Finding information

Can you help me google the recipe for Grandma’s biscuits? I can’t find it. - The chocolate ones? Hm... - When there’s something we don’t know, or need to learn more about, we have to search for information. It can be a biscuit recipe, some science homework... or because you’re wondering how an engine really works.

Sometimes you might collect information for a special purpose, like a school essay. Then it’s good to plan your work so that you only focus on information you really need – confine your research. You can do this by having a clear question that you want to find the answer to – a research question. This usually makes it easier to find exactly the right information. There are many places where we can find information – sources.

On the internet you can quickly find a lot of information. On the other hand, it can sometimes be hard to know which sources are trustworthy. Preferably, go to well-known websites that belong to official organisations, authorities and similar, that are established. The information there is mostly reviewed by experts. [...] In encyclopedias you can also find facts written by experts, and can easily find your topic. Remember that printed encyclopedias may be old and outdated.

So it’s worth asking: is the information you seek something that could change over time, or something that will always be true? Non-fiction books are specialised in a certain topic. ... Maybe you can find one about yours? Use the table of contents at the front, and the index at the back to see if your topic is covered, and where in the book to find it. Print publications are also good sources.

In newspapers you can find current events, and there could also be magazines on your topic. By reading several different newspapers you can get several different perspectives on the same event or topic. [...] If you want a particular person’s perspective, you can also interview people who know something about your research question. Not all sources are written or oral. Try to find information from other, more unexpected sources, such as places, or maybe objects? Libraries are a good tool when looking for sources.

They contain much more than books. You can get help seeking information, search through archives, borrow a computer, or read newspapers and magazines. When you’ve collected enough information, you must select what information you want to use. Here you can use the research question – and only use what’s relevant to the answer. Use several sources.

That lessens the risk of arriving at a one-sided and biased perspective. Verify your sources – be source critical. If you can, go to the original source. Also consider how old your sources are. The boiling point of water doesn’t change, but 10 year-old statistics can look completely different than those gathered just a few years later.

Look for recent sources if it’s something that changes quickly. Always make a note of where you find your information – including oral sources. For example in school work, it’s always important to say where you got the information from - cite your sources. Different questions can require different sources. Wondering what’s on TV tonight?

Look at the TV schedule. The library’s opening hours? Check their web page. What’s your homework? Ask your teacher, or a classmate.

How to make biscuits? - I know, I know! Let’s ask grandma! - She’s sending the recipe! Shall we bake?