Research

Assessing Information Needs—Discussion Guide

Performance Indicator: Assess information needs

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

At many points in your life, you will need to seek information through research.

• Anytime you have a question to answer or a problem to solve, research helps you find the information you need.

• However, it can be pretty difficult to know where to begin!

• Before you dive in, it is important to figure out what information you really need to help guide your research.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Types of information

• Not all information is the same.

• When you start a research project, you will need to consider the different types of information that you could come across.

• Factual information consists of statements that are true and supported by evidence.

• An opinion is a person’s point of view or belief about a topic.

• Criticism is a judgment about the positive and negative qualities of something.

• The type of information you seek depends on the needs of your research.

Slide #3 Types of information sources

• Before determining your information needs, it is important to consider the various sources of the information available.
• These types of sources vary in terms of their relevance, ease of access, and cost.
• Primary sources vs. secondary sources: Primary sources offer a direct or first-hand account, while secondary sources critique or evaluate those primary sources.
• Formal vs. informal sources: Formal information sources are scholarly, structured, organized, and official. Informal sources could be more conversational and focus on popular culture and current events rather than academic information.
• Current vs. historical sources: Depending on your research, you might want to seek timely, recent information or historical data from a certain time period.
• Sources meant for different audiences: The discipline for which the information was written impacts the information itself.

Discussion #2: Ask students if they can think of any other types of information sources.

Slide #4 How to assess information needs

• Break down your research question into parts.
• Decide what types of information you need (facts, opinions, criticism) to answer each part.
• Identify which information sources will provide the information you need.
• Determine what information is already available.
  • • Sometimes, combining existing information in new ways can create new information.
    • Analyzing and synthesizing information allows you to draw conclusions and can help you avoid doing additional research.
• Consider the availability, importance, cost, time, and relevance of various information sources.
• Weigh the costs of obtaining information versus the benefits that the information will bring to your research.
• Narrow down to your top information priorities.

Discussion #3: Ask students if they can think of an example of an instance in which obtaining information would be too costly.

Slide #5 How information needs evolve

• As you are researching, the information you are seeking will likely change.
• Finding the answer to one question might lead to several new questions.
• Or, as you gather information, you might find facts and figures that support your research, but that you hadn’t thought of before.
• It is important to keep an open mind and adapt.
• However, it is also important to stick to your guiding research question.
• The amount of information available can be overwhelming, and it is easy to get
  off track.
• Always keep your research question in mind.

Obtaining Information Efficiently—Discussion Guide

Performance Indicator: Obtain needed information efficiently

Slide 7 THINK ABOUT IT

What do all of the following situations have in common?

• You forgot that you have a potluck dinner to attend and need to find a great recipe ASAP!

• Your teacher assigns a 10-page research report about a famous author.

• Your supervisor asks you to make a presentation about your company’s competitors.

• All of these situations require information—information that you probably need to find!

• How would you go about finding the information you need as efficiently as possible?

• Read on to find out.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #8 Methods of obtaining information

• You can obtain information using a variety of techniques and sources, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
• One of the most convenient and efficient ways of obtaining information is an online search.
  • Search engines such as Google and Bing make it easy to locate information using keywords and phrases.
  • Using online searches gives you access to the widest selection of current information in many different formats, such as:
    • News articles
    • Industry publications
    • Educational materials
    • Company and government websites
    • Blogs
    • Videos
    • So much more
  • However, without good search techniques, it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for within the millions of websites the Internet has to offer.
  • It is also difficult to verify the accuracy and quality of information on the Web because anyone can create a website.
• The library is a great place to locate scholarly, reliable information from books and online sources.
  • Librarians are information experts who curate high-quality sources and can guide you toward the information you need.
  • Books are organized by subject area, making it easy to locate what you want.
  • However, libraries are limited and might not have the most up-to-date sources.
  • It also takes time to navigate the library and obtain all of the information available.
• Databases are collections of published articles and journals that are peer-reviewed and scholarly.
  • This information is high-quality and academically reliable, going in depth on a variety of topics.
  • These databases or articles might, however, have a cost associated with them.
  • Many schools, libraries, and universities subscribe to these databases, which could allow you to access them for free.
  • Databases also contain plenty of information, so good search techniques are important.
• In some instances, you will need to generate your own new information rather than finding secondary sources.
  • Primary research generates data that are new and specific to the problem or project at hand.
  • You may need to conduct an experiment, a focus group, an observation, a survey, an interview, or an analysis.
  • Primary research provides the most relevant and up-to-date information.
  • However, it is costly and time-consuming.
  • You should search for secondary information first to make sure you actually need to conduct your own research.

