Week 4 and 5 quiz

Source Selection

• Essential for effective source selection includes ensuring sources align with your research question.
• Peer-reviewed sources are generally preferred for reliability.

Boolean Operators

• The 'OR' operator in a search query broadens the search, including either of the specified terms.
• The 'AND' operator narrows the search by combining two terms, finding results that contain both.

CRAAP Test

• The CRAAP test evaluates sources based on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose; 'R' stands for Relevance.
• Part of the CRAAP test involves assessing the relevance of the sources for your research topic.

Source Credibility

• A peer-reviewed journal article is the most credible source among personal blogs, uncredited websites, and celebrity tweets.
• Avoid personal blogs and opinion-based articles when selecting internet sources.

Diverse Perspectives

• Including diverse perspectives in research challenges thinking and encourages evaluation of contrasting viewpoints.

Source Formats

• A diverse source format can include an online article, infographic, and podcast, offering varied information formats.

Types of Sources

• A primary source is a dataset from a recent survey, providing firsthand information as opposed to summarized content in textbooks or encyclopedias.

Evaluating Secondary Sources

• Secondary sources summarize and analyze primary sources, serving as a background overview of topics.

AI as a Tertiary Source

• Elicit.com is primarily used to summarize academic papers and provide evidence-based research.

Library Databases

• Library databases provide access to peer-reviewed and credible sources, a significant advantage over general internet searches and AI tools.

AI Tools

• ChatGPT does not provide source links for verification, posing a risk in maintaining accuracy and reliability in research.

Prompt Engineering

• Prompt engineering involves writing clear instructions for AI tools to elicit better responses, enhancing the quality of information retrieved.

Basic Prompt vs. Refined Prompt

• A refined prompt specifies the desired outcome clearly; for example, asking for three specific benefits of renewable energy in urban areas over the last five years.

Key Differences Between AI Tools

• While AI tools like ChatGPT are suited for brainstorming, they are not recommended for credible academic citations due to potential inaccuracies.

Source Selection

• Essential for effective source selection includes ensuring sources align with your research question.
• Peer-reviewed sources are generally preferred for reliability.

Boolean Operators

• The 'OR' operator in a search query broadens the search, including either of the specified terms.
• The 'AND' operator narrows the search by combining two terms, finding results that contain both.

CRAAP Test

• The CRAAP test evaluates sources based on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose; 'R' stands for Relevance.
• Part of the CRAAP test involves assessing the relevance of the sources for your research topic.

Source Credibility

• A peer-reviewed journal article is the most credible source among personal blogs, uncredited websites, and celebrity tweets.
• Avoid personal blogs and opinion-based articles when selecting internet sources.

Diverse Perspectives

• Including diverse perspectives in research challenges thinking and encourages evaluation of contrasting viewpoints.

Source Formats

• A diverse source format can include an online article, infographic, and podcast, offering varied information formats.

Types of Sources

• A primary source is a dataset from a recent survey, providing firsthand information as opposed to summarized content in textbooks or encyclopedias.

Evaluating Secondary Sources

• Secondary sources summarize and analyze primary sources, serving as a background overview of topics.

AI as a Tertiary Source

• Elicit.com is primarily used to summarize academic papers and provide evidence-based research.

Library Databases

• Library databases provide access to peer-reviewed and credible sources, a significant advantage over general internet searches and AI tools.

AI Tools

• ChatGPT does not provide source links for verification, posing a risk in maintaining accuracy and reliability in research.

Prompt Engineering

• Prompt engineering involves writing clear instructions for AI tools to elicit better responses, enhancing the quality of information retrieved.

Basic Prompt vs. Refined Prompt

• A refined prompt specifies the desired outcome clearly; for example, asking for three specific benefits of renewable energy in urban areas over the last five years.

Key Differences Between AI Tools

• While AI tools like ChatGPT are suited for brainstorming, they are not recommended for credible academic citations due to potential inaccuracies.

CRAAP Test Overview

• The CRAAP Test is a method for evaluating information sources based on five criteria: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

Currency

• Assess when the source was published or updated.
• Determine if the information is current enough to be relevant to your topic or research.

Relevance

• Evaluate how well the source aligns with your specific topic of interest.
• Consider the intended audience of the source to understand its perspective and applicability.

Authority

• Investigate the background of the author(s) to determine their expertise in the subject matter.
• Credibility of the author can greatly influence the reliability of the information presented.

Accuracy

• Check for supporting evidence within the source; reliable sources typically provide data or references.
• Look out for any factual inaccuracies or misleading information that may undermine the source's integrity.

Purpose

• Identify the reason the source was created, whether to inform, persuade, entertain, or sell.
• Analyze potential biases that may affect the objectivity of the information, impacting its usefulness in research.

CRAAP Test - Evaluating Sources

• Currency: Assess publication date; ensure the source contains current information relevant to your study.
• Relevance: Check if the source directly addresses your research topic; identify the intended audience for better contextual understanding.
• Authority: Evaluate the author's credentials; credible authors enhance the reliability of the content.
• Accuracy: Verify if claims are supported by credible evidence; look for potential errors or misleading information.
• Purpose: Understand the intent behind the source; identify any biases that might affect the content's reliability.

Boolean Search

• AND Operator: Use to combine multiple terms, effectively narrowing search results to documents containing all specified terms (e.g., “climate change AND agriculture”).
• OR Operator: Implement to include either of the terms in search queries, thus expanding the range of results (e.g., “climate change OR global warming”).
• NOT Operator: Utilize to exclude results containing certain terms, refining search results to focus on specific aspects (e.g., “climate change NOT politics”).

Prompt Engineering

• Crafting precise and clear prompts enhances the quality of AI-generated responses.
• Specificity in prompts can significantly improve relevance and accuracy in AI outputs.

AI Tools

• AI tools are efficient for conducting rapid research.
• Always verify the reliability and credibility of sources retrieved from AI tools to ensure accuracy.

Library Databases

• Library databases are essential for accessing trustworthy, peer-reviewed articles.
• They provide in-depth research materials that enhance academic work and understanding.

Boolean Searches

• Implement Boolean search techniques to optimize search results in databases.
• Use operators like AND, OR, and NOT to filter and refine search queries effectively.

This quiz reviews key concepts from Weeks 4 and 5 of the Comm 1020 course, focusing on critical reading skills. Test your understanding of effective source selection, Boolean operators, and research techniques essential for academic success.