Information Literacy Assessment - Int 109

The information found on the Internet comes from a wide range of sources, including businesses, government organizations, and private individuals. This means that the information can be contributed by anyone and may vary in terms of reliability and accuracy. Unlike the statement suggests, the reliability of information on the Internet cannot be generalized as being more reliable than books and magazines. Additionally, there is no law requiring Internet information to be accurate, timely, and appropriate. The Internet is not constantly monitored by world educational organizations, so the information found on it should be critically evaluated before considering it as factual.

When searching for information on a topic, if you are unable to locate relevant information, one possible solution is to try using a synonym in place of the keyword or subject word you were initially searching. This can help broaden your search and potentially lead to finding the desired information. By using different words that have a similar meaning, you may uncover additional sources or perspectives that can contribute to your research.

A magazine citation typically includes the author's name, the title of the article, the date it was published, and the number of pages it occupies. This information is important for properly referencing and locating the specific magazine article. It allows readers to identify the author and title for citation purposes, determine the relevance and recency of the article based on the date, and assess the length and depth of the content by knowing the number of pages it spans.

Plagiarism refers to the act of incorporating someone else's ideas into your own work without giving them proper credit or citation. This can be done by directly copying their ideas or paraphrasing them without acknowledging the original source. Plagiarism is considered unethical and a violation of academic integrity as it undermines the intellectual property of others and misrepresents the author's own knowledge and effort.

The explanation for the correct answer is that "authority" is the most important criteria for judging a web site. This means that the credibility and expertise of the source should be considered when evaluating the reliability and accuracy of the information found on a website. It is important to verify the credentials of the author or organization behind the website to ensure that the information provided is trustworthy and reliable.

The best way to get started when you don't know anything about your topic is to find background information in a print or electronic encyclopedia article. Encyclopedia articles provide comprehensive and reliable information on a wide range of topics, making them a valuable resource for gaining a basic understanding of a subject. They are typically written by experts in the field and undergo a rigorous review process, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of the information provided. Therefore, consulting an encyclopedia article can help you quickly familiarize yourself with the key concepts, facts, and context related to your topic.

An article or information from a World Wide Web site is potentially the most current or up-to-date source of information on any topic because websites can be updated in real-time, allowing for the most recent information to be available to users. Unlike a CD-ROM database or a reference book, which may have outdated information, websites can be constantly updated to reflect new research, developments, or events. A hard copy of a magazine may also have outdated information, as it is published on a set schedule and cannot be updated as frequently as a website.

A truncation symbol at the end of a word stem allows for retrieving records with alternative endings. By using a truncation symbol, such as an asterisk (*), the search will include variations of the word stem, such as different forms of plurals or different tenses. This ensures that all relevant records with alternative endings are included in the search results. For example, if the word stem is "teen", using truncation would retrieve records with "teen", "teens", and "teenager".

The correct answer is a drug company promoting a drug they produced. This is an example of a biased website because the drug company has a vested interest in promoting their own product, which may lead to biased information and potentially misleading claims about the drug's effectiveness or safety.

To locate a book on the shelf in the library, the most important piece of information you need is the call number. The call number is a unique identifier assigned to each book in the library, which helps in organizing and arranging the books on the shelves in a systematic manner. It typically consists of a combination of letters and numbers that represent the book's subject, author, and other relevant details. By using the call number, you can easily find the specific location of the book on the library shelves.

A keyword search refers to the act of using specific words or phrases to search for information on the Internet. When searching the Internet, underlined words or phrases can be clicked on to initiate a search using those specific terms. This allows the user to find relevant information related to the underlined word or phrase. Therefore, the underlined words or phrases act as keywords for the search, making the correct answer "a keyword search".

A ~(tilde) in the URL typically indicates that the page is a personal page. This convention is often used by individuals to create their own web pages within a larger website or domain. The tilde symbol is commonly followed by the username or alias of the person who owns the page. This allows users to easily access personal content or information within a website.

To broaden a search, you would use the Boolean operator "and". This operator is used to combine search terms and retrieve results that include both terms. By using "and", the search results will be more specific and relevant as it narrows down the search by including both terms.

The broadest search available in an electronic database is a subject search. This type of search allows users to search for information based on the subject or topic of interest, rather than specific criteria such as author, title, or keywords. By conducting a subject search, users can retrieve a wide range of resources that are relevant to the chosen subject, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic. This search method is particularly useful when users want to explore a subject broadly or when they are unsure of specific keywords or authors related to their topic.

Information literacy is best described as the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. This means being able to find relevant information, assess its credibility and quality, and apply it appropriately to a given situation. It involves skills such as critically analyzing sources, synthesizing information, and effectively communicating findings. Information literacy is essential in today's digital age where there is an abundance of information available, and being able to navigate and make sense of it is crucial for making informed decisions and being an active participant in society.

The given correct answer states that if you decide to use information from a website for your research project, you can assume that all of the data or text is copyrighted. This means that you should assume that the information on the website is protected by copyright law and cannot be used without permission from the copyright holder. Therefore, you need to be cautious and ensure that you obtain proper permissions or use the information within the limits of fair use or other applicable exceptions to copyright law.

To narrow a search without eliminating a term, you would use the Boolean operator "and not". This operator allows you to include multiple search terms while excluding a specific term from the search results. By using "and not", you can refine your search and exclude certain information that may be irrelevant or not desired in the results.

When evaluating an information website, it is important to consider factors such as currency, brevity, authority, and accuracy. Currency refers to how up-to-date the information is, brevity refers to the conciseness of the content, authority refers to the credibility and expertise of the source, and accuracy refers to the correctness and reliability of the information provided. Therefore, accuracy should be considered when evaluating an information website, making it the exception in this list.

An abstract is a concise and unbiased summary of an article. It provides a brief overview of the main points and findings of the article without including any personal opinions or interpretations. The purpose of an abstract is to give readers a quick understanding of the article's content and to help them decide whether it is relevant to their research or interests. By reading the abstract, researchers can quickly assess the article's relevance and determine if they should read the full text for more detailed information.