types of info

8/14/2019 Types of Info

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Types of Information &Information Sources

Created by Kate Manuel (Created by Kate Manuel ( [email protected]@lib.nmsu.edu ))
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Types of Information

Information is commonly divided intoInformation is commonly divided intotypes:types:factfact v.v. opinion

opinion ((analyticana

lytic information)information)objectiveob

jective v.v. subjectivesu

bjective informationinformationprimary

primary v.v. secondarysecondar

y informationinformationpopular

popular v.v. scholarlyscholar

ly v.v. tradetrade informationinformation


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ContentContent the distinction between fact & the distinction between fact &opinion, objective & subjective, andopinion, objective & subjective, and

primary & secondary is largely a matter of primary & secondary is largely a matter of informations contentinformations contentAudienceAudience the distinction between the distinction between

popular, scholarly & trade is one of popular, scholarly & trade is one of audience as much as of audience as much as of contentcontent


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Types of information

These types are not exclusiveThese types are not exclusiveInformation can be:Information can be:

primary & opinion/analytic primary & opinion/analyticsubjective & popular subjective & popular

secondary & scholarlysecondary & scholarlyetc.etc.


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Fact v. Opinion

A fact is theA fact is thestatement of a thingstatement of a thing

done or existing.done or existing.E.g., Toni MorrisonsE.g., Toni Morrisons book book Song of SolomonSong of Solomon was published in 1977.was published in 1977.

E.g., The New York E.g., The New York Yankees won the 1999Yankees won the 1999World Series.World Series.

An opinion/analyticAn opinion/analyticinformation is a personalinformation is a personalview or judgement basedview or judgement based

on what seems to be true,on what seems to be true,or an interpretation of fact.or an interpretation of fact.E.g.,E.g., Song of SolomonSong of Solomon isisthe best book Tonithe best book ToniMorrison has written.Morrison has written.E.g., The 1999 YankeesE.g., The 1999 Yankeeswere as good as thewere as good as theYankees of Babe Ruth or Yankees of Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio.Joe DiMaggio.


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Objective v. Subjective

Objective information presents all sides of aObjective information presents all sides of atopic.topic.

E.g., AIDS is transmitted in several ways. HeterosexualE.g., AIDS is transmitted in several ways. Heterosexualintercourse accounts for 70% of HIV infectionsintercourse accounts for 70% of HIV infectionsworldwide. Homosexual intercourse and intravenous drugworldwide. Homosexual intercourse and intravenous drugusers sharing contaminated needles also spread the HIVusers sharing contaminated needles also spread the HIVvirus. The virus also can spread from mother to child byvirus. The virus also can spread from mother to child by

transfer across the placenta or through breast milk. Atransfer across the placenta or through breast milk. Anumber of hemophiliacs were infected from contaminatednumber of hemophiliacs were infected from contaminated blood and blood products before screening procedures blood and blood products before screening procedureswere introduced in the late 1980s.were introduced in the late 1980s.


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Objective v. Subjective

Subjective information providesSubjective information providesopinions/evaluative information on a topic.opinions/evaluative information on a topic.

Subjective information commonly does notSubjective information commonly does not provide all sides of a topic. provide all sides of a topic.E.g., AIDS is transmitted in several ways,E.g., AIDS is transmitted in several ways,including via homosexual activity. AIDS can thusincluding via homosexual activity. AIDS can thus

be seen as a punishment from God resulting from be seen as a punishment from God resulting fromhomosexuals ungodly activities.homosexuals ungodly activities.


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Opinion, Or Subjective

Information?If subjective information sounds like opinion, it is.If subjective information sounds like opinion, it is.The basic difference is that:The basic difference is that:

an opinion is often a brief statement based on whatan opinion is often a brief statement based on whatseems true to a person (e.g., Blue is the best color seems true to a person (e.g., Blue is the best color for cars), whilefor cars), whilesubjective information often involves a lengthier subjective information often involves a lengthier

presentation of information which combines presentation of information which combinesopinion with an incomplete (not multi-sided)opinion with an incomplete (not multi-sided) presentation of a topic. presentation of a topic.


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Primary v. Secondary

Primary information isPrimary information isinformation in itsinformation in its

original form.original form.Primary informationPrimary informationhas not been publishedhas not been publishedelsewhere, put intoelsewhere, put intocontext, interpreted, or context, interpreted, or translated.translated.

Secondary information isSecondary information isinformation removed ininformation removed insome way from its originalsome way from its originalform.form.Secondary informationSecondary informationmay include restatements,may include restatements,examinations,examinations,

interpretations, or interpretations, or translations.translations.


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Primary Information

What exactly constitutes primaryWhat exactly constitutes primaryinformation can vary by discipline.information can vary by discipline.

In the sciences, primary information means the originalIn the sciences, primary information means the originalstudy and its data.study and its data.

E.g., counting the number of Florida panthersE.g., counting the number of Florida panthersand detailing their age & health conditions.and detailing their age & health conditions.

In the foreign languages, primary information meansIn the foreign languages, primary information meansinformation in the language, not translated into English.information in the language, not translated into English.E.g.,E.g., Crime & Punishment Crime & Punishment in Russian is a primaryin Russian is a primaryresource.resource.


