This document discusses exploring secondary data sources for research. It describes different types of secondary sources like indexes, dictionaries, encyclopedias and directories that can provide background information. It also discusses evaluating these sources based on their purpose, scope, authority and other attributes. The document outlines searching databases and the web to find relevant secondary sources and documents the search process. It introduces data mining internal sources and common data mining techniques.
6. Types of Information Sources
• Indexes and Bibliographies
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Handbooks
• Directories
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7. Secondary Sources by Type
• Indexes and Bibliographies
– to find or locate books or articles
– to find authors, topics to use in online
searches
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8. Secondary Sources by Type
• Dictionaries
– to identify jargon of an industry--used for
online searches
– to identify bell-weather events in an
industry
– to identify knowledgeable people to
interview
– to identify organizations of influence
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9. Secondary Sources by Type
• Encyclopedias
– To identify historical or background
information
– To find critical dates within an industry
– To find events of significance to the
industry, company
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10. Secondary Sources by Type
• Handbooks
– To find facts relevant to topic
– To identify influential individuals through
source citations
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11. Secondary Sources by Type
• Directories
– To identify influential people and
organizations
– to find addresses, e-mail, other contact info
on these people and organizations
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13. Evaluating Sources
• Purpose
– What the author is attempting to
accomplish
• identify hidden agenda(s)
• identify direction of bias
– Seek both biased and unbiased sources
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14. Evaluating Sources
• Scope
– Identify dates of inclusion and
exclusion
– Identify subjects of inclusion and
exclusion
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15. Evaluating Sources
• Authority
– Identify background of author
• Credentials: educational,
professional
• Experience: duration, setting, level
– Identify the level of scholarship in
content
• footnotes, endnotes
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16. Evaluating Sources
• Audience
– Identify knowledge level and
background
– Identify orientation and bias
– Seek biased and unbiased sources
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17. Evaluating Sources
• Format
– Order of content
– Versatility of use
• Indexed?
• Searchable?
• Downloadable?
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18. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
ABI/Inform
Business InfoSuite
Business Source
DowJones Interactive
Nexis-Lexis Universe
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19. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
Construct a search query
Boolean Operators
OR - for plurals, synonyms spelling
variations (woman OR women)
AND - narrows your search
advertising AND bibliography
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20. Searching Databases
Construct a search query
Boolean Operators (cont.)
NOT/AND NOT- eliminates terms
award NOT trophy
ADJ - order key terms within your
search
assisted ADJ living
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21. Searching Databases
Construct a search query
Boolean Operators
NOT/AND NOT- eliminates terms
award NOT trophy
ADJ - order key terms within your
search
assisted ADJ living
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22. Searching Databases
Construct a search query
Boolean Operators (cont.)
? or * - to truncate a term
nur* for nurse, nursing
“X” for phrase searching
“advertising campaigns”
Limiters
dates
source type
language
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23. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
Construct a search query
– Review and evaluate search results
• Relevancy
• Quantity
• Timeliness
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24. Searching Databases
– Modify the search query
• Check bibliography
• new key words,
• other authors
• Link directly
• Adapt original search query
• Create new search query with new key
words
• Search for other works by same
author(s)
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25. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
Construct a search query
Document findings
Print or download search findings
Download full-text source
Print full-text source
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26. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
Construct a search query
Document findings
Retrieve or request articles
Search online catalog
Interlibrary loan
Interlibrary delivery
Supplement results with Web sources
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27. Searching Databases
Select an appropriate database
Construct a search query
Document findings
Retrieve or request articles
Supplement results with Web sources
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28. Web Searches
Select Search Engine or Directory
– Danny Sullivan’s
Search Engine Watch
www.searchenginewatch.com
– Greg Notess”
Search Engine Showdown
www.notess.com/search/
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29. Web Searches
Select Search Engine or Directory
Determine Search Options and
Protocol
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30. Web Searches
Select Search Engine or Directory
Determine Search Options and
Protocol
Construct search query
– Review search results
– Modify search query
– Search using a different search engine
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31. Web Searches
Select Search Engine or Directory
Determine Search Options and
Protocol
Construct search query
Document your findings
– search findings
– full text sources
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32. Web Searches
Select Search Engine or Directory
Determine Search Options and
Protocol
Construct search query
Document your findings
Supplement Web results from other
sources
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