Information Sources Survey

Here you will find the requirements and guidelines for the assignment followed by an assignment helper to get you started!

View a video about the assignment:

Description:

The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to the types of information sources used by information providers and their communities. Its goal is to help you to identify and evaluate information sources and determine their appropriate users and uses.

IMPORTANT: The two sources you choose should be a researched-based source (encyclopedia, almanac, academic journal as a whole, authoritative Website, etc) and a community-based resource (Zine, newsletter, virtual community, blog, etc). Do not choose a single peer-reviewed article as your research-based resource.

The research-based source will be a source a member of your chosen community might find in a library and consult to meet an information need. The community-based source will be a resource a member of your chosen community might contribute to or participate in as part of information seeking behaviors. Both sources should not be selected from course readings. These are meant to be original sources that relate to your research into your chosen information community and can be used later in your literature review matrix and research paper.

Requirements:

Using the materials and resources in Modules 6 and 7, locate and describe one research-based and one community-based information source that would be of interest or value to your chosen information community.

The Information Sources Survey, excluding the reference list, should be a minimum of 1200 words in length and should not exceed 1500 words. It must be double spaced and in APA 7 format. 

Note: If one of your sources is a “whole journal,” APA 7 does not have a citation style for a “whole journal.” Please utilize this simple citation style for journals: Journal Name.Publisher. Related Website.

Review Components:

**A template for the assignment is available for download here: ISRtemplateF19rev

Introduction: Based on your reading in the secondary literature and exploration of your community, clearly describe your chosen information community and the types of information sought and valued by its members.

Resources: Describe each source. List the two sources you located and provide the information listed below.

  • Identify if it is a research-based source or community-based source.
  • Complete citation for the information source in APA 7 format.
  • Critical description of the source based on the following criteria:

Position within the information cycle: Choose one and provide 1-2 sentences additional explanation.

  • Hours/Day of the event: Social media posts or breaking news
  • Days/Weeks after the event: New stories, social media, blog posts, magazine articles, secondary new stories, forum posts, etc.
  • Months after the event: Academic journal articles
  • Years after the event: Academic books & Reference works

Scope and content: Subjects, time period, geographical coverage, etc.

Credentials and authority of the author, editor, and/or publisher

Purposes and uses

Intended audience

Design: Choose one and provide 1-2 sentences additional explanation.

  • Online database
  • Reference work, encyclopedia, dictionary
  • Peer reviewed journal as a while
  • Published academic book on a particular topic
  • Web site or online community

Currency and frequency of update: Choose one, provide the year of publication, and provide 1-2 sentences additional explanation.

  • Multiple editions
  • Stand alone work: book, e-book
  • Web Site, online community, forums, social networking site

Biases and gaps

Value for your information community

Compare and Contrast: Provide an analysis and comparison of the content and uses of the research-based and community-based information sources. To conclude, reflect on what this assignment taught you about your information community and the types of resources available for its use. Be sure to include a references section if you cite any articles from our course or your research.

Submission:

  • Worth 10 points, which is 10% of your final grade. 
  • Must be a minimum of 1200 words in length and no more than 1500 maximum, double spaced, and in APA 7 format. 
  • Submit your finished paper to Canvas (not your blog) using the naming convention: “LastName_NameofAssignment” as a PDF or Word document. 
  • All assignments are due on Sundays unless otherwise noted and must be turned in by 11:59 p.m. PT.   
  • If life circumstances require students to request an extension, please do so several days before the assignment is due or as soon as possible.

Assignment Helper – Information Sources Survey

The Information Sources Survey assignment prompts you to discover, evaluate and compare different types of information sources used by your information community. This assignment helper is a step-by-step guide to successfully completing your Information Sources Survey. It includes how to find helpful original materials to use for your project, as well as how to format your work. Make sure you begin looking for original sources to use for your project!

Getting Started:

Start early – don’t procrastinate!

 Review the assignment description, requirements and rubric carefully

  • Create a check-list or tracking mechanism to ensure your finished assignment meets all the requirements
  • Review sample assignments of Information Sources Survey

Review what you’ve learned so far about your information community

  • What makes them unique?
  • What makes them a community?
  • What types of information do they need?  What do you know so far about the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of the information community you are researching?
  • How and where would they find that information?
  • If you’re not sure, put yourself in their shoes. Where would you try to find that information?

Finding Sources:

In Module #6, you learned how to search for scholarly/research journals and about various research-based sources. Put that knowledge to work for you on this assignment.

Potential research-based source locations

In Module #7, you learned about community generated sources of information. Use some of the examples there to brainstorm some sources for your information community.

Potential community-based source locations

  • Blogs, websites, newsletters, mailing lists created by and for the community
  • Literature from non-profit or other organizations that participate in and serve your information community
  • Common “favorites” for your information community – favorite television shows, celebrities, music, etc. – are there information sources for those common favorites that serve your information community?

IMPORTANT: The two sources you choose should be a researched-based source (encyclopedia, almanac, academic journal as a whole, authoritative Website, etc) and a community-based resource (Zine, newsletter, virtual community, blog, etc). Do not choose a single peer-reviewed article as your research-based resource.

Selecting Your Sources:

After you’ve identified a few research-based and community-based sources, analyze them and select the two (one research-based and one community-based source) that have comparisons and contrasts you can identify and describe.

Research-based source analysis:

Determine:

  • What are the credentials of the author(s)?
  • What resources and references have they used?
  • Have others referenced their work?
  • Considering the author(s) and institution, how might the information they present have bias?
  • Considering the author(s) and institution, what gaps in information may exist?

Community-based source analysis:

  • Is the source creator a member of your information community?
    • If not, what is their relationship, if any, to this community?
  • Does the source use language and terms used by your information community?
  • Does the source have evidence of use by your information community?
  • What do members of your information community say about this source?
    • Check the comments and feedback sections
    • Are members of your information community using this source in their writings/creations?
  • Considering the author(s) and institution, how might the information they present have bias?
  • Considering the author(s) and institution, what gaps in information may exist?

Using the Information Sources Survey Template

Following the template for the Information Sources Survey will help ensure you include all of the required elements.

  • Review examples of Information Sources Survey
  • Use the template headings in your assignment (Introduction, Resources, Compare & Contrast)

Formatting Your Work:

  • Review the assignment description, requirements, and rubric carefully again
  • Assignment should be a minimum of 1200 words in length and no more than 1500 maximum
  • References should be cited in APA 7 style
  • An abstract is not required for this assignment.

Submitting Your Assignment:

  • Must be a minimum of 1200 words in length and no more than 1500 words maximum, double spaced, and in APA 7 format.  
  • Spell and grammar check your document.   
  • Take a break from your document and come back later to proofread it (manually).  
  • Ask a peer to proofread your document – offer to do the same for them.
  • If you submit your assignment on Canvas prior to the due date and discover you have corrections to make, you can re-submit your assignment prior to the deadline.   
  • Submit your finished paper to Canvas (not your blog) using the naming convention: “LastName_NameofAssignment” as a PDF or Word document. 
  • All assignments are due on Sundays unless otherwise noted and must be turned in by 11:59 p.m. PT.  
  • If life circumstances require students to request an extension, please do so several days before the assignment is due or as soon as possible.