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background, length of time in the field or industry, reputation, and other publications they have written . Verify credibility before you use information. Bias. The ability to determine bias of sources is a big part of information literacy. Bias reflects a preference for, or a prejudice against something or someone. You may not be able to immediately recognize bias in a source, but you should be aware that sources can be (and frequently are) biased. Use your critical thinking skills. Be doubtful. Scrutinize. Investigate the writer’s relationships or associations. Analyze the words chosen by the writer. Are they inflammatory or informative? Bias can be very subtle, or hidden under many layers of information. Relevance. Information you use must be relevant to your specific topic . If you are researching “cat breeds,” and you find an article on crazy cat tricks, it may be interesting, but it’s not relevant . Accuracy. When using quantitative research (such as statistics or measurements) check for accuracy . Scrutinize the research. Does it measure what you think it is measuring? Was the data collection procedure is reliable? Poor data collection practices may invalidate data. Generally, U.S. government agency reports are always considered accurate, reliable, and citeable sources. Get into the habit of using your critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability of digital (and print) information. Ask yourself: What’s the purpose of this? Is it current? Is it accurate? Is there a possibility of bias? Is it relevant? Could it be inaccurate? PRODUCT PREVIEW Are there restrictions on using information? Plagiarism. Don’t copy. Whenever you use a quote, paraphrase or summarize information from any source other than directly from your own brain, and use it in a paper, essay or in other writing, tell your reader about the source, otherwise you are taking credit for someone else’s work. When you research, keep track of your sources and give them proper credit. Citation. You know how credits run at the end of a movie? You must credit helpful sources at the end of a paper, report or essay. This is done by a sort of fussy arrangement of details called citation which includes the name of the author, title of the publication, date of publication, etc. There are three common citation styles: MLA (Modern Language Association) , CTA (Chicago Citation) and APA (American Psychological Association.) Different styles are used for different subjects. Teachers and professors usually tell students which style they prefer. There are citation rules for all sources of information: books, journals, articles, audio recordings, websites, even blogs! Citation credits the author with the work, and tells your readers where they can find the sources you used. There are free online resources to help you master the art of citation. When you write a paper or essay, don’t guess at the citation. Consult citationmachine.net, easybib.com, or bibme.org. To be college-ready, understand that there are a variety of citation styles, know the basics of each, and know how to locate online citation resources.
Chapter 26 | Ramp Up Your Research Skills 244
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