1 Objectives To interpret and communicate information To

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Objectives • To interpret and communicate information. • To demonstrate the use of various research strategies to obtain information. • To compose and illustrate the correct documentation of resources. 2

Main Menu Research Process Acceptable Sources Interpreting Information Citing Sources 3

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Research Process • Is used to explore and find new or more information about a certain topic • Is usually the first step when writing a paper, thesis, speech, etc. • Includes a seven step process Fun Tip: Work from general to more specific details and record what is found and where it is found. 5

Research Process • Includes the following seven steps: 1. find and develop the topic 2. obtain background information 3. locate books and media sources 4. acquire periodical articles 5. attain online sources 6. evaluate the information found 7. cite the sources 6

Find & Develop the Topic • By considering various topic ideas related to the presentation purpose ‒ can be done by asking a teacher or librarian for ideas • More easily by stating the topic as a question to discover information ‒ for example: What effect does agriculture have on global warming? • By identifying the main concepts or keywords from the topic ‒ for example: global warming, agriculture, farming 7

Find & Develop the Topic • By testing the topic keywords in databases to get a general idea of what information is available – if too much information is found, narrow down the topic – if there is not enough information found, broaden the topic and incorporate related ideas 8

Obtain Background Information • By typing the keywords or main ideas of the topic into a library database • By looking in dictionaries and encyclopedias • Regarding a well developed idea along with correct information about the topic 9

Obtain Background Information • From textbooks – for example, if the topic is the causes of the Civil War reading chapters from a history textbook will provide a starting point of where to look and what to look for when researching • By using bibliographies from books and articles to find more useful resources 10

Locate Books & Media Sources • By typing keywords or main ideas into the library catalog to receive call numbers for books • By browsing in various sections of a library • By using database systems, such as Encyclopedia Britannica 11

Library Call Numbers • Identify where a book can be found in a library • Most commonly classify books using the Dewey Decimal System – invented by Melvil Dewey in 1876 • Classify books into main divisions for easier accessibility – for example: 200 – religion; 300 – social sciences; 400 – language; and so on 12

Acquire Periodical Articles • By using library databases or indexes • From reputable journals, magazines and newspapers – scholarly journals report original research, and articles are written by experts in the field of focus – trade journals cover practical information on a particular industry and are written by experts in the industry

Attain Online Sources • Which are valid, reliable and unbiased – the author or sponsor of the source should be investigated – the most trusted online sources are from educational institutes (URLs ending. edu) and government agencies(URLs ending. gov) – online sources with URLs ending. org are from nonprofit organizations and quality depends on the sponsoring organization Fun Tip: Wiki websites should not typically be used because anyone can edit their content.

Evaluate Information Found • To determine what information has been found and what information is still missing • To make any final changes to the main concepts or ideas • By taking a final look at the topic to better answer the question 15

Evaluate Information Found • By assessing the author and publication information of sources – what are the author’s credentials? – who is the publisher, and when was the source published? • By assessing the content of sources – who is the intended audience? – is the information fact or opinion? – how extensive and substantial is the information?

Cite Sources • In order to give credit to the sources used – plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another without properly crediting the source • By using one of the well-known citation styles – APA, MLA and Chicago are among the most popular citation styles

Assessment 18

Assessment 1. How many steps make up the research process? A. Five B. Six C. Seven D. Eight 2. Which of the following is NOT used to locate book sources? A. Library catalog B. Library C. Database D. Online journal

Assessment 3. Which of the following identifies where a book can be found in a library? A. Library call number B. Alphabetical order C. Database ID number D. Index number 4. Websites ending in. edu indicate which of the following? A. The site is an educational institution B. The site is a government institution C. The site is a non-profit organization D. The site is only meant to be used in educational publications

Assessment 5. Which of the following is defined as using the ideas or words of another without properly crediting the source? A. Copyright B. Patent C. Plagiarism D. Intellectual property

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Acceptable Sources • Include the following: – primary sources – periodicals – scholarly journals – government agencies – books – electronic media 23

Primary Sources • Rely on firsthand data • Are obtained through the following three major methods: – observational studies – experimental research – normative survey research 24

Observational Studies • Require the researcher to observe and statistically analyze a specific phenomenon – for example: marketing experts observe and analyze buying habits of certain age groups to identify potential popular markets 25

Experimental Research • Typically involves two or more samples including exactly the same components under controlled conditions – a variable is added to one of the samples and any differences observed are seen as the result of the variable – for example: comparing customer satisfaction level by using face-to-face and computer-mediated communication methods with the same customers under the same circumstances 26

Normative Survey Research • Obtains information from selected or random participants to determine their status at a specific time – for example: customer satisfaction surveys • Instruments include: – questionnaires – opinion surveys – interviews – focus groups 27

Periodicals • Are publications which are published on a regular basis • Include magazines, newspapers, scholarly and trade journals and newsletters • Are written by reporters, experts and other credible sources Fun Tip: E-journals are articles or complete journals fully available electronically via a website on the Internet. 28