Slide #9 Good search strategies

• To obtain information, you need to know how to search efficiently.
• Whether that research is online or in a library, the same strategies can help you locate the information you need.
• Divide your topic into segments and research each individually.
• Develop strong keywords related to your topic.
• Identify related phrases or words related to your keywords.
• Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and punctuation (quotation marks, parentheses).
• Use filters (dates, types of sources, author, publisher, etc.).
• Try several different sources/search engines.
• Use a source’s references to find more related information.
• Ask a librarian for help.

Discussion #3: Ask students to share their own search strategies.

Slide #10 Retrieving information

• Once you have located sources of information using a search strategy, the next step is to obtain the information you need from those sources.
• One article might be six paragraphs long but only have two or three sentences that relate to your information needs.
• The first step is to identify the main point of a source of information.
• The headline or title is a good indicator.
• Also, many articles have a summary, introduction, or conclusion that you can read to identify the main idea.
• Read these first and see if they are related to your information needs.
• If they are, continue reading the information.
• Highlight or take notes of the pieces of information you need.
• Keep track of the information you obtain in a way that works for you.
• You can copy and paste important information into a document, file highlighted articles in a safe place, or summarize your notes in a report, for example.

Evaluating Quality and Source of Information—Discussion Guide

Slide 13 THINK ABOUT IT

Carter is trying to find information to include in his research report about technology trends.

• He finally finds an article that discusses a new type of software that fits perfectly with his report.

• He includes the information in his paper and uses the article as a reference.

• However, after his supervisor reviews his report, she tells him that the software he mentioned has already been out for several years!

• Carter did not evaluate the quality and source of his information before using it, and now, he will have to redo his report.

• It is important to make sure that the information you’re using is appropriate for your purpose.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #14 Factors that indicate quality

• Reliable: Comes from a credible source of authority on a subject
• Valid: Relevant and appropriate to the research question it intends to answer
• Accurate: True, correct, and contains no errors
• Timely: Current and up to date
• Unbiased: Considers all sides of an issue and sticks to the facts

Discussion #1: Ask students if they can think of other factors that indicate quality.

Slide #15 How to detect bias

• It can be tricky to figure out whether a source of information is biased.
• Many online sources, especially, seem to be reputable and knowledgeable when they are actually coming from a place of prejudice.
• Consider the following questions to figure out if the information is biased:
  • Is it backed up by evidence?
  • Who is the author? What is his/her background and personal beliefs?
  • Who is the publisher/organization behind the information and what does it believe or promote?
  • Can the same information be found in multiple sources?
  • Does the source consider multiple points of view and sides of the issue?
  • Are the website’s ads biased?
  • Are other articles on the site opinionated or biased?
  • Does searching for information about the website reveal any bias?
  • Is the language harsh or extreme, based on emotion rather than logic?
  • Is the content sponsored by another organization or person?

Discussion #2: Ask students if they have ever come across biased information. If so, how did they recognize it?

Slide #`6 How to evaluate information

• Check the website domain name. Is it a government or educational source, or is it a blog or personal site?
• Determine who the author or organization behind the information is.
• Check the publication date to see if it is current.
• Look for any advertisements or sponsored content.
• Identify what resources are cited.
• If any facts seem suspicious, seek other sources of information that confirm them.
• Consider the context of the information.
  • • Context is the surrounding conditions under which something is written.
    • A single line or fact can be taken out of its context and can appear to have a completely different meaning.
    • Make sure you have the whole picture to know whether the information can be trusted.
• Look for signs of bias.
• Look for contradictions—statements that are opposed to one another.
• If a source of information says two things that are not consistent or that conflict with one another, it is likely that it contains inaccuracies.

