Internet Newsstands Library Interviews Surveys & Polls

Discovering Evidence

Credibility is Everything

Guard your Ethos

Discovering Evidence

Internet

Credibility

Google & Google Scholar

Wikipedia Informational websites

non-profit and government sites Twitter

Subscribe to issue & subject matter feeds credible organizations devoted to the issue/subject

Discovering EvidenceNewstands

Credibility Do they fact-check? What are they selling? Who is the Audience?

Time Newsweek The Economist National Geographic Discover Scientific American US News & World Report

Discovering Evidence

SPSCC Library

Credibility Databases & Resources

CQ Researcher Ebsco CINHAL Points of View OED

Discovering Evidence

Interviews

Credibility

Excellent way to quickly learn the “insider’s view”

Requires preparation

Transcribing: 1 hour of tape = 4 hours transcription

Discovering Evidence

Interviews

Prepare

Do some reading in your interviewee’s area of expertise

Know Who you are talking to: research them : ]

Don’t expect them to hold your hand ; ]

Know the Purpose of your visit

Make a short list of pithy, open-ended questions

Choose your first question

Choose your last question

And Dress as if you respect your opportunity…

: ]

Interviews

Arrive 5 minutes early Review your notes

Greet everyone with confidence—shake hands Briefly introduce yourself and the purpose of your visit

Turn recorder on, set on desk, ask “do you mind if I record?” Ask your first question—stating the individual’s name for the tape

Listen to their answer Make note of “cues” to follow Don’t ask questions out of idle curiosity

Stay on task

Be respectful—be humble—be bold

Discovering Evidence

Stay on Task Follow intriguing cues that relate to your purpose Keep the interview moving..stay on task

Listen Notice allusions—research later

Ask your final question—by this time it may be modified Ask advise for further research:

Who else to talk to? Facilities to visit? Important articles to read?

Thank them for their time…get their card Shake hands

…leave the door open ; ]

Discovering Evidence

Interviews

Surveys

Know your Purpose Freewrite to focus and clarify your Purpose for the Survey Write your Statement of Purpose in 8 words or less

Design your Survey Make a short list of pithy, open-ended questions Clarify your wording: You will get what you ask for User test your survey on friends Refine your wording based on results

Likert scale

A typical Likert Scale progression

Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree

Discovering Evidence

Polls

Polls are a great way to gather local data

Design your Question(s) Thoughtfully

Yes or No

Take a Broad Sample

Compile your Results

Discovering Evidence

Internet Newstands Library Interviews Surveys & Polls

Discovering Evidence

Guard your Ethos

Credibility is Everything