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Info Lit 8: Information Seeking Strategies

Learning Intentions

  • Understand information seeking strategies
    • Understand how to determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)
    • Understand how to evaluate the different possible sources

Lesson Body

  Information Seeking Strategies

 

 

 

Determine the range of possible sources

  • Generate a list of potential sources
Human Sources Print Sources Electronic Sources
     

Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities

  • Does this source fit the situation?
  • Does this source have accurate information?
  • Does this source have relevant information?
  • Is the source easy to use / read?
  • Does the source have complete information?
  • In other words use the CRAAP test

The CRAAP Test

C
  • Is the source CURRENT?
  • Why?
    • Sometimes new facts are uncovered
    • Sometimes our understanding changes
  • How?
    • Check the date
R
  • Is the source RELEVANT?
  • Why?
    • If it's not about what you want, why are you using it?
  • How?
    • Check it has information you need or want
A
  • Who is the source's AUTHOR
  • Why?
    • Not all authors are equal
    • E.g. Random person online vs. someone who studies the topic
    • E.g. Someone who studies another topic vs. someone who studies the topic
  • How?
    • Can you find the author?
    • Do they have credentials?
    • Are the credentials in the field they are talking about?
    • Do they work for someone who would benefit from their position? E.g. They are anti-climate change and also work for the oil industry.
A
  • Is the source ACCURATE?
  • Why?
    • Sometimes people lie on the internet. LE SHOCK!!!
    • Sometimes information is out of date
  • How?
    • Check there are sources cited
    • Check the sources can be found
    • Check that another reputable source is saying the same information and is not getting it from the source you looked at originally.
    • This is called corroboration
P
  • What is the source's PURPOSE?
  • Why?
    • People write for different reasons.
    • These reasons are easy as P.I.E. to remember
    • Persuade, Inform, Entertain (P.I.E.)
    • A source could be more than one of these
  • How?
    • Is the source's message biased?
    • Is the source's message trying to stir your emotions?

 

Who wrote the website?

Ellie Crystal.

What are their qualifications?

No relevant qualifications. Ellie Crystal is a psychic, who was abducted by a UFO as a child and claims her psychic soul is linked to the alien who abducted her. She also was an elementary teacher for a few years before becoming a full time psychic.

Where did they get their information?

???????. There are no sources listed, so who knows.