Applying Information to a Task—Discussion Guide

Slide 19 THINK ABOUT IT

Orin writes a research paper about the 2008 Financial Banking Crisis.

• He includes all the information he finds interesting.

• His teacher comments the paper is incomprehensible due to poor organization and unrelated statistics.

• Orin realizes he didn’t take the time to summarize or organize the information.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #20 It’s important to consider the purpose and audience of any project you are developing.

• Is it to inform, persuade, or entertain?

  • If you are developing a research paper on solar energy, you will need objective information such as facts and statistics to inform your audience about the subject.

  • On the other hand, if you are writing a persuasive speech on why the minimum wage should be raised, you should include strong opinions and logical arguments to support the information you share.

• It’s equally important to consider your audience.

  • Differences in the age group, social status, and setting of your audience will greatly change what information you include.

    • You aren’t likely to share complex financial statistics for a classroom speech or amusing stories in a formal paper.

• Understanding the informational format to use will also help you choose the right tools and develop the information in ways that serve your purpose.

  • For example, if you are developing a written paper, using word processing software will make it easier to create, edit, and print your final paper.

  • If the information is for a verbal presentation, you will benefit from creating notes and visual aids.

    • Presentation software such as PowerPoint is beneficial for creating visual aids with slides and keeping track of presentation notes.

Discussion #1: Ask students to give examples of other projects they have developed and what elements they considered when developing them.

Slide #21 Information needs to be organized.

• If a project is formal or lengthy in nature, it is best to use an outline to separate and organize the information into the main points that need to be covered.

  • Outlines are helpful when creating essays, reports, or formal proposals that will be evaluated by others.

• If you are writing a short summary, a draft is likely the best way to integrate the information you desire into its content.

• When you are creating visual projects such as videos, PowerPoint presentations, and infographics, storyboards are great tools for organizing the information and visual content you want to share.

Discussion #2: Ask students to share other organizational techniques they use to organize information for projects.

Slide #22 There are many ways to integrate collected information into a project.

• Copy and share information.

  • Paraphrase information you want to share to create your own original sentences.

  • If you want to include information written by others word for word, quote the author and place the borrowed words within quotation marks.

  • Simply copy any helpful diagrams and charts including the author’s name.

  • Paraphrasing information and giving credit to original authors help you avoid plagiarism and also increase the credibility of the information you share.

Slide #23 Summarize Information

• Summarize information.

  • When you need to share complex information, it’s best to summarize it to improve the comprehension of your audience.

  • If you are using numerical statistics and data, illustrate the information with graphs or charts so your audience can easily interpret them.

    • A spreadsheet software program such as Excel has excellent tools for creating charts from data.

Slide #6 Visual Images

• Use visual images.

  • A few carefully selected images can complement your message and add needed content.

    • A project about pollution, for example, benefits from images that show the negative consequences of toxic waste.

  • Manipulating an image, such as combining images or adding words, can increase understanding as well.

  • Avoid copyright infringement by making sure that any image you use is free to share and/or manipulate.

  • To add images to electronic documents and files, use the copy and paste features provided by any software you are using.

    • However, sometimes it’s necessary to save an image with a JPG format before you can add it to a file.

Slide #7 There are many forms of media that can communicate information.

• Other forms of media useful for communicating include podcasts, videos, websites, and infographics.

• You can easily include web links to these types of media so your audience can quickly access them through the Internet.

• If you desire to create these forms of media, there are many software programs and tools you may need to use.

• To create visual information such as posters, brochures, and infographics, use desktop publishing software or free online tools such as Canva, Google Charts, and Piktochart.

• Creating high-quality video is more complex requiring the use of cameras and video editing software.

Discussion #3: Ask students to explain the benefits and challenges they have experienced using different forms of media content.

