‘‘Analysing the Information’ Analysing the Information’

LT1H02NLT1H02N

Lecture AimsLecture Aims

To discuss the sources of information that To discuss the sources of information that are available to studentsare available to students

To introduce the concept of critical To introduce the concept of critical analysis. analysis.

To provide guidance on how to use the To provide guidance on how to use the internet for academic researchinternet for academic research

Lecture OutcomesLecture Outcomes

You will be able to analyse sources of You will be able to analyse sources of informationinformation

You will be aware of the need for caution You will be aware of the need for caution when using the internet as a research tool when using the internet as a research tool

OverviewOverview

1)1) Sources of InformationSources of Information

2)2) How to Analyse SourcesHow to Analyse Sources

3)3) The Internet as an Academic SourceThe Internet as an Academic Source

Sources of InformationSources of Information

You will be aware by now that there are a You will be aware by now that there are a wide range of information sources that wide range of information sources that you can utilise as a student.you can utilise as a student.

You should also be aware that not all You should also be aware that not all sources are of equal use to a student.sources are of equal use to a student.

Critical AnalysisCritical Analysis

As a student you will be required to analyse As a student you will be required to analyse information.information.

Analysis needs to be applied to all sources Analysis needs to be applied to all sources of information that you deal with.of information that you deal with.

This is a skill that you will develop and This is a skill that you will develop and refine throughout the course of your refine throughout the course of your degree.degree.

How to Analyse How to Analyse InformationInformation

Critical analysis requires you to interrogate Critical analysis requires you to interrogate each source you use.each source you use.

This involves asking a number of questions This involves asking a number of questions about the information.about the information.

Basic QuestionsBasic Questions

The key questions you need to ask are:The key questions you need to ask are:

who are the authors?who are the authors? who is the intended audience?who is the intended audience? what is its purpose?what is its purpose? is it relevant?is it relevant? what evidence is it based on?what evidence is it based on?

AuthorsAuthors

The ‘author’ can be either an individual(s) or an The ‘author’ can be either an individual(s) or an organisation.organisation.

  

What are their credentials?What are their credentials?

  

Is the author recognised as an authority in the Is the author recognised as an authority in the field?field?

  

Are they reputable?Are they reputable?

AudienceAudience

What is the target audience for this What is the target audience for this particular material?particular material?

  

Is it aimed at a specialised or general Is it aimed at a specialised or general audience?audience?

  

Is it appropriate for a scholarly, academic Is it appropriate for a scholarly, academic audience?audience?

PurposePurpose

Is the information fact, opinion, advertising Is the information fact, opinion, advertising or propaganda?or propaganda?

  

Is the piece intended as serious analysis, a Is the piece intended as serious analysis, a general overview, or as humour?general overview, or as humour?

RelevanceRelevance

Is the material still up-to-date?Is the material still up-to-date?

  

Could you locate more recent data from Could you locate more recent data from another source?another source?

  

Will the information be useful for the task Will the information be useful for the task you require it for?you require it for?

EvidenceEvidence

This is the most important element in evaluating the This is the most important element in evaluating the value of an information source.value of an information source.

  This is because the strength of any argument rests This is because the strength of any argument rests

on the evidence that is used to underpin it.on the evidence that is used to underpin it.  Therefore, you will need to evaluate the evidence on Therefore, you will need to evaluate the evidence on

which the piece is based.which the piece is based.  This is a difficult academic skill, and you will become This is a difficult academic skill, and you will become

better at it as you advance as a studentbetter at it as you advance as a student

Evaluating EvidenceEvaluating Evidence

What evidence, if any, has the author used What evidence, if any, has the author used to underpin the piece?to underpin the piece?

Is this evidence itself credible?Is this evidence itself credible?

Have a wide and balanced range of sources Have a wide and balanced range of sources been consulted?been consulted?

The InternetThe Internet

The internet has The internet has emerged as an emerged as an important research important research tool, but it is one that tool, but it is one that MUST be treated with MUST be treated with caution.caution.

What is the Internet?What is the Internet?

The Internet is not, in itself, a source of The Internet is not, in itself, a source of information.information.

  

Instead, it is a Instead, it is a tooltool for accessing for accessing information.information.

  

The actual information is contained in The actual information is contained in millions of individual web pages.millions of individual web pages.

Web Pages as SourcesWeb Pages as Sources

The internet is a useful research tool, particularly The internet is a useful research tool, particularly for locating very recent information.for locating very recent information.

  

It also provides access to a massive range of It also provides access to a massive range of sources, which reflect different thoughts and sources, which reflect different thoughts and opinions.opinions.

  

Caution is necessary, however, as there are no Caution is necessary, however, as there are no filters between the raw data and the audiencefilters between the raw data and the audience

The Need for CautionThe Need for Caution

Much of the material available on the internet is Much of the material available on the internet is unsuitable for academic purposes.unsuitable for academic purposes.

non-academic (too simplistic)non-academic (too simplistic) biasedbiased inaccurate or incorrectinaccurate or incorrect

You need to develop the skills to avoid using such You need to develop the skills to avoid using such flawed sourcesflawed sources

How to Analyse Web How to Analyse Web PagesPagesYou must analyse the content of each You must analyse the content of each

individual web site.individual web site.

  

Apply the same basic principals as you Apply the same basic principals as you would to any source of informationwould to any source of information

When to Use the When to Use the InternetInternetTo locate information that is not available To locate information that is not available

through other sources.through other sources.

    

University staff can direct you towards University staff can direct you towards useful web resources.useful web resources.

When Not to Use the When Not to Use the InternetInternetAsk yourself, why are you using the internet Ask yourself, why are you using the internet

as a research tool?as a research tool?  Ease of access should not be your only Ease of access should not be your only

justification for using the internet.justification for using the internet.  The internet should not be used to replace The internet should not be used to replace

other sources, it should only be used to other sources, it should only be used to supplement them.supplement them.

ConclusionsConclusions

Not all information sources are appropriate Not all information sources are appropriate for academic researchfor academic research

This requires you to carefully analyse every This requires you to carefully analyse every source of information that you come source of information that you come acrossacross

Particular care must be taken when using Particular care must be taken when using the internet as a research toolthe internet as a research tool