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7.4 Sources of Information - Coggle Diagram
7.4 Sources of Information
Websites Google Search
The internet is a vast trove of information.
Advantages
Search engines allow an extensive list of possible sources to be generated in milliseconds on results page (SERP)
Algorithms search through sources to give most accurate list of relevant sources. Most relevant will be top of SERP page
Disadvantages
WWW is not regulated, information may be unreliable
A lot of webpages are added to WWW everyday, which makes finding the most reliable sources difficult.
Fake news and breaches of user information
Intended Audience
Target a piece of work is intended for considering the reliablity and validity of the source. Therefore technical and non-technical will be a consideration
Example
A source has been found which is below intended audiences level of knowledge, or technical terms used are not appropriate to context. Could be unreliable or invalid
Reliability and Validity
Confirmation bias
Where sources have been selected to align with those of the author
Selection bias
There will be little consideration of a range of demographic groups, including opinions and views
Bias
Relates to opinions and views of author. Could have no evidence to substantiate their opinions, or have selected only those that are aligned to their own
Cultural bias
Views based on assumptions of different demographic groups. Little consideration for opinions/views of the groups.
Author expertise
Team of authors may have written a publication, but using the WWW it easy to check the institution. Date of the publication is key as technology may have moved on, so information no longer relevant.
Supplier Literature
What is supplier literature?
Formal document such as a manual supplied with a device
May be a hard copy or a digital link
Reliable source of information as it is produced by manufacturer
Contains
User guide
Fault fixing
Technical details
Disadvantage
Will contain technical possibly confusing terminology
Context
Published work will have a main context
E.g. An academic paper about specific topics, textbook on a specific course or information about a specific product
If a piece of work does not fully address context may be drawn into question. It may become irrelevant as a source of information
Subjectivity
Infromation from only one viewpoint
Examples
Media and blog posts containing opinions or conjecture
May include assumptions or interpretations of a topic, rarely backed up by citations and evidence
White Papers
Types
Information document providing details of a solutions or product an organisation sells/plans to
Most relevant to digital sector
Provides technical and factual information that a product may solve a problem or challenge.
Information will be reliable source as it been created by organisation linked to the product
Document that presents government policies and legislation to gather public reaction
Academic publications
Advantages
Time between its writing and publication is short, so information and knowledge they provides as up to date as possible
Textbooks give a good overview of a topic and are proof read/checked at several stages before publication
Usually focus on one topic/subtopic of an area
Disadvantages
Level of language used, can be inaccessible without pre-existing level of knowledge in topic area
Publishing usually takes over a year to publish elements of textbook so it may become out of date.
These include academic papers, research journals and magazines
E-learning
Takes place electronically. Resource may include text files, videos, animation and audio. Quizzes can be used to check understanding
Advantages
Accessibility, it can be accessed anywhere
MOOC's (Massive Open Online Course)
Massive – Number of learners taking the course can be massive.
Open – Anyone can take part in the courses – there is no admissions process
Online – This is how courses are accessed
Course – the course teach a specific topic
The World Wide Web (WWW)
Tim Berners Lee
He is credited with developing the idea that became WWW
He predicted that his invention could be a destroyer of worlds
Professional networks and peers
Can be a personal network associates gathered over time as a person progresses through career. Can be a professional body that you apply for membership
Professional bodies:
Run conferences, provide lectures and give access to experts and subject matter
Minor Disadvantage
Time off work to attend. Large number of lectures available on specific topics
Advantages
Reliability of information from peers to conferences is high.
Citations, evidence and corroboration of
sources
Third party materials
Specific references to the work of another author
Someone else's work that has been critical in establishing ideas
An idea that someone else has already expressed
A quote
What does a citation need to include to enable it to be located?
Title
Publisher
Author
Date published
Page number
URL
a quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly work.
SDK – Software Development Kit (can include a
API or an IDE)
IDE - Integrated Development Environment
HDK - Hardware Developer Kit
API - Application Programming Interface
Advantages
Supporting materials
Technical notes
Documentation
Sample software
Tutorials
Disadvantages
Only allow addition of specific feature, quite rigid/inflexible
They can be platform, hardware, OS specific, limits their use.