1.1 Using Information Sources

Any research project involves gathering information for particular purposes, such as to:

•  increase knowledge

•  help with decision making

•  make recommendations.

The key to effective research is to know where to look for the information you need.

For this unit, you will need to gather information from a wide range of sources, both secondary and primary.

When you use information that has been produced by someone else, you are using a secondary source. You will need to use secondary sources, including:

•  paper-based eg newspapers, directories, books, maps

•  ICT-based eg internet, CDs/DVDs, databases

•  broadcast eg television, radio.

You will learn how to select the most appropriate secondary sources, by asking questions, such as:

•  does it provide reliable, up-to-date information?

•  can it be trusted?

•  is it unbiased?

You will learn techniques for finding the information you need, such as:

•  choosing a suitable search engine

•  constructing effective search criteria

•  following links

•  using an index.

You will always find more information than you need and will have to decide what to keep and what to discard. You will learn how to record the information you want to use by methods, such as:

•  making notes

•  copying into another document

•  digitising and storing

•  storing the URL and using bookmarks.

Sometimes you will not be able to get all the information you need from secondary sources. Instead, you must gather it yourself from primary sources using various methods, including:

•  conducting an interview

•  carrying out a survey, face-to-face or by email

•  taking photographs

•  recording sound clips.

You must acknowledge all sources of information that you decide to use in your work using standard conventions. This means that you need to keep records showing where each piece of information came from, who produced it and when it was written.