Information Literacy Diagnostic Test
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- 1.
When working on a research assignment, what is an effective and efficient plan of action to take? Arrange the steps below from start to end for an effective and efficient plan.
- Select information resources
- Cite sources
- Organise information
- Conduct effective searches
- Evaluate information
- Define topic
- Review (and repeat)
- A.
F, A, C, B, D, G, E
- B.
F, A, D, G, E, C, B
- C.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
- D.
A, F, D, G, E, C, B
Correct Answer
B. F, A, D, G, E, C, BExplanation
Once you start searching (Step D), it is useful to start reviewing your results (Step G) and then adjust and repeat your searches accordingly if necessary. Reviewing can continue to be done even after evaluating your information sources (Step E) but if you have reviewed then evaluating becomes easier.Rate this question:
- 2.
Your project group has 1 week to do research, write a report and prepare a presentation on: “The challenges facing the elderly in Singapore and the programmes available to assist them”. The group decides that the action plan which will gain the best results is:
- A.
Search the Web for websites with suitable information.
- B.
Identify key concepts and search appropriate information sources with suitable methods.
- C.
Search YouTube for presentations of similar research.
- D.
Identify an area where many elderly people live and interview them.
Correct Answer
B. Identify key concepts and search appropriate information sources with suitable methods.Explanation
All options will give results but (b) is the most systematic. It ensures that you have got your topic correct before you even start searching. It is also not dependent only on web sources.
(d) – this option sounds proactive but: 1) the elderly one speaks to may not be aware of the programmes available to assist them; (2) there may not be sufficient time in 1 week to conduct interviews, transcribe them and collate the results.Rate this question:
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- 3.
![While scanning a magazine, you found a chart (see below) which will be useful for your research on organic pollutants in Singapore waters. You think that the original article in which the chart was published might have other relevant charts.
To find the article, you do the following:
Chart from: Basheer, C., Obbard, J.P., & Lee, H.K., 2003. Persistent organic pollutants in Singapore's coastal marine environment: Part II, sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution [online], 149(1-4), pp. 315-325. Available from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com/docview/746929676?accountid=40699 [Accessed 3 Mar 2011].
- ProProfs](data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs= "While scanning a magazine, you found a chart (see below) which will be useful for your research on organic pollutants in Singapore waters. You think that the original article in which the chart was published might have other relevant charts.
To find the article, you do the following:
Chart from: Basheer, C., Obbard, J.P., & Lee, H.K., 2003. Persistent organic pollutants in Singapore's coastal marine environment: Part II, sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution [online], 149(1-4), pp. 315-325. Available from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com/docview/746929676?accountid=40699 [Accessed 3 Mar 2011].")
While scanning a magazine, you found a chart (see below) which will be useful for your research on organic pollutants in Singapore waters. You think that the original article in which the chart was published might have other relevant charts. To find the article, you do the following: Chart from: Basheer, C., Obbard, J.P., & Lee, H.K., 2003. Persistent organic pollutants in Singapore's coastal marine environment: Part II, sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution [online], 149(1-4), pp. 315-325. Available from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com/docview/746929676?accountid=40699 [Accessed 3 Mar 2011].
- A.
A. Search the Web using the phrase “Basheer et al. 2003”.
- B.
B. Go to the end of the magazine article to find the publication details of the original article in the reference list.
- C.
C. Search the Library catalogue for the author named Basheer.
- D.
D. Select a science and technology database and search it for articles on surface marine sediments in Singapore.
Correct Answer
B. B. Go to the end of the magazine article to find the publication details of the original article in the reference list.Explanation
The chart provides the publication details of the original article, including the authors' names, the title of the article, the journal it was published in, and the year of publication. By going to the end of the magazine article and checking the reference list, the researcher can find the complete citation for the original article. This will provide them with the necessary information to locate the article and potentially find other relevant charts or information. Searching the web using the authors' names or searching the library catalogue for the author named Basheer may not provide the specific article or the relevant charts. Selecting a science and technology database and searching for articles on surface marine sediments in Singapore may provide relevant articles, but it does not guarantee finding the specific article mentioned in the chart.Rate this question:
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- 4.
