This document provides guidance on research and information literacy. It outlines strategies for conducting academic research, including how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources. It describes how to perform a literature search and online searches for information. The document discusses how to evaluate sources and provides examples of reliable academic databases like ERIC and JSTOR that contain peer-reviewed research. It also offers tips for developing search strategies, such as using keywords, synonyms, and Boolean operators to narrow or broaden searches effectively.

1. Research and Information Literacy

2. Lesson Outline
Describe strategy for academic research.
Recognize the difference between primary and secondary research.
Understand what is meant by a literature search.
Understand approaches to online search for information.
Understand concepts in evaluating evidence.

3. Primary & SecondaryResearch
Primary research
Materials that originate from the time
and place of the events being
investigated.
• TV, film and video footage from the
time
• recordings of radio broadcasts
• remaining body parts, DNA,
fingerprints, footprints
• artifacts such as tools, pottery,
furniture
• testimonies of witnesses
• the raw data from experiments
• autobiographies
• individual responses to surveys
Secondary research
Materials written or produced about the
event, usually some time later.
• books, articles, web pages,
documentaries about an event, person
or item
• interviews with people reporting what
they heard from witnesses
• biographies
• magazine articles
• papers and reports using the results of
surveys, questionnaires and
experiments

4. What is a reliable
source?
1. Authoritative
2. Accurate
3. Objective
4. Current
5. Comprehensive

5. Academic vs. Popular (Commercial)Sources
Academic Sources
Popular (Commercial) Sources

6. Use of GeneralTopic Sources
General topic sources are, in general, less reputable than sources dedicated
to specific topics. It is important that your research comes from sources
which specialize in the topic your are writing about.

7. Using Google
Using google.com will provide more popular or commercial results.

8. Using Google.com

9. Using Google Scholar
Using scholar.google.com will provide more academic and scientific results.

10. Using Google Scholar

11. ERIC:EducationResourcesInformationCenter
www.eric.ed.gov

12. ERIC:EducationResourcesInformationCenter

13. JSTOR
www.jstor.org

14. JSTOR

15. Journal abstract: example
An abstract of a journal article summarizes
• the main argument.
• research methods.
• findings and conclusions.

16. .net
Network
Site
Clues on URL

17. Use key concepts with the addition of
synonyms that you have identified as
your keywords and search terms
Combining your search terms using
Boolean operators

18. Identifying Keywords
Word Order and Word Choice Matter
search text search result
grass snake a kind of snake
snake grass a kind of grass
snake in the grass
Most pages contain this expression; also finds pages
with grass snake and a few with snake grass and
snakes in the grass
snake + in + the + grass
Eliminates pages not containing ‘in’ and ‘the’
somewhere
“snake in the grass”
Most specific and precise. Requires exact phrase in all
pages

19. Online search examples
Topic popular methods of losing weight
Keywords popular methods losing weight
Synonyms/
Related terms
common ways lose fat
Synonyms/
Related terms
favorite techniques reducing dieting
Topic effect of illegal immigration on the U.S. economy
Keywords illegal immigration U.S. economy
Synonyms/
Related terms
illegal aliens United States economics
Synonyms/
Related terms
undocumented workers America

20. Online search information
Too much information
• Review your keywords/concepts
• (be more specific)
• Narrowing your search
• (only in title)
• Use limiter
• (specific time period, type of
publication)
Too little information
• Broaden your search term
• (e.g. China to Asia)
• Look for alternative terms
• (use synonyms and related terms)

21. Common search features
search features
truncation hero* teen*
example
hero, heroic, heroes,
heroine, heroin
teen, teens, teenager,
teenagers
wildcards wom#n behavio#r
example woman and women behaviour or behavior
phrases searching “public speaking”
limiting searches by date, language, format, etc.
Boolean Operator and, or, not

22.  Enclose two or more words with quotations.
• The computer will search your words in that exact order.
example
“public speaking” = exact phrase
Phrase Searching (narrowing your search)

23. • AND retrieves only those records that contain all of the search terms.
example
...finds records containing both global and warming
Boolean Operator: AND (narrowing your search)

24. Boolean Operator: OR (expanding your search)
• OR retrieves records that contain any of the search terms.
example
...finds records with either college or university or both in them.

25. Boolean Operator: NOT (specifying your search)
• NOT (-) eliminates a search term or group of search terms
example
...finds records for high school but not elementary.

26. Question your sources
• Question the source
of the informationWho?
• Question the content
of the informationWhat?
• Question the location
of the informationWhere?
• Question the time of
the informationWhen?
• Question the use of
the informationWhy?
Use of information
Remember
• The resources are the intellectual
property of the creators of the
resources.

27. Practice
Evaluate if the following sources are reliable.
1. Dreambox.com article http://www.dreambox.com/blog/the-
effects-of-student-laptops-in-the-classroom
2. Just a game after all: Violent video game exposure and time
spent playing effects on hostile feelings, depression, and
visuospatial cognition. Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 608–
616. http://christopherjferguson.com/Just%20a%20Game.pdf
3. Yahoo Answers! Article
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200909131656
41AAjhe5V

28. 4. Trump 'willing to work with Russia and China‘
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38621025
5. Why the Thai Education System is Running so Poorly. The
Main Problems & Possible Solutions 2016
http://jaiguytravels.com/2016/02/06/why-the-thai-education-
system-is-running-so-poorly-the-main-problems-and-possible-
solutions-2016/
6. Issues and trends in language testing and assessment in
Thailand
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/026553220708
3748