Entertaining readers with breezy comments and splashy graphics is not a priority. For example, if you are writing a research paper about the psychology of communication you want to look at journal articles and research-based reports. Importance In addition to the resources noted in the table, library holdings may include primary texts such as historical documents, letters, and diaries. On the other hand, a research paper on elementary education practices might refer to studies published decades ago by influential child psychologists. Why was the site created? At this point in your research process, you may have identified dozens of potential sources. This section will discuss strategies for evaluating sources critically so that you can be a media-savvy researcher. Health Information Most of your notes should be paraphrased from the original source. Once you have thought about what kinds of sources are most likely to help you answer your research questions, you may begin your search for print and electronic resources. Read carefully, and notice how well the author presents and supports his or her statements. They can also provide helpful reminders to exercise or take medications. Libraries usually include CD-ROMs, audio books, and audio and video recordings among their holdings. Reliable medical information is going to be based on peer-reviewed, evidence-based science. reliable (When you use secondary sources, look for sources that are not too removed from primary research.). Of course, the technological advances of the past few decadesparticularly the rise of online mediamean that, as a twenty-first-century student, you have countless sources of information available at your fingertips. Now more than ever we need news we can trust, Jesper Hjberg, executive director of the Denmark-based nonprofit International Media Support (IMS), said in a video aired as part of the panel. Read and trust reliable sources like the CDC and other reputable sources. The .gov means its official. That criteria are as follows: The internet is scattered with biased, misleading, and altogether incorrect information and that is why it is important to follow the above criteria. Table 11.3 Tips for Skimming Books and Articles explains how to skim to get a quick sense of what topics are covered. Beware: Misinformation is rampant Just as the number of people and countries affected by this new virus have spread, so have conspiracy theories and unfounded claims about it. n. accurate information. Can I establish that the author is credible and the publication is reputable? (If you prefer the latter option, many office software packages include separate programs for recording bibliographic information. Media literacy supports this by emphasizing active, How thoroughly the writers cover a given topic, How carefully the writers research and document facts, What biases or agendas affect the content, Scholarly books and articles in scholarly journals, Trade books and magazines geared toward an educated general audience, such as, Government documents, such as books, reports, and web pages, Documents posted online by reputable organizations, such as universities and research institutes, Textbooks and reference books, which are usually reliable but may not cover a topic in great depth, News stories and feature articles (print or online) from reputable newspapers, magazines, or organizations, such as, Popular magazine articles, which may or may not be carefully researched and fact checked, Documents published by businesses and nonprofit organizations, Loosely regulated or unregulated media content, such as Internet discussion boards, blogs, free online encyclopedias, talk radio shows, television news shows with obvious political biases, personal websites, and chat rooms. The same Boolean operators used to refine database searches can help you filter your results in popular search engines. But the cost of poor data is pretty much evident. Regardless of your topic, you will consult some print resources as part of your research. If your doctors office has a website, it may include a list of recommended links. Many students find this process challenging, although it does get easier with experience. Good information is essential for effective operation and decision making at all levels in businesses. Is it a high-quality source or one that needs to be looked at more critically? Use the information you find online as one tool to become more informed. Limit results to websites that have been updated within a particular time frame.