Sociology 260 Information Literacy Quiz

1. Matching. Are the following primary, secondary, or tertiary sources?

Demographic and test score data from Delaware County high schools.

An article recommending extra teacher training to help improve students’ test scores in Delaware County high schools.

A bibliography of 30 articles on how best to improve high school test scores.

Primary resources include: data, original creative works, and reporting of facts on specific events.
Secondary resources include: articles, books, or works that interpret or draw conclusions from original research or data.
Tertiary sources include: encyclopedia articles, indexes, bibliographies, or other works that synthesize or summarize what others have said.

Explanation

Primary resources include: data, original creative works, and reporting of facts on specific events.
Secondary resources include: articles, books, or works that interpret or draw conclusions from original research or data.
Tertiary sources include: encyclopedia articles, indexes, bibliographies, or other works that synthesize or summarize what others have said.

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2. _______________ articles are the "cream of the crop" of sources to cite in academic writing.(select one)

Newspaper and magazine articles

Scholarly peer-reviewed articles

Encyclopedia articles

Because they reflect the highest level of research, scholarly peer-reviewed articles are the best source to cite or refer to in your own scholarly writing.

Explanation

Because they reflect the highest level of research, scholarly peer-reviewed articles are the best source to cite or refer to in your own scholarly writing.

3. Your research paper is a:(select one)

Primary source.

Secondary source.

Tertiary source.

Secondary sources describe and interpret data and other research findings.

Explanation

Secondary sources describe and interpret data and other research findings.

4. Literature review is the part of your research paper where you:(select one)

Describe what other researchers have learned and written about on similar topics.

Discredit previous research to make your own look better.

Provide an overview of your variables and your research question.

The literature review portion of your research paper is where you discuss what other researchers have already written on your topic and illustrate how those researchers may agree, disagree, or expand on each other's findings.

Explanation

The literature review portion of your research paper is where you discuss what other researchers have already written on your topic and illustrate how those researchers may agree, disagree, or expand on each other's findings.

5. Newspaper articles are peer reviewed.

True

False

Newspaper articles are not peer reviewed. Instead they are reviewed by a professional editor for clarity and accuracy. In general, peer review applies only to the scholarly publication process.

Explanation

Newspaper articles are not peer reviewed. Instead they are reviewed by a professional editor for clarity and accuracy. In general, peer review applies only to the scholarly publication process.

6. The data you choose or collect for your research is a:(select one)

Primary source.

Secondary source.

Tertiary source.

Raw data constitutes a primary source, because it is collected without interpretation or commentary.

Explanation

Raw data constitutes a primary source, because it is collected without interpretation or commentary.

7. Great citation resources include:(check all that apply)

DCCC Library's APA citation page

Citation Fox (via SUNY Albany Library)

Purdue Online Writing Lab

DCCC Librarians

Please take full advantage of all of the resources that are available to you to make writing citations go more smoothly. Drop-in help with librarians is available for citations.

Explanation

Please take full advantage of all of the resources that are available to you to make writing citations go more smoothly. Drop-in help with librarians is available for citations.

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8. Summon... (check all that apply)

...is the only thing you need to do library research.

...searches across many databases and disciplines.

...can be limited to search only peer-reviewed articles.

Summon is a useful tool that searches across many research databases at once, but it doesn't search everything, and some databases may be more useful. Depending on your research question, you may want to check out other databases as well.

Explanation

Summon is a useful tool that searches across many research databases at once, but it doesn't search everything, and some databases may be more useful. Depending on your research question, you may want to check out other databases as well.

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9. A scholarly conversation is: (check all that apply)

The process of scholars communicating their original research findings to each other.

Like an ongoing conversation that others can join.

A process that is closed to college students.

Scholarly communications is the way that scholars communicate their research, whether in scholarly journals, newsletters, blogs, in discussion groups, or elsewhere. As college students, you are engaged in the scholarly process, and your research paper should reflect this.

Explanation

Scholarly communications is the way that scholars communicate their research, whether in scholarly journals, newsletters, blogs, in discussion groups, or elsewhere. As college students, you are engaged in the scholarly process, and your research paper should reflect this.

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10. Encyclopedia articles are:(check all that apply)

An example of secondary or tertiary information (in general).

Accessible through Credo Reference in the library databases.

Useful for generating keywords or learning vocabulary on a particular topic.

Encyclopedias are tertiary when they compile information from a variety of primary and secondary sources and reorganize it to provide the reader with a general overview.

Explanation

Encyclopedias are tertiary when they compile information from a variety of primary and secondary sources and reorganize it to provide the reader with a general overview.

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