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Evaluating Online Resources

Evaluating Online Resources. Walden University Library. Your hosts Sommer Berg Michelle Hajder. GoToWebinar Control Panel. 3. Primary vs. Secondary Sources Popular, Trade and Peer-Reviewed Identifying Peer-Reviewed Sources Evaluating internet sources. Assertion / Thesis

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Evaluating Online Resources

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  1. Evaluating Online Resources Walden University Library

  2. Your hosts • Sommer Berg • Michelle Hajder

  3. GoToWebinar Control Panel 3

  4. Primary vs. Secondary Sources • Popular, Trade and Peer-Reviewed • Identifying Peer-Reviewed Sources • Evaluating internet sources

  5. Assertion / Thesis Evidence / Sources

  6. What types of sources are there?

  7. Which sources should you use in your research?

  8. Primary sources “Primary sources contain the original information and are usually the place where the original information first appears…” – Univ. of Minnesota Libraries “They are from the time period involved and have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based…” – Univ. of Washington Libraries

  9. Primary sources • Primary sources = original theories & research • Could be any format! • Books or essays outlining a new theory or model • Journal article presenting new research • Conference papers? Reports? Statistics? • How can you identify primary? Look at the content

  10. Secondary sources • “Secondary sources are less easily defined than primary sources. Generally, they are accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources. Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence.” – University of Washington Libraries

  11. Secondary sources - examples • Textbooks • Literature reviews • Encyclopedias • Some reports and analyses

  12. Secondary Sources • When to use secondary sources? • Can help you get an overview of the topic • Can help you get ideas for new research directions • Can direct you to primary sources

  13. Scholarly vs. Popular Scholarly Popular

  14. Books & eBooks • eBooks are just digitized print books • Broad and foundational coverage of a topic • Books have a longer publishing cycle, so they aren’t a source to consult for trends • Books are not peer reviewed, but go through an editorial process

  15. Periodicals • Published periodically: • Popular Magazines & Newspapers: Every day, week, month • Trade Journals: weekly or monthly • Peer Reviewed Journals: monthly, quarterly, semi-annually

  16. Popular Magazines & Newspapers • • General reading level • • Rarely cites sources • • Purpose of the article is to inform, entertain, or present an opinion • • Audience: non-professionals • • Due to frequency of publication, usually the first to report about a trend or news story.

  17. Trade Journals • • Uses jargon of the industry • • Occasionally cite sources • • Purpose of the article is to report industry trends, practical advice, and industry news • • Audience: professionals in a specific industry.

  18. Peer Reviewed Journals • • Uses jargon of the discipline • • Extensive footnotes/references at the end of the article • • Purpose of the article is to publish the results of research • • Audience: scholars, researchers, professionals, students • • Graphics are usually statistical illustrations, in black-and-white

  19. The Peer Review Process • Any source that undergoes a specific process of being reviewed by an editorial board of experts in the field before the source is accepted for publication • Referred to as Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, and Scholarly • Peer review process takes time, current events will take years to show up in the peer-reviewed literature

  20. Finding peer-reviewed journals • Checking a box in the library databases • Ulrich’s periodicals directory • Information from the publishers – Google the journal title to find their website

  21. Are only peer-reviewed articles scholarly? What about… • Statistics? • Government reports? • Dissertations? • Conference papers? • Interviews, field work…???

  22. Different sources… …for different purposes. • When would you consult: • Popular sources? • Trade publications? • Reference Materials? • Primary sources? • Websites….

  23. “I got it off the internet” ….What does that really mean?

  24. What’s on the internet? • Discussion forums • Artistic/creative writing sites • Library databases • Online journals • E-books • Government agency websites • Academic websites • Search engines • Blogs (journals, personal writing) • News / news feeds • Personal sites • Entertainment sites • Commercial sites • Product reviews

  25. Which internet sources should you use in your research?

  26. Understanding Web Addresses • Root of a web address has two main components • Name of the website • Domain designation • Only .gov domains are regulated and indicate you are viewing a government website • Anyone can buy a website domain with .com or .org • While .edu is only used for education institutions, many allow students to post content.

  27. Government Websites .gov • City, county, state, and federal statistics and reports can be found on .gov websites. • Laws/Statutes, regulations, and codes • Government agencies • Find government information using the following: • http://www.google.com/unclesam • http://www.usa.gov/

  28. Evaluating in Context The 3 “C”s • Compare • Corroborate • Context • Read more about this evaluative approach in Meola, Marc (2004). "Chucking the Checklist: A Contextual Approach to Teaching Undergraduates Web-Site Evaluation." Portal 4(3) pp.331-344. Project MUSE.

  29. Compare • The first step when evaluating a source • Find an additional source on the same topic and compare the information. • If you spot differences, then you’ll need to investigate further.

  30. Corroborate • The next step is to find and compare your information to multiple sources. • This step is important in case the 2 compared sources were based on the same research. • Corroborating will strengthen your thesis by increasing your reference points.

  31. Context • The final step is to research the context of the information. • Research the following: • What research is currently being published in the field? • What is the mainstream theory or understanding of the topic? • Are there other theories or debates about the topic?

  32. The True but Little Known Facts about Women and AIDS • If you can’t verify the information in multiple places (corroborate), then it’s probably bunk. • http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

  33. Review • Different types of resources • Different uses for different sources • Examine everything! • What makes this piece of information credible? • Does it provide strong support for my research?

  34. Questions?

  35. ASK – A – LIBRARIAN 800-930-0914 Thank you!

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