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Chapter 8 Research: Gathering and Using Information Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Develop a Research Plan Start early and gather information that you think you will need. Think carefully about your topic. Where should you go to find information about your topic? Prepare a preliminary list of references. Be selective about materials that will enhance your own knowledge and clarify information for your listeners. Understand your instructor’s specifications for the assignment. Take good notes and keep complete information on the sources. At some point, “enough is enough. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Research: Gathering Information The Internet as an Information Source Basic Guidelines Author Publishing Body Currency Purpose Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Web site criteria? Author or producer? Reliability of source? Bias of source? Completeness and accuracy? Intended audience? Currency of source? Quality of writing? Webmaster contact info provided? Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Social Media as an Information Source Impacts of Social Media on Education It’s free It cuts down the isolation It builds tolerance and understanding of cultural diversity It can amplify passion The world of education is more open My granddaughters Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Information Sources Using Yourself The Interview Establish the purpose of the interview Choose the interviewee Conduct research prior to the interview Record the interview Prepare questions Organize the interview Other considerations Chapter 8, page 207 Nancy Kaszerman/ZUMA Press/Newscom Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Library as an Information Source Library Computer Search Mediated Information Sources The Reference Department Suggestions for Doing Research State a clear purpose before starting your research Begin your research early Use computer searches when possible Maintain a bibliography of sources Take notes Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Virtual Libraries www.vlib.org www.digital-librarian.com www.loc.gov/rr/index.html Your campus library probably has a virtual address as well.

Types of Search Engines Search engines index the contents of the Web and make it easier for the user to find information. Individual search engines, such as Google and Yahoo!, compile their own databases. Meta-search engines, such as Mamma.com and Dogpile, scan many individual search engines simultaneously pulling the top, and usually paid listings, from each. Specialized search engines, or vortals, conduct searches in a particular field. Examples of SSE are GoogleScholar, FindArticles, and WebMD.

Factors in internet research Remember that your research is subject to both your ability to do a good search and other factors such as commercial ones: Paid Inclusion and paid placement When companies want ensure a successful search for them they may pay Google, Yahoo, etc. to guarantee their result ratio

Using Research to Clarify and Support Ideas Testimony Increases trustworthiness Qualified sources Believable to the listener Examples Brief examples Illustrations Analogies Restatements

Testimony Opinions or conclusions of witnesses or recognized authorities add trustworthiness. The speaker’s own experience can be good testimony. Two kinds of testimony: Expert and Lay Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Examples Brief examples: a specific instance used to introduce a topic, drive home a point, or create a desired impression. Illustration: a narrative, case history, or anecdote that is striking and memorable. Two types of illustrations: Factual – a report of something that exists or actual happened Hypothetical - report of something that could happen given a specific set of circumstances Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Examples contd. Analogy: A comparison of two things that are similar in certain essential characteristics. Two types of analogies: Figurative – a comparison of things in different categories. Example: “Life is like a river.” Literal – a comparison of things of the same category. Example: “Birds of a feather…” Restatement: The expression of the same idea but with different words. “To put it another way…” Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Using Research to Clarify and Support Ideas (cont.) Definitions Logical definition Operational definition Definition by example

Definitions contd. Logical: a definition consisting of a term’s dictionary definition and the characteristics that distinguish the term from other members of the same category. Operational: A definition that explains how an object or concept works or lists the steps that make up a process Definition by example: clarifying a term, not by describing it or giving its meaning, but by mentioning or showing an example of it Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Facts and Statistics Fact: A documented occurrence Facts are used to give credibility to opinion and clarify statements based on objectively gathered and documented occurrences, such as statistics. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Statistics Statistics are numerical data that show relationships or summarize or interpret many instances. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Types of Statistics Frequency: How often a relationship or characteristic occurs – ex. 1 out of 5 Average/Mean: The ‘typical’ occurrence – ex. The average American… Percentage: A portion of a whole – ex. 50% Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Guidelines for Statistics Sources must be reliable/neutral Explain statistics you are using Use sparingly Round off large numbers when possible Use visual aids to present statistics if appropriate/possible

Fig. 8.2 Visualizing Statistical Data Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008

Using statistics ethically Check the source – Remember that while statistics are made of numbers that are objective and absolute; the people gathering them can be unreliable. Do not “cherry- pick”: Do not use only the statistics that reflect your opinion without first acknowledging that there may contradictory ones Use statistics in their context – statistics are not eternal and are always subject to being updated. They are essentially quantitative captures of a moment in time. Statistics of populations never reflect the ENTIRE population, only the portion that participated. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008