Scholarly Journals • Are a type of periodical written for scholars, professionals and students • Are filled with research and information on the topic – often include technical jargon • Include articles with abstracts, descriptions, footnotes and bibliographies – an abstract is a summary of the article • Have been reviewed for accuracy by other scholars in the field of study 29

Government Agencies • Are divisions of the government which oversee and regulate administration over specific areas • Are commonly characterized by department or ministry – for example: U. S. Department of Agriculture • Release newsletters, fact sheets and backgrounders to provide insight on a topic Fun Fact: The U. S. Postal Service is a government agency employing more than 500, 000 Americans. 30

Books • Are collections of information, written and/or illustrated, made of materials such as paper bound together on one side • Vary in length • Usually discuss one topic – classroom textbooks and encyclopedias cover a broad range of topics Fun Fact: The first book ever published was the Gutenberg Bible in 1455. 31

Electronic Media • Are sources of data which are stored electronically • Include podcasts, videos, the Internet and radio broadcasts • Must be specially evaluated for validity and reliability – the Internet, in particular, is filled with information, much of which is unsupported or false Fun Fact: Podcasts are series of digital media files, released episodically, which can be downloaded through the web. 32

Assessment 33

Assessment 1. Which of the following is NOT an acceptable source? A. Primary sources B. Scholarly sources C. Government agencies D. Fashion magazines 2. Which of the following is NOT a method of obtaining primary sources? A. Observational study B. Experimental research C. Scholarly journal D. Normative survey research 34

Assessment 3. A customer satisfaction survey is an example of which of the following? A. Observational study B. Experimental research C. Scholarly journal D. Normative survey research 4. Which of the following require the researcher to observe and statistically analyze a specific phenomenon? A. Observational studies B. Experimental research projects C. Scholarly journals D. Normative survey research projects

Assessment 5. Which of the following is a summary of an article in a scholarly journal? A. Abstract B. Patent C. Outline D. Report

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Interpreting Information • Is making sense of, explaining the meaning of, or creating significance of the research found • Requires all research information to be reviewed – if research uncovered too much information to include, the most valid, reliable and relevant research must be determined

Interpreting Information • Is done by translating the information orally or writing it out • Can also be performed by taking notes on podcasts, video productions and other electronic sources • Includes using data from charts and diagrams to draw conclusions 39

Interpreting Information • Includes looking for patterns and congruencies in the research – information which is repeated by more than one source is typically the most important • Includes finding a complete answer to the research question formed when developing the topic – if the information collected does not answer the question completely, more research must be performed

Interpreting Information • Requires asking questions about the information found, including: – is there a theme to the information? what is it? – how might someone else interpret the information differently? – why might some information be considered contradictory?

Interpreting Information • Allows for complete understanding of the topic • Allows for organization of the information • Allows for the information to be put in the writer’s own words rather than be plagiarized 42

Assessment 43

Assessment 1. Which of the following is the act of making sense of the research found? A. Primary source analytics B. Summarizing sources C. Secondary source analytics D. Interpreting information 2. Which of the following must be done if too much information is found? A. Conduct an observational study B. Gather more information C. Determine the most valid, reliable and relevant information D. Develop a different research topic

Assessment 3. Information repeated by more than one source is which of the following? A. Least important B. Most important C. Unusable D. Plagiarized 4. Which of the following is NOT a question asked to help interpret information? A. Is there a theme? B. How might someone else interpret the information? C. Does the information support my opinion? D. Why might some of the information be considered contradictory?

Assessment 5. Interpreting information can help prevent which of the following? A. Plagiarism B. Patent infringement C. Too many resources being cited in the bibliography D. Lack of primary sources

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Citing Sources • Is the most important step in the research process • Can be accomplished by creating a works cited or bibliography page – a bibliography is a list of the sources used to create an educated final product, whether it is a presentation or paper 48

Citation Styles • Include the following: – APA – Chicago – MLA Fun Tip: Citing sources can be complex, but there are many educational websites which offer help, such as the Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab. 49

APA style Books Author, A. A. (year Shotton, M. A (1989). published). Title of work. Computer addiction? A Location: Publisher. study of computer dependency. London, England: Taylor & Francis. 50

APA style Periodicals Author, A. A. (date published). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume, page numbers. Brody, J. E. (2007, December 11). Mental reserves keep brain agile. The New York Times, p. A 13. 51

APA Style Online Sources Author, A. A. (year published). Article or page title. Larger Publication Title, volume or issue. Retrieved from http: //url address Goya, M. (2010). Bioethics: A worldwide issue. Nativeweb. Retrieved from http: /nativeweb. org/page s/goya. html

Chicago style Books Author. Title of Book. City published: Publisher, year published. Shotton, M. A. Computer Addiction? A Study of Computer Dependency. London: Taylor and Francis, 1989. 53

