*Types of Sources

Print source - A source of information that was originally published and made available to the public by being printed on paper. This would include books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, journals, letters... anything that was originally made available to the public through an ink-on-paper medium. REMEMBER: We always want our sources to be as close to first hand as possible. We also need to consider the reliability of any source we use.

Electronic source - A source of information that was originally made available to the public through electronic means. This would include web pages on the Internet, CD-ROMs, and similar sources; basically, anything you need a computer in order to view. REMEMBER: We always want our sources to be as close to first hand as possible. We also need to consider the reliability of any source we use. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT RELIABLE!

Audio sources - A source of information that is a sound recording. This would include MP3's, CD's, records, audio cassettes, and any other sound media. REMEMBER: We always want our sources to be as close to first hand as possible. We also need to consider the reliability of any source we use.

Video sources - A source of information that presents moving pictures. This would include TV shows, movies, DVD's, video cassettes, and any other video media. REMEMBER: We always want our sources to be as close to first hand as possible. We also need to consider the reliability of any source we use.

Don't be afraid to use a Human Source! Interviews and surveys are great ways to get information. Write up your list of questions (for surveys, they should usually be multiple choice; for interviews, they should usually be more in-depth or long-answer), then go find some people to ask. REMEMBER: We always want our sources to be as close to first hand as possible. We also need to consider the reliability of any source we use.

Interviews

• Write down your questions
• Set up an interview with a person (give them the topic and time to prepare)
• Interview the person
• Read the question
• Write down exactly what the person says
• Ask the next question
• Write the name of the person you interview, the date and location of the interview

Survey - Oral

• Write your question(s). Rule of Thumb: they should be multiple choice.
• Ask a random sample of people the question(s)
• Get relevant demographic information from the people you question.
• Write down all of the following:
  • where you sample,
  • when you sample,
  • the general demographic sampled
  • how many people from each demographic category sampled
  • "Demographic" means "a group within a larger category." For example, some demographic groups could be as follows:
  • 12-14-year-olds, 15-18-year-olds, 19-24-year-olds, 25-35-year-olds, etc.
  • graduated from middle school, graduated from high school, graduated from college, graduated from a post-baccalaureate program, etc.
  • Holmdel resident, Freehold resident, Belmar resident, Hazlet resident, etc.
  • Earns less than $20,000/year, earns $21,000-$50,000/year, earns $51,000-$100,000/year, earns more than $100,000/year
• Where your information comes from is as important as the information itself; that's why demographic information MUST be collected and included with survey information.
  • If you do a survey about whether or not kids should have later bed times, and you only survey kids, you will probably get 100% of your survey respondents saying "Yes." Anyone who looks at that information needs to know it's all kids who said this, or the data could be misinterpreted to mean that parents think kids should have later bed times.

Survey – Written

• Basically the same as an oral survey, but written down.
• Write your question(s). They do not have to be multiple choice, but it is easier to tabulate your results if they are.
• Provide spaces for any demographic data you think would be relevant.
• Have a random sample of people fill out the survey.
• Tabulate your results.