How much of the Web are the best search engines (e.g. Google) able to search?
- A.
A. A small percentage of the total pages on the Web
- B.
B. About half the total pages on the Web
- C.
C. Most of the pages on the Web
- D.
D. All the pages on the Web
Correct Answer
A. A. A small percentage of the total pages on the WebExplanation
At the end of 2010, it was estimated that Google indexed 8% of the pages on the Web out of 300+ billion pages. A Google search therefore searches about 8% of the Web. A very large part of the Web consists of private pages and database-driven pages that Google cannot index.
See:
Paul Gil, What is the Invisible Web?, Dec 2010, http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/secondaryweb1/a/secondaryweb.htm
There have been a number of studies and estimates reported or published since 2001. The percentages vary but all have shown that only a very small part of the Web is indexed.
See:
Devine, J. & Egger-Sider, F., 2009. Going beyond Google : the Invisible Web in learning and teaching. London, Facet.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Assisted suicide has been in the spotlight at various times in the Singapore press. In order to find as many news articles as possible on the issue in a news database, which search statement should be used?
- A.
A. Assisted suicide OR euthanasia OR mercy killing AND advance medical directive OR living will
- B.
B. Assisted suicide AND euthanasia AND mercy killing
- C.
C. Assisted suicide OR euthanasia OR mercy killing
- D.
D. Assisted suicide OR euthanasia AND mercy killing
Correct Answer
C. C. Assisted suicide OR euthanasia OR mercy killingExplanation
The OR operator is used to search synonyms or to retrieve results with at least one of the words you have used. Instead of doing individual searches for each synonym, it enables you to do one search to find articles on similar or related concepts.Rate this question:
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- 6.
You need to write a report discussing the positive and negative effects of social networking. In order to get a feel of what’s being written about this, you do a broad search in a database such as Business Source Premier. Which search statement will help you find the most relevant results?
- A.
A. Facebook AND Twitter AND Friendster AND MySpace
- B.
B. (“social networking” OR “social media”) AND (positive OR negative)
- C.
C. “social networking” AND positive OR negative
- D.
D. “social networking” AND (positive OR negative)
Correct Answer
B. B. (“social networking” OR “social media”) AND (positive OR negative)Explanation
The search statement in option b. is the most relevant because it includes the keywords "social networking" and "social media" which are directly related to the topic of the report. Additionally, the use of the OR operator allows for results that include either "social networking" or "social media", expanding the search and capturing a wider range of relevant articles. The inclusion of the terms "positive" and "negative" further refines the search to specifically find articles discussing the positive and negative effects of social networking, which aligns with the objective of the report.Rate this question:
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- 7.
You’ve been commissioned by the Ministry of Health to produce a video to educate the layman on common myths regarding bird flu. To find out more, you search a medical database. Which search statement will find the largest number of relevant articles on the topic?
- A.
A. myths AND “bird flu” OR “avian flu” OR H5N1
- B.
B. (myth* OR urban legend*) AND (“bird flu” OR chicken*)
- C.
C. myths AND “bird flu”
- D.
D. myth* AND (“bird flu” OR “avian flu” OR H5N1)
Correct Answer
D. D. myth* AND (“bird flu” OR “avian flu” OR H5N1)Explanation
The search statement "myth* AND (“bird flu” OR “avian flu” OR H5N1)" will find the largest number of relevant articles on the topic because it includes variations of the term "myth" and includes multiple terms related to bird flu such as "bird flu," "avian flu," and "H5N1." This broadens the search and increases the likelihood of finding a larger number of relevant articles.Rate this question:
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- 8.
