Embedded Files
Collect and Evaluate Information
Collect and Evaluate Information
CARS Explained: View the above presentation to effectively evaluate sources on the Internet.
Evaluating Information
Evaluating Information
Annotated Bibliographies: Create an annotated bibliography.
CARS Overview: This is a one-page infographic overview of the CARS evaluation method.
Continuum of Credibility: Discern credibility of different types of sources.
Fearless Fact Finding: Use these fact-checking sites to verify the truth of what you read online.
Legit-O-Meter: This infographic from Common Sense Media helps you identify the legitimacy of a website.
Cite Your Sources
Cite Your Sources
Cite your sources correctly using the following tools.
Avoid Plagiarism
Avoid Plagiarism
Avoid plagiarism by using quotations correctly.
Follow Copyright Rules
Follow Copyright Rules
Understand copyright, public domain and fair use.
Resources
Resources
General Research Tips
General Research Tips
PROBLEM: JUSTIFICATION AND CREDIBILITY
PROBLEM: JUSTIFICATION AND CREDIBILITY
Search for "benefits of [topic]" to help find research to support why you have set a worthy goal. Consider the component skills/parts of your goal, in addition to the overall goal itself.
Search for general motivation and self-discipline research (this can be shared with your friends!) -- the power of working toward a goal can be its own justification.
Evaluate your sources for CARS to make sure they are credible. Look for experts with credentials, well-known and respected organizations in a particular field, and sites with organizational support (.org, .edu, .gov).
PROBLEM: NOT FINDING INFORMATION
PROBLEM: NOT FINDING INFORMATION
Use the operators to help broaden your search (See "Refine web searches" for ideas to try).
In Google Scholar, use the "Related articles" and the source links for additional ideas.
Identify synonyms as well as broader categories of words related to your search terms. Tool: Visuwords.com
Use the "Find" function (Control/Command F) to find key words in longer articles and web pages.
Use your source's sources! Good sources will have bibliographies; use these to your advantage.
Find an expert and Conduct an Interview.
PROBLEM: NARROWING DOWN RELEVANT INFORMATION
PROBLEM: NARROWING DOWN RELEVANT INFORMATION
Use multiple words in your searches
Use quotation marks around phrases to restrict hits
Use symbol operators to help refine your search (See "Refine web searches" for ideas to try).
Data Collection
Data Collection
All the following can collect both quantitative (measurable) and qualitative (observable) data depending on how they are developed and utilized. Click HERE for more on each tool's strengths and limitations.
SURVEYS AND QUESTIONNAIRES
Strengths: Consistent and precise; provide reliable, easy-to-analyze results.
Limitations: Can be too narrow for complex experiences.
Key Tip: Use simple language and carefully constructed questions
OBSERVATIONS AND CHECKLISTS
Strengths: Can be descriptive, inferential, or evaluative.
Limitations: Can be time intensive, can be biased.
Key Tip: Use checklists for structure and consistency
INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS
Strengths: Can be closed or open-ended, capture complex experiences/opinions.
Limitations: Can be hard to analyze, often not generalizable
Key Tip: Use different levels of questions for purposes.
Support
Support
While inquiry and research follow general common processes, each particular inquiry is unique, each with its own distinct challenges. We in the LMC are here to help you learn how to develop your inquiry skills so that you can adapt them to different situations. If you're stuck, use this Rx form to help us work together to diagnose your difficulties and prescribe some ideas for moving your inquiry forward.
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