Question 1

Which item below is NOT a good tip for gathering information?

Accepted Answer

Trying to use everything discussed in a source or research study is not always necessary or relevant to your specific research question. It is important to identify and extract only the most relevant information.

Question 2

The purpose of a concept map is to

Accepted Answer

A concept map helps in identifying areas where your knowledge is lacking by visually organizing and representing knowledge, which can highlight gaps in understanding.

Question 3

Your Internet search about electronic cigarettes has generated hundreds of articles, opinions, studies, and statistics about the topic, and you panic that you will not be able to organize it all into a 10-minute presentation before next week. The term to describe this feeling is

Accepted Answer

The feeling of being overwhelmed by too much information is commonly referred to as information anxiety. This is when one is unable to effectively organize or make sense of the abundance of information they have found on a particular topic. It is a common experience when conducting research and can lead to procrastination or feelings of stress and panic.

Question 4

If you need help doing research for your speech, reference librarians can be helpful because they are trained to find and evaluate information.

Accepted Answer

Reference librarians have specialized skills and training in research and information evaluation, making them a valuable resource for finding reliable information for speeches or any other type of research project.

Question 5

If you have a choice between using a primary source or a secondary source, you should generally use the secondary source because it consists of information that is more tried-and-true than that of primary sources.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. Primary sources are generally considered more reliable and accurate than secondary sources, as they provide first-hand accounts or experiences of events or topics. Secondary sources are created based on primary sources and may have biases or incorrect interpretations.

Question 6

You have a biology professor who has done a great deal of research on inherited diseases. You want to speak on one of these diseases. Interviewing your professor would be a good way to collect expert testimony.

Accepted Answer

The biology professor has expertise in inherited diseases, which makes them a reliable source of information on a specific disease. Therefore, interviewing the professor would be an effective way to gather expert testimony on the disease.

Question 7

Information anxiety is the opposite of information overload.

Accepted Answer

Information anxiety refers to the feeling of being overwhelmed or anxious due to the lack of information or the inability to access it easily. Information overload, on the other hand, refers to the state of being overwhelmed or unable to process an excessive amount of information.

Question 8

Google Scholar is considered too sophisticated a tool for undergraduates to use in gathering information.

Accepted Answer

Google Scholar is a useful tool for undergraduates to access scholarly articles and research in their respective fields. However, it is important for them to be properly trained in using it effectively and evaluating sources.

Question 9

You should cite your sources in a reference list at the end of your speech manuscript or outline in either APA or MLA style.

Accepted Answer

It is important to cite sources in a reference list at the end of a speech manuscript or outline to give credit to the sources that were used and to comply with academic integrity and copyright laws. The two most commonly used citation styles are APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association).

Question 10

Many libraries have staff who are specially trained in finding and evaluating information and who are available to help patrons perform those tasks. These staff members are typically referred to as ________ librarians.

Accepted Answer

Reference librarians are specifically trained to assist patrons in finding and evaluating information, making them the best choice for this question. Research librarians may also be able to assist with these tasks, but the term "reference librarian" is more commonly used in libraries. Senior and professional are not specific terms used to describe librarians who specialize in finding and evaluating information.

Question 11

You know that some sources of information are better than others. For example, you know that a research study published in a professional journal is better than one discussed in a popular magazine. Being able to make this distinction is an illustration of information literacy.

Accepted Answer

Information literacy involves the ability to recognize the quality and reliability of different sources of information. Knowing that a research study in a professional journal is more reliable than one in a popular magazine is an example of information literacy.

Question 12

During your research, you find two surveys about whether people feel safe in your community. One is sponsored by the Security Industry Alarm Association (SIAA). The other is sponsored by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC). The one done by the SIAA is likely to be less biased because they are experts in the field.

Accepted Answer

It is not necessarily true that the survey sponsored by the SIAA is less biased just because they are experts in the field. The sponsor of a survey can still influence the questions asked and the way data is interpreted. It is important to look at the methodology and sample size of both surveys to determine their validity and potential biases.

Question 13

The ability to locate, evaluate, and incorporate important information into your own knowledge base is called

Accepted Answer

Information literacy is the ability to effectively and critically evaluate information for credibility, relevance, and accuracy. It involves recognizing the need for information, identifying potential sources, evaluating information, and incorporating it into one's own knowledge base. This skill is becoming increasingly important in today's digital age where information is readily accessible but not always reliable.

Question 14

If you are interested in learning about the relative proportion of students in given majors in your college, you can get information from the registrar. These numbers are known as data.

Accepted Answer

Yes, data on the relative proportion of students in given majors can be obtained from the registrar.

Question 15

Which of the following is the best description of an annotated bibliography?

Accepted Answer

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources accompanied by your summary of insights from that source. It is a useful tool for researchers to keep track of their sources and to provide a brief explanation of the usefulness of each source.

Question 16

In doing research for a presentation, you need to collect data, which the chapter defines as

Accepted Answer

Data is defined as facts collected from a particular source.

Question 17

Data triangulation refers to the idea that you need at least three sources of information that state the same conclusion before you can safely believe the information.

Accepted Answer

Data triangulation involves using multiple data sources, methods, or researchers to investigate a research question, enhancing the credibility and validity of the results, rather than requiring three sources to state the same conclusion.

Question 18

Which of the following options best exemplifies the term information?

Accepted Answer

Information is typically organized data that provides context and meaning. A summary of federal crime statistics over a period provides a comprehensive view and context, making it a good example of information.

Question 19

A woman who works at a beauty salon tells you more than you ever wanted to know about hair care products. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The woman providing more information than necessary is an example of information overload, which occurs when a person is presented with more information than they can effectively process or use.

Question 20

Which of the following options best exemplifies the term knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Knowledge refers to the understanding or awareness of information or skills acquired through experience, education, or research. Option A best exemplifies knowledge as it demonstrates the farmer's understanding of how various factors affect the yields of his canola fields through his experience and observation. The other options provide records or data that could be used to gain knowledge, but they do not directly represent knowledge themselves.

Quiz 11: Gathering Information and Supporting Materials