- A leading scientist working on stem cell research is now based in Singapore. You are a magazine reporter that has been given the opportunity to interview her! To prepare for the interview, you do some background reading. You look for books on the basics of stem cell research. At which call number(s) in SP Library can you find such books? (Link to: SP Library Catalogue.)
- A.
A. RS420
- B.
B. QS599.S83
- C.
C. QH588.S83
- D.
D. QH332 and R724
Correct Answer
C. C. QH588.S83Explanation
Type “stem cell research” (no quotation marks needed) in the ELISER/catalogue search box.Rate this question:
- 9.
When you search a database and obtain no results or very few results, what are some immediate steps to take?
- Redefine your topic.
- Think again whether the keywords you searched have synonyms.
- Check the Help section to determine the correct operators and symbols to use in your search statement.
- Search another database.
- Remove any limits placed on the search.
- Browse the library shelves in the relevant section.
- A.
A. I, II, III
- B.
B. III, IV, V
- C.
C. II, III, V
- D.
D. I, IV, VI
Correct Answer
C. C. II, III, VExplanation
Before you even think of redefining your topic or changing to another database, some simple things to do would be to check that the keywords, Boolean operators and symbols used are correct. In real life, it has been observed that students often make spelling errors when keywords are entered and place operators in the wrong positions.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to check that the database has not placed some limits on the search by default. For example, in the Factiva database, the default search is on Singapore news sources. If the option was changed to All Sources, which covers sources from all over the world, the number of documents retrieved will then be much larger.Rate this question:
- 10.
You are searching the web for examples of stereotypes in the local media and discover this article in Wikipedia - “Singapore Girl”. It provides you with some interesting background information but eventually you decide not to list the article as a reference in your report because:
- A.
A. It lacks authority and comprehensiveness.
- B.
B. It provides references to other verifiable sources for some sections.
- C.
C. It appears objective in its coverage.
- D.
D. It appears up-to-date.
Correct Answer
A. A. It lacks authority and comprehensiveness.Explanation
The article in Wikipedia on "Singapore Girl" is not suitable as a reference in the report because it lacks authority and comprehensiveness. This means that the information provided may not be reliable or trustworthy, and it may not cover all aspects of the topic. It is important to use credible and comprehensive sources when conducting research to ensure the accuracy and validity of the information presented.Rate this question:
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- 11.
In order to assess whether the information you found is biased, which of the following should you consider?
- Author’s age
- Author’s organisation
- Author’s academic/professional qualifications
- Purpose of the information
- Tone of language
- Type of publication, e.g. scholarly journal, popular magazine, website
- A.
A. I, III, IV
- B.
B. II, III, IV, VI
- C.
C. II, IV, V
- D.
D. III, IV, V, VI
Correct Answer
C. C. II, IV, VExplanation
The author’s qualifications (III) and the type of publication (VI) help us determine the authority of the information but authority does not necessarily exclude bias. In academic circles, there may also be controversial issues with academics ranged on both sides and acceptance for publication could depend on one’s stand.Rate this question:
- 12.
Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook, is heard to be living in Singapore and was seen at local nightspot, The Butter Factory. You googled and found this website which mentions the news: Facebook Co-Founder, Eduardo Saverin, is in Singapore - Video Within Teh, J., 31 Oct 2010. Facebook Co-Founder, Eduardo Saverin, is in Singapore – Video Within. TechieLobang.com. Available from: http://techielobang.com/blog/2010/10/31/facebook-co-founder-eduardo-saverin-is-in-singapore-video-within/ [Accessed 10 Mar 2011]. You think the news is probably true because:
- A.
A. Your friend said that he thought he saw Saverin at The Butter Factory last month.
- B.
B. You searched the local newspaper The Straits Times and found the article which reported this news.
- C.
C. The website says that it was reported in The Straits Times.
- D.
C. The website says that it was reported in The Straits Times.
Correct Answer
B. B. You searched the local newspaper The Straits Times and found the article which reported this news.Explanation
The correct answer is b. You searched the local newspaper The Straits Times and found the article which reported this news. This is a valid reason to believe that the news is true because finding the news article in a reputable local newspaper adds credibility to the information.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Your lecturer asks you to read parts of a book for the next tutorial assignment. You have found a copy of the book in the Library. As a student using it for personal study, you know you may:
- A.