Chicago style Periodicals Author, A. A. “Title of Article. ” Title of Periodical, Volume, date published. Brody, J. E. “Mental Reserves Keep Brain Agile. ” The New York Times, December 11, 2007. 54

Chicago Style Online Sources Author, A. A. “Article or Page Title. ” Larger Publication Title. http: //url address Goya, M. “Bioethics: A Worldwide Issue. ” Nativeweb. http: /nativeweb. org/page s/goya. html

MLA style Books Author. Title of Book. City Published: Publisher, Year. Print. Shotton, Mark. Computer Addiction? A Study of Computer Dependency. London: Taylor and Francis, 1989. Print. 56

MLA style Periodicals Author. “Title of Article. ” Title of Periodical, Volume, date published: page numbers. Print or Web. Brody, Julie. “Mental Reserves Keep Brain Agile. ” The New York Times, December 11, 2007: A 13. Print. 57

MLA Style Online Sources Author. “Title of Article Goya, M. “Bioethics: A of Page. ” Title of Site. Worldwide Issue. ” Sponsor, date published. Nativeweb, Web. Date accessed. 2010. Web. March 12, 2011.

Assessment 59

Assessment 1. Which of the following is the most important step in the research process? A. Developing a topic B. Obtaining background information C. Citing sources D. Evaluating information found 2. Which of the following is a list of sources used to create the final product? A. Observational study B. Citation legend C. Bibliography D. Copyright

Assessment 3. Which of the following styles of citations is used in the following citation? Brody, J. E. (2007, December 11). Mental reserves keep brain agile. The New York Times, p. A 13 A. APA B. MLA C. Chicago D. ASA

Assessment 4. Which of the following styles of citations is used in the following citation? Shotton, M. A. Computer Addiction? A Study of Computer Dependency. London: Taylor and Francis, 1989. A. APA B. MLA C. Chicago D. ASA

Assessment 5. Which of the following styles of citations is used in the following citation? Brody, Julie. “Mental Reserves Keep Brain Agile. ” The New York Times, December 11, 2007: A 13. Print. A. APA B. MLA C. Chicago D. ASA

Assessment 64

Assessment 1. ______ journals are written for a specific audience and filled with technical jargon on a particular topic. A. Academic B. Personal C. Scientific D. Specialized E. Scholarly

Assessment 2. Magazines, journals, newsletters and newspapers are all examples of _____. A. Periodicals B. Articles C. Information D. Resources E. Print sources 66

Assessment 3. _____ are a series of media files which are released as episodes and can be downloaded digitally. A. Electronic media B. Journals C. Podcasts D. Websites E. Articles 67

Assessment 4. Meghan is writing a paper about the most influential leaders of our time. While researching this topic, she finds several biographies in the library about leaders she is interested in discussing. The biographies she found are an example of a ______ source. A. User generated B. Credible C. Unreliable D. Copy E. Wiki 68

Assessment 5. After Meghan has completed her research, she composes her paper discussing the most influential leaders. In her paper, she uses a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt found in one of her books. ______ her sources is the most important step of the research process. A. Reading B. Citing C. Copying D. Writing E. Evaluating 69

Assessment 6. The three citation styles are: A. AP, MLA, APA B. AP, Chicago, APA C. MLA, Chicago, AP D. APA, MLA, Chicago E. APP, APA, Chicago 70

Assessment 7. Dan is looking for a fiction book in the library. The librarian suggests a book and writes down a number to help him find the book. The number the librarian wrote down is the ______ number. A. Book B. Research C. Call D. Library E. Search 71

Assessment 8. A works cited page, or bibliography, lists the _____ used while gathering information about the topic. A. Sources B. Information C. Quotes D. Materials E. Data 72

Assessment 9. ______ information allows for any last minute adjustments to the main concepts or ideas. A. Reading B. Citing C. Writing D. Evaluating E. Copying 73

Assessment 10. The _____ process is used to explore and find new or more information about a certain topic. A. Research B. Writing C. Communication D. Evaluation E. Learning 74

Resources • Blake, Gary. (2002). “How to Organize Information”. Retrieved from http: //www. irmi. com • Lehman, C. M. (2011). Business communication. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. • “ The Information Universe”. (2003) Alverno College. Retrieved from http: //depts. alverno. edu • “Purdue Online Writing Lab”. (2010) Purdue OWL. Retrieved from http: //owl. english. purdue. edu • “The Research Process”. University Library. University of Illinois. Retrieved from http: //www. library. illinois. edu • Cornell University Library. Retrieved from http: //www. library. cornell. edu 75

Acknowledgements Production Coordinators Mai Lee Holmes Amy Hogan Technical Writer Jessica Odom Graphics Designers Melody Rowell Daniel Johnson Production Manager Maggie Bigham Brand Manager Megan O’Quinn Executive Producers Gordon W. Davis Jeff Lansdell © MMXIV CEV Multimedia, Ltd. 76