Research Planning--Part 5 Identifying Information Needs and Sources Authored by Ken Burhanna and Billie Reinhart The text only versions provide a linear presentation of the Hands-On flash modules.  The Hands-On modules often incorporate images and interactive presentations to help demonstrate and support the text.  These images and interactive features are lost in the text only format.  Users can supplement their reading of the text versions by going onto the World Wide Web and visiting the web sites and doing the searches that the text indicates.  This is most easily done by printing the text version and using it as a guide. After completing this module you will be able to: 1. Define Your Information Needs. 2. Distinguish between Primary and Secondary Sources. 3. Know Which Information Sources to Use. Introduction To develop a firm idea of your information needs and the resources required to meet them, you should first: - Do a good analysis of your assignment. - Select a topic that meets your needs and interests you. - Gather background information on your topic. - Focus your topic. You might know some of your needs without going through these steps, but because research is a process, your true needs might not be evident until you've focused your topic.   1. Defining Information Needs When we say information needs, we are referring to the information you need to discover through research to support your topic.  To understand these needs, you should define the characteristics of the needed information.   A helpful approach to this is to consider the amount, currency, type, format, and availability of the information you need. Amount of Information The amount of information you need is sometimes indicated in your assignment.  For example your assignment may say:   "Cite at least three articles in support of your thesis." Yet remember that you have an ethical responsibility to use and cite the best information available. This could mean that you may need to use more sources than your assignment indicated. Currency of Information Knowing the currency or age of the information you require gives clues as to where it can be found and accessed. Now >>> Radio/TV/Internet >>> Web Search Tools Days >>> Newspapers >>> Newspaper Research Databases Weeks >>> Magazines >>> Periodical Databases 6 Months + >>> Journals >>> Periodical Databases 2 Years + >>> Books >>> Library Catalog (Scholar) 8-10 Years >>> Reference Sources >>> Library Catalog (Scholar)                                 Types of Information Different types of information serve different needs.  Always consider which type of information will best meet your objectives. Factual:  facts that answer questions who, what, where, when and why. Overview/Review: background and major points of issues or events. Statistical:  representation and/or organization of numerical data. Research:  In-depth reports of scientific inquiry, including methodologies, findings, and conclusions. News reports: Reports of recent events and occurrences of interest. Opinion/Editorial: Expression of personal beliefs or attitudes regarding a topic. Biographical:  Accounts of prominent people's lives. Information Formats Different formats of information contain different types of information.  Always consider which format best fits the type of information you need.    Books                                       Reference Books         Circulating Books    Periodicals         Magazines         Journals         Newspapers    Research Databases    Internet                                               Reference Books:  Good for brief, factual information and overviews.  Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs are just a few examples. Circulating Books:  In-depth, comprehensive information, often providing interpretation and analysis. Magazines:  Not as current as newspapers, but provide more analysis.  Contain general and popular articles about issues and events. Journals:  Report research, theory, and in-depth analysis.  Usually written by experts and scholars. Newspapers:  Most current information appearing in paper.   Contain articles about who, what, where, when, and why.  Includes editorials and some reviews. Research Databases:  Collections of information organized for ease of retrieval.  These resources lead you to or point to information. The Scholar catalog and Academic Source Premier are examples of resarch databases. Internet:  A worldwide computer network that can serve as a distribution platform for information from many other formats:  online books, e-journals, online encyclopedias, etc. Availability of Information Availability of information is concerned largely with time factors that can impact your ability to acquire the information you need. The less time you have to do your research the less information is available to you. Why?  You have less time to do the leg work and resources like Interlibrary Loan can require 10 or more days to fill requests. Balance your allotted work time with the amount of information you need. And always start early! 2. Primary vs. Secondary Sources Primary sources are original materials.  Diaries, letters, autobiographies, interviews, speeches, stories, poetry, drama, paintings, and music are examples of primary sources. Primary sources are original records and data sets of first hand events, without any interpretation or commentary. Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or simply restate primary sources. Often secondary sources are often produced many years after the primary sources they comment on, and rather than first hand observers, scholars usually author them. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and books and articles can all be secondary sources. Exercise - Primary or Secondary Source? E1.Is the following source primary or secondary? "Slave Narratives: interviews from former slaves" This is a primary source. E2.Is the following source primary or secondary? A biography of Vincent van Gogh. This is a secondary source. 3. Knowing Which Sources to Use Facts, Statistics, & Biographical Information Search for these types of information in: - SCHOLAR catalog - Online resources (Virtual Ref) - Research Databases Tip: These types of information often appear within larger collections of information.  For example the population of Cleveland in 1970 can be found within the 1970 Federal Census for Ohio. To search for facts, statistics, and biographical information we can look in Scholar or go to Research Databases. But several useful online resources are available from the Library's Virtual Reference page.  Find the Virtual Reference heading on this page and click the go button next to its drop down box. The Virtual Ref page will connect you to online biographical sources, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and fact books, and to government web sites where a wealth of statistical data can be found. Overviews & In-depth Information Search for these types of information in: - SCHOLAR catalog - Research Databases Tip: Always search SCHOLAR first, then for additional info or in cases where the SCHOLAR search found little, turn to Research Databases.  Start with a broad, general research database like Academic Search Premier, then advance to subject specific databases. Research & Popular Articles Search for these types of information in: - Research Databases Tip: Popular articles can be located using the general databases like InfoTrac and Academic Search Premier.  Research articles can be located through these sources as well, but don't overlook the many subject specific research databases available.  Check the resources available in your subject area at our Subject Portals web page. News Reports Search for these types of information in: - Online resources (Virtual Ref) - Research Databases Tip: The Internet provides a multitude of news outlets.  Visit our Virtual Ref page and check out some News Search Engines like Google News. This concludes Identifying Information Needs and Sources