Storing Information—Discussion Guide

Slide 27 THINK ABOUT IT

The science club’s plant sale was a huge success.

• The funds will cover costs for the club’s Grand Canyon trip.

• The top seller can’t find her customer list.

• If she can’t find it, the club won’t be able to collect payment for the plants.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #28 There are many types of personal information that an individual should safely store.

• Forms of identification such as a social security card, birth certificate, or passport should be kept in
  a safe and secure place to prevent identity theft.

• Paystubs, bank statements, and tax returns are examples of financial information that should be kept secure as well.

• Additionally, any résumé and personal references used to apply for employment should be kept in good condition and be convenient to access.

Discussion #1: Ask students to share other examples of information that they store.

Slide #29 Students should store academic information.

• You should store research gathered for school projects, instructions for school assignments, and class notes.

• It’s also a good idea to store graded assignments, teacher evaluations, and semester grades to keep track of your academic progress.

• If you are pursuing post-secondary training or college programs, you should maintain any documents related to college entrance exam scores and any college, scholarship, and financial aid applications you complete.

Slide #30 Employees must store information to be effective.

• If you are an employee, you should maintain any work-related information that you are responsible for, as well as store any company records that you handle.

• You should also store any company policies, procedures, or training materials that inform you how to perform your job correctly.

• Storing information related to your projects and tasks will help you track changes to work projects, improve your time management, and hold others accountable for their commitments.

• Communication relayed through email messages and shared documents also contains important details about projects, meetings, and company activities.

Slide #31 There are advantages and disadvantages of using digital storage.

• Advantages of electronic storage

  • Electronic documents are easy to edit and duplicate which saves a lot of time.

  • They are also easily stored, transported, accessed, and shared via flash drives, cloud storage, and email, which makes them very convenient to use.

  • When working on school or work projects, these advantages improve efficiency and teamwork with others.

• Disadvantages of electronic storage

  • There’s an increased risk of loss through theft, misplaced devices, and cyber threats.

  • It’s susceptible to decay when storage devices break down or the software used to create it becomes obsolete.

Slide #32 There are advantages and disadvantages of storing paper records.

• Advantages of paper storage

  • Paper documents are best for permanent records that do not require frequent access.

  • Documents can last hundreds of years if they are properly stored.

• Disadvantages of paper storage

  • Physical records require a great deal of time and space to maintain.

    • They must be carefully organized alphabetically or numerically in file boxes, drawers, or cabinets.

  • Transporting physical documents is difficult.

  • Misplaced documents can be nearly impossible to locate.

Discussion #2: Ask students to explain the storage method they prefer and give examples of how it benefits them.

Slide #33 To store information effectively, accomplish the following goals.

• Make files accessible and retrievable with good organizational techniques.

• Make sure confidential information is kept secure.

Slide #24 Use the following best practices to store information.

• Carefully name and label documents.

  • Name documents based on the type of information they contain.

  • It can also be helpful to include the creation date of the document in the title.

  • Naming documents with these techniques can help you quickly locate needed files.

• Use appropriate formats and software.

  • Save documents with appropriate file formats to make them accessible to yourself and the people who need them.

  • Use PDF formats for documents that are often shared with others since no specific software is required to open them.

  • For permanent storage, avoid using formats or software that could become outdated soon.

• Keep information secure.

  • Protect confidential documents by using encryption, passwords, and/or dedicated storage locations.

  • Store printed documents containing sensitive information in locked file boxes, cabinets, or desk drawers.

• Organize files into folders.

  • Store related files together in electronic or physical folders.

  • Having folders earmarked for special purposes and activities will make it easier to store and locate any needed information related to an idea, subject, task, or project.

• Choose the best storage location.

  • It’s important to place documents in the most convenient location so you and any individuals who need them can access them.

  • Use cloud storage when remote access is needed.

  • If you are storing class assignments or work documents, use any recommended storage locations.

Discussion #3: Ask students to share any other methods they use to organize or secure their stored records.