1.1+Analyzing+and+Categorizing+Information

=1.1 Analyzing and Categorizing Information=

We all put information into categories whether we realize it or not.
 * fiction vs. nonfiction
 * broadcast vs. print
 * magazines vs. books

When you walk into a library the items are arranges in subject categories (psychology, biography, history, medicine, etc.) or by format or media type (CD, DVD, print)

To understand the sources that you encounter during academic research, it helps to understand the way information is produced and used.



It is important to understand where sources you locate fall within this timeline. New information that is first released incorporates current thinking about a topic but has not been reviewd by experts in the field. As informatoin ages, it may be reliable, but it also may become outdated. Materials, such as journals, books, government documents and reference works, should form the basis of your research papers. It is important, however, to investigate whether newer materials refute or support the ideas you use.


 * What is Scholarly Literature?**

Scholarly literature is written by researchers who are experts in their field. In some cases, scholarly literature is original research that has been carefully reviewed by other experts in the writer's field before it is published. This process is known as peer review. Peer reviewers are experts in the field who have been elected or have volunteered to assess an article's academic quality before it is published. Articles that are peer reviewed are commonly referred to as refereed.

To explore more information about the difference between popular and scholarly literature, visit this site: Popular Literature Versus Scholarly Literature: What's the Difference?


 * Why Does this Matter?**

When you conduct research, you should consider the source you are consulting and it appropriateness for your research.
 * A class assignment might require you to use only scholarly sources.
 * A presentation could benefit from a mix of formats. For example, yuo might want to use the actual audio of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech for a history class PowerPoint.
 * You want to make sure you get the whole picture. You may want the text of a speech by your state Senator to clarify his/her position on an important issue.
 * Knowing how information is categorized helps you make sense of all of the information and choose the best sources for your particular purpose.

Next - 1.2 Understanding the Internet