IF I APPLY Think-Questions for each step
I–identify emotions attached to a topic
-
What are your honest opinions regarding the topic?
-
Have you addressed your internal biases?
-
Make an all-inclusive list of counter-opinions or counter-arguments.
F-find unbiased reference sources that will provide a proper and informative overview of the topic
-
Conduct a general knowledge overview.
-
Search for information in: encyclopedias, wikis, dictionaries, etc.
I-intellectual courage is needed to seek authoritative voices on the topic that may fall outside your comfort zone or thesisi.
A–authority
- Who is the author (may be individual or organization) and/or publisher?
- What are the credentials and affiliation or sponsorship of any named individuals or organizations?
- How objective, reliable, and authoritative are they?
- Have they written other articles or books?v.Do they specialize in publishing certain topics or fields?
P–purpose/point of view of source
- Does the author have an agenda beyond education or information?
- What can be said about the content, context, style, structure, completeness and accuracy of the information provided by the source?
- Are any conclusions offered? If so, based on what evidence and supported by what primary and secondary documentation?
- What is implied by the content?v.Are diverse perspectives represented?
- Is the content relevant to your information needs?vii.Why was the information provided by the source published?
- What are the perspectives, opinions, assumptions and biases of whoever is responsible for this information?
- Who is the intended audience?x.Is anything being sold?
P–publisher
- Does the publisher have an agenda?ii.When was the information published?
- Publication date is generally located on the title page or on the reverse side of the title page (copyright date)
- Is the information provided by the source in its original form or has it been revised to reflect changes in knowledge?
- Has the publisher published other works?
- Is this information timely andNis it updated regularly?
- Is the publisher scholarly (university press, scholarly associations)? Commercial? Government agency? Self (“vanity”) press?
L–list of resources
- Where else can the information provided by the source be found?
- Is this information authentic?
- Is this information unique or has it been copied?
Y–year of publication
- What makes information “current” or relevant?ii.Is this information current?
- Can you find more current or relevant information?
- Is the cited information current?
- Make sure work is not based on outdated research, statistics, data, etc.iv.Is the information routinely updated?
Kathleen Phillips (Nursing & Allied Health Liaison Librarian, Pen State Univ.), Sabrina Thomas & Eryn Roles (Research & Instruction Librarians, Marshall Univ.)
LOEX Presentation, 2018
Kathleen Phillips LibGuide