbols where appropriate. Now, compare your notes in pairs and answer the following questions: 1.What does ”CRAAP” stand for? 2.What questions should you consider at each stage of the source evaluation process? e.com/watch?v=EyM T08mD7Ds

C for… When was the information published, updated and/or revised? When was the information published, updated and/or revised? Is the information out of date for the topic? Is the information out of date for the topic? If it is a website, when was it last updated? If it is a website, when was it last updated? How recent is the data that the text presents? How recent is the data that the text presents? Are there references to other recent publications? Are there references to other recent publications? If the text is not recent, is this important? If the text is not recent, is this important? Has anything happened since it was written (for example, new theories, economic crisis)? Has anything happened since it was written (for example, new theories, economic crisis)? CURRENCY

Relevance Is the information related and relevant to your topic? Is the information related and relevant to your topic? How does this text relate to what you already know? How does this text relate to what you already know? How does the text relate to your research topic: does it provide background information, support for an argument, relevant data / details about the issue? How does the text relate to your research topic: does it provide background information, support for an argument, relevant data / details about the issue? R for…

Authority Who are the authors and/or editors and what are their credentials? Who are the authors and/or editors and what are their credentials? Where do they work? Where do they work? Have they published other works on this topic? Have they published other works on this topic? Is the writer an expert or well-known in this field? Is the writer an expert or well-known in this field? Are they widely cited by others in the field? Are they widely cited by others in the field? For books, are they published by scholarly presses, popular presses or self-published? For books, are they published by scholarly presses, popular presses or self-published? What website posted the article? What website posted the article? What organisation does the website represent? What organisation does the website represent? A for…

ACCURACY Does the source match your understanding of the topic? Does the source match your understanding of the topic? Can you verify claims in other sources? Can you verify claims in other sources? Is the information supported by evidence? Is the information supported by evidence? Is there a bibliography or list of works cited? Is there a bibliography or list of works cited? What types of sources and how many relevant sources are cited? What types of sources and how many relevant sources are cited? Are ideas supported by references to other writers? Are ideas supported by references to other writers? Is the content fact or opinion? Is the content fact or opinion? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors? Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors? A for…

PURPOSE Is the purpose stated? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? Is the purpose stated? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? Is the subject approached from an objective standpoint? If not, what is the author’s bias and how might it influence the information presented? Is the subject approached from an objective standpoint? If not, what is the author’s bias and how might it influence the information presented? Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases? Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases? P for…

Imagine the aim of your research is to prepare to write the following essay: In groups, skim through the distributed texts and apply the CRAAP test. Discuss. Internet censorship in China is a good policy. Discuss.

What about websites? Watch the video and take notes. /watch?v=g6M-ViddtUE /watch?v=g6M-ViddtUE

Website evaluation Why do you need to evaluate websites? Why do you need to evaluate websites? How can domain endings help you evaluate a website? How can domain endings help you evaluate a website? What is ABC and D of website evaluation proces? What is ABC and D of website evaluation proces?

Domain endings.com commercial sites, ads, business info, shopping etc. – good for researching product or a service commercial sites, ads, business info, shopping etc. – good for researching product or a service.edu educational websites, universities, schools – can contain students’ work educational websites, universities, schools – can contain students’ work.gov government pages, public information – good for researching information about law government pages, public information – good for researching information about law.org non-profit organisations, interest groups – organisations have their personal missions and may want to influence public opinion (potentially biased) non-profit organisations, interest groups – organisations have their personal missions and may want to influence public opinion (potentially biased)

ABCDABCDABCDABCD ABCDABCDABCDABCD AUTHORITY – locate the ”About us” page BIAS – evaluate information on ”About us” page, notice adverts on the website CURRENCY – when was the article written / website updated? DOCUMENTATION – where is their information coming from? Are the website’s sources listed?

What have you learnt today? Why should you evaluate sources? Why should you evaluate sources? What do you need to take under consideration when evaluating sources? What do you need to take under consideration when evaluating sources? What is the CRAAP test? What is the CRAAP test? How can domain endings help you evaluate a website? How can domain endings help you evaluate a website? What is ABC and D of website evaluation proces? What is ABC and D of website evaluation proces?

References Gilett, A., Hammond A., Martala M. (2009) Successful Academic Writing, Gilett, A., Hammond A., Martala M. (2009) Successful Academic Writing, Pearson: Longman. ViddtUEhttps:// ViddtUE. Occclibrary (2012) Evaluating Websites. Available at: ViddtUE. Date accessed July 1, ViddtUE Evaluating Websites. D7Ds. Western University (2012) Evaluating Websites. Available at: D7Ds. Date accessed July 1, D7Ds D7Ds