To complete this module Read the Objectives. Read the module contents below. Then complete the exercise set for the module.

Contents of this page:

• World of Information
• Defining an Information Need
  • Information Types
  • Finding Aids
• Understanding Citations

The World of Information

We live in the Information Age. Traditional methods of publishing and broadcasting information, in combination with the worldwide network of networks we call the Internet, make it possible for information to be generated, transmitted, and used at an unprecedented rate. The challenge today is for those who need a particular piece of information to be able to find it in the vast supply that is available to us all.

Defining an Information Need

The best way to begin a search for information is to define your information need. You may want to ask yourself, "What kind of information do I need?" You may need an overview, a comprehensive search of research on a topic, a quick reference to a fact, or an in-depth treatment. Once you decide what type of information you need, you can select a source that will be likely to have the information or plan a search strategy that will include several types of sources.

Information Types

Following are some information types that are particularly useful for academic purposes, such as research papers and speeches:

 

 

	Encyclopedias provide information that is general, but brief. They provide an excellent place to start research.
	Books typically give a broad, thorough treatment of a subject.
	Periodicals generally provide information that is in-depth and focused.  Current magazines, newspapers and journals provide a contemporary point of view.
	Primary sources present information in its original form, whether it be a work of literature or art or an account of an event.
	Government publications provide all of the types of information mentioned above (general, broad, focused, contemporary). This information is stored in government-produced reference sources, books, and periodicals. Much of it is online.
	The Internet provides access to the full range of information types.

Finding Aids

By using the following types of finding aids, you can efficiently locate the information you need:

Understanding Citations

When reading published sources, it is important to be able to understand citations.   A citation or reference provides all the essential elements of information about the source to enable anyone to track it down. This includes the author, title, source and date of publication.

 

The ability to interpret citations or references to various sources of information is a fundamental research skill. In order to be able to locate an item, you need to be able to determine what type of source the item is. A partial list of types of sources would include:

 

book essay or article in a book journal article magazine article

newspaper article government document dissertation Internet document

speech interview manuscript audiotape

Types of Citations

Following are examples of the most common types of sources students find in bibliographies and in databases:

 

Book Citation

Check LEO by author or title to determine whether Carrier Library owns this book.

 

Magazine Article Citation

To determine whether Carrier Library owns a magazine, go to Periodical Locator and type in the title of the magazine, not the title of the article.

 

Journal Article Citation

To determine whether Carrier Library owns a journal, go to Periodical Locator and search for the journal title, not the title of the article.

 

Government Publication Citation

To find out whether Carrier Library owns a government publication, search LEO.  Try Google, too, because many are online.

 

Article or Chapter in a Book

To find out whether Carrier Library owns this item, look for the title of the book in LEO, not the title of the article.

 

Internet Source Citation

• Internet sources vary widely in quality and reliability.  Alway look at the domain of a web site. Generally speaking, you can find reliable information published by: federal government agencies (.gov) colleges and universities (.edu) professional societies organizations (.org) are reliable.