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Primary Information

In the social sciences & humanities, primaryIn the social sciences & humanities, primaryinformation can mean information from the timeinformation can mean information from the time

period/place in question. period/place in question.E.g., newspaper articles from 1945 are primaryE.g., newspaper articles from 1945 are primarysources for information about WWII.sources for information about WWII.

Primary information is also information from thePrimary information is also information from the

source, or which has not been commented upon.source, or which has not been commented upon.E.g., a persons diary (unedited) is a primaryE.g., a persons diary (unedited) is a primarysource.source.The lyrics and notes to a song are primaryThe lyrics and notes to a song are primary

information.information.


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Secondary information

Is basically primaryIs basically primaryinformation that hasinformation that has

been put into context, been put into context,interpreted, or interpreted, or translated.translated.E.g., a book which discussesE.g., a book which discusseshow highways impacthow highways impact

populations of large carnivores populations of large carnivoresand uses the data from theand uses the data from theFlorida panther study inFlorida panther study in

justifying its conclusions is a justifying its conclusions is asecondary source.secondary source.

An English translation of An English translation of CrimeCrimeand Punishment and Punishment is also ais also asecondary source, as is:secondary source, as is:

a 1995 article which showsa 1995 article which showswhat 1945 newspaper articleswhat 1945 newspaper articlescan reveal about WWII andcan reveal about WWII andquotes from some of them,quotes from some of them,a web page commenting on aa web page commenting on a

the text of a persons diary, or the text of a persons diary, or a DJs comments on air abouta DJs comments on air aboutthe meaning and significance of the meaning and significance of a particular song.a particular song.


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Types of Information & Types of

Information SourcesKnowing what type of information youKnowing what type of information youneed can help you find information moreneed can help you find information more

effectively becauseeffectively becausecertain types of information sources arecertain types of information sources aremore likely to contain certain types of more likely to contain certain types of

information.information.


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Facts

Look for factual information in referenceLook for factual information in referencesources (print or electronic) such as:sources (print or electronic) such as:

dictionariesdictionariesatlasesatlaseshandbookshandbooksdirectoriesdirectories

Books, articles, and web sites are notBooks, articles, and web sites are notefficient ways to find out, e.g., the number efficient ways to find out, e.g., the number of Vietnamese speakers in the U.S.of Vietnamese speakers in the U.S.


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Opinions, & Other Subjective

InformationBooks, articles, and Web pages are allBooks, articles, and Web pages are alllikely sources of opinions & subjectivelikely sources of opinions & subjective

information.information.Review articles and op-ed pieces in newspapersReview articles and op-ed pieces in newspapersand other publications are especially good sources.and other publications are especially good sources.

There are even special series likeThere are even special series like Opposing Opposing ViewpointsViewpoints which bring together various opinionswhich bring together various opinionson controversial topics.on controversial topics.


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Objective Information

Sources maySources mayinclude referenceinclude reference

sources (print or sources (print or electronic) such aselectronic) such asencyclopedias or encyclopedias or

handbooks.handbooks.

Can be in books,Can be in books,articles, or web pages -articles, or web pages -

but the source should but the source should be considered be consideredcarefully.carefully.Avoid opinion-onlyAvoid opinion-onlysources, like reviewssources, like reviewsand op-ed pieces.and op-ed pieces.


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Primary & Secondary

InformationPrimary information may be found in anPrimary information may be found in anarticle or report, an un-translated book,article or report, an un-translated book,

and/or any resource from the time/placeand/or any resource from the time/placestudied.studied.Secondary sources may include articles,Secondary sources may include articles,

books, or web pages. books, or web pages.


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An in-class activity toAn in-class activity to practice identifying practice identifying

types of informationtypes of informationand their sources.and their sources.


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Popular, Trade & Scholarly

Review for content(peer review)Expert in field

Review for style, factcheckingOften not expert infield

Review for style, factchecking

Not expert in fieldEditors

Abstract, Lit. Review,Hypothesis,Methodology,Findings, Sources

How I Did It GoodReal people withissues on topicPLUS two expertviews

Format/

Structure

Academics/Peoplewith adv. degrees

NOT paid

Professional writersOR academicsOften unpaid

Professional writers; paid for work Authorship

Plain paper B&W illustrations(tables)Few ads (books)

May be glossy paper May be color ads

Ads for items used infield

Glossy paper Lots of ads

Ads for everyday products (make up)

Appearance

ScholarlyTradePopular


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Popular, Trade & Scholarly

2-4 times a year MonthlyFrequently maybeeven weekly

Frequency(if periodical)

Usually longOften shortOften shortLength

Advance scholarship/understanding

Help peersMake $ on pub.

Inform the general publicMake $ on pub.

Purpose

Written for specialists

Lots of jargon

Written for specialists,

but practical nottheoretical

Anyone can

understand (8th

gradereading level) General audience

Audience/

Language

LOTS of sources (texts)Complete citations

Mix of people & textsTexts not fully cited

Often peopleTexts not quoted or cited

Sources

ScholarlyTradePopular

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