1. Your lecturer asks you to read parts of a book for the next tutorial assignment. You have found a copy of the book in the Library. As a student using it for personal study, you know you may: a. Photocopy a maximum of 10 pages of the book
- B.
B. Photocopy a maximum of 10% of the total no. of pages of the book.
- C.
C. Photocopy a maximum of 20% of the total no. of pages of the book.
- D.
D. Photocopy a maximum of 2 chapters of the book.
Correct Answer
B. B. Photocopy a maximum of 10% of the total no. of pages of the book.Explanation
For research or personal study, one may copy up to 10% of a book if the book contains 10 or more pages, or up to one chapter if the book is divided into chapters.Rate this question:
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- 14.
In the literature review section of your report, you need to use information from a paragraph in a book. Which of the following does not constitute as plagiarism and is an acceptable way of using the information?
- A.
A. Use a few lines from the paragraph, without quotation marks, with citation.
- B.
B. Use a few lines from the paragraph, with quotation marks, without citation.
- C.
C. Use the exact words with quotation marks, with citation.
- D.
D. Use your own words to paraphrase the paragraph, without citation.
Correct Answer
C. C. Use the exact words with quotation marks, with citation.Explanation
Using the exact words from the paragraph with quotation marks and providing a citation is the correct way to use the information without committing plagiarism. This method acknowledges the original source and gives credit to the author for their words.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Earlier this year, it was reported in the news that a German minister was alleged to have plagiarised from various sources for a significant part of his doctoral dissertation. Since then the university has revoked his degree. He eventually admitted to his mistakes and resigned as minister. In order to have avoided plagiarising, what should he have done?
- A.
A. Paraphrased the information from sources, included personal analysis and cited the sources.
- B.
B. Enclosed in quotation marks all the parts he copied.
- C.
C. Used information from a larger number of sources, not just a few.
- D.
D. Used a plagiarism checker.
Correct Answer
A. A. Paraphrased the information from sources, included personal analysis and cited the sources.Explanation
(d) could be a reasonable answer but if one takes care to avoid plagiarism and cite sources when writing, a plagiarism checker is not needed.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Your essay on global warming cites an article by Borick and Rabe. Which of the following references of the article provides the needed information for your reader to locate the article easily (if he/she wishes to read it)?
- A.
A. Borick, Christopher P., & Rabe, Barry G., 'A Reason to Believe: Examining the Factors that Determine Individual Views on Global Warming', Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited), 91(3) pp. 777-800.
- B.
B. Borick, Christoper, & Rabe, Barry, 2010, 'A Reason to Believe: Examining the Factors that Determine Individual Views on Global Warming', Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited, Oxford), pp. 777-800. Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost [accessed 5 Jan 2011].
- C.
C. Borick, C., & Rabe, B., 2010, 'A Reason to Believe: Examining the Factors that Determine Individual Views on Global Warming', Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited), 91(3) pp. 777-800.
- D.
D. Borick, C., & Rabe, B., 2010, 'A Reason to Believe: Examining the Factors that Determine Individual Views on Global Warming', Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited), 91(3), Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost [accessed 5 Jan 2011].
Correct Answer
C. C. Borick, C., & Rabe, B., 2010, 'A Reason to Believe: Examining the Factors that Determine Individual Views on Global Warming', Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited), 91(3) pp. 777-800.Explanation
Note: The essential information needed is: author’s surname, year of publication, article title, publication title, volume no. and issue no. and page numbers. If the article was accessed from an electronic database, the name of the database and the date of access can also be included.
Answer a) does not provide year of publication.
Answer b) does not provide volume and issue numbers.
Answer d) does not provide page numbers.Rate this question:
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- 17.
