Embedded Files
Research Tips Workshop Presentation
Research Tips Workshop Presentation
Tips and Tricks
Tips and Tricks
KEYWORDS
KEYWORDS
When searching, don't ask full questions. Instead, use keywords.
Boolean
Boolean
You can also use what is called "Boolean" operators to help narrow your search
THE "C.R.A.P." TEST
THE "C.R.A.P." TEST
Currency Relevance Authority Accuracy Purpose
C.R.A.P. Test Handout
When you start your research, not all the information you find is going to be relevant, useful, or even correct. Here's a simple way of checking to see if the information you found is useful to you.
Adapted from Carleton University: https://library.carleton.ca/help/evaluating-online-information-use-crap-test
Currency
Currency
- When was your source made? What is the date of publication?
- Has your source ever been updated?
- Depending on your research topic, the oldest your source should be is around 10-15 years
- Even for historical topics, history does not change, but research and perspectives do
Relevance
Relevance
- Does this source relate to your topic?
- Is this source written for your grade level?
- For example, you might not want to use a PhD Dissertation for a grade 9 Geography assignment!
Authority
Authority
- Who created/wrote the source? Is it from a recognized institution (like a university?)
- Does the author have valid credentials?
- Who is the publisher? Are they reputable?
- If you are reading an article, is it peer reviewed? Has the author been published before?
- Is the information part of an advertisement?
Purpose
Purpose
- Is the information biased?
- What message is the author trying to send?
Primary Vs. Secondary Sources
Primary Vs. Secondary Sources
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
- ORIGINAL piece of evidence that must be analyzed to fit in a research project
- Created/written by someone from the time period or has a direct connection to a certain event or time period
- Examples: newspapers from the time period, photographs, journal entries, artwork/literature/music, speeches, letters, interviews
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
- a "second-hand" account of a topic, often ANALYZING a series of primary source documents
- Examples: scholarly articles, interpretive newspaper articles (such as sources written as a memorial), scholarly books
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