Analysis of information
sources
Different sources
• “A critique on of the omnipotence of hegemonies”
• Dictionaries, encyclopaedias, newspapers and books
• Web sites: group of interlinked web page (s)
• White papers: originally a government related document and now White papers are powerful
marketing tools used to help key decision-makers and influencers justify implementing solutions.
• Non- peer and peer reviewed conferences: a pre-arranged meeting for
consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal
agenda) e.g. World Multi-Conference on Systemic, Cybernetics and Informatics
• Non-peer and peer reviewed journals: A journal is a type of periodical, like a
magazine. Articles in journals are different from articles in popular magazines in author
qualifications, difficulty of content and language, intended audience, sources cited,
layout, and organization and generally contain information on specific topics . E.g.
Science
Why evaluate web sites / white papers
• Web sites:
– Lack of Guidelines
– Lack of monitoring
– Immediate mobility of information
– Lack of representation
– Searching for information
Why evaluate web sites and white papers
• Web Sites:
– Bias in objectivity of information
• Propaganda: A simple example
• Commercialism: Amazon Cloud computing
– Making money
– Saving Money
– Competitive edge
Criteria for evaluating information
sources
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Suitability:
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Authority:
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Scope and depth
Audience
Date of Publication
Publisher
Edition
Title of Journal
who is it
Credentials
previous publications.
Other indicators
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Documentation : sourced other information e.g. previous peered reviewed journals etc
Objective Reasoning: facts, opinion or propaganda: is it objective and impartial e.g. “I feel”
Writing Style: is it organised logically is it presented clearly.
Evaluative Reviews : London review of books, Is the review good or bad, does it contribute
valuable information to the field in question.
Obtaining information
• Reference sources
– Search Engines e.g. Google scholar ; PubMed
– Library and journal databases etc
– Search specific journal .e.g. Science
– Search journals related database .e.g. institute of electrical and
electronic engineers (IEEE) : IEEE xplore
– Citation index : Citeseer , ACI and London review of books
– Electronic or Paper based sources and how to obtain them.
Consult library.
• Critically Analyzing Information Sources
Analysing Information sources
1. Pick a technology (that related to your project) and
using say criteria for evaluating information/information
sources: Compare and contrast the reference sources.
• Please be aware I am not looking for details on the
technology only details on the information sources