- Your essay on environmental sustainability refers to a journal article. To ensure that your reader will be able to find the article to read it, what information is needed to do a proper citation using the Harvard (author-date) style?
- Author
- Article title
- Journal title
- Journal publisher
- Place of publication
- Year of publication
- Volume/issue
- Beginning and ending page of article
- Total number of pages
- A.
A. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, IX
- B.
B. I, II, III, VI, VII, VIII
- C.
C. I, II, III, VI, VII, IX
- D.
D. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX (all the information)
Correct Answer
B. B. I, II, III, VI, VII, VIIIExplanation
To properly cite a journal article using the Harvard (author-date) style, the following information is needed: the author's name, the article title, the journal title, the year of publication, and the beginning and ending page of the article. This information will allow the reader to locate and read the article referenced in the essay on environmental sustainability. The other options (IV, V, IX) are not necessary for a proper citation in this style.Rate this question:
- 18.
At the end of your essay on the effects of storytelling, you are required to provide a list of references using the Harvard style. For an article by Pauline Chen, which of the following uses the Harvard style:
- A.
A. “Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve” (Doctor and Patient), NYTimes.com – Global edition, Views, (New York, USA), 10 Feb 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/health/views/10chen.html. 10 Mar 2011.
- B.
B. Chen, Pauline W., 2011. When Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve [online], NYTimes.com. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/health/views/10chen.html [Accessed 10 Mar 2011].
- C.
C. Pauline W. Chen, “Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve”, published February 10, 2011, in The New York Times website (NYTimes.com). Access at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/health/views/10chen.html
- D.
D. Chen, Pauline W., M.D. (2011) "When Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve”, 10 Feb 2011, NYTimes.com (Global edition). .
Correct Answer
B. B. Chen, Pauline W., 2011. When Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve [online], NYTimes.com. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/health/views/10chen.html [Accessed 10 Mar 2011].Explanation
The Harvard style has variations but the wrong options above are obviously not the Harvard style or have missing information.Rate this question:
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- 19.
You’ve almost completed writing your project report and are left with making a list of references. Your project supervisor reminds you that when you work on your references, the most important thing to remember is:
- A.
A. Always provide at least the author(s) and year of publication.
- B.
B. Provide the URL and the date of access as long as it is available on the Web.
- C.
C. Indicate the publication title clearly by enclosing in quotation marks or using italics.
- D.
D. Be consistent in your style and provide sufficient information for the reader to find the reference.
Correct Answer
D. D. Be consistent in your style and provide sufficient information for the reader to find the reference.Explanation
The correct answer is d. "Be consistent in your style and provide sufficient information for the reader to find the reference." This is the most important thing to remember when working on references because it ensures that the reader can easily locate and access the sources cited in the project report. Consistency in style helps maintain a professional and organized appearance, while providing sufficient information allows the reader to accurately identify and retrieve the referenced materials.Rate this question:
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![While scanning a magazine, you found a chart (see below) which will be useful for your research on organic pollutants in Singapore waters. You think that the original article in which the chart was published might have other relevant charts.
To find the article, you do the following:
Chart from: Basheer, C., Obbard, J.P., & Lee, H.K., 2003. Persistent organic pollutants in Singapore's coastal marine environment: Part II, sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution [online], 149(1-4), pp. 315-325. Available from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com/docview/746929676?accountid=40699 [Accessed 3 Mar 2011].
- ProProfs](/quiz-school/user_upload/ckeditor/chart.png "While scanning a magazine, you found a chart (see below) which will be useful for your research on organic pollutants in Singapore waters. You think that the original article in which the chart was published might have other relevant charts.
To find the article, you do the following:
Chart from: Basheer, C., Obbard, J.P., & Lee, H.K., 2003. Persistent organic pollutants in Singapore's coastal marine environment: Part II, sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution [online], 149(1-4), pp. 315-325. Available from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com/docview/746929676?accountid=40699 [Accessed 3 Mar 2011].")
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