Description
ET5023-Module 2 Application
Compare and Evaluate Database
For this application assignment, you will conduct online searches and compare and evaluate two databases and a search engine and document your results in a chart. You will use the databases/search engine to conduct queries and use a set of criteria to evaluate the articles you find. As a final product, you will create a how-to information packet to inform peers.
Step 1. Access
In preparation for this assignment, access and review the resource, Databases vs. Search Engines provided on the Learning Objects page.
Step 2. Explore
Explore the homepages and websites of two databases and a search engine: ProQuest search platform, ERIC (both accessible via the College Library), and Google Scholar (scholar.google.comLinks to an external site.).
Step 3. Create
Create a comparison chart of the database/search engine profiles. You may use the Database Profiles Comparison Chart linked on the Learning Objects page or create your own chart.
You may modify the criteria that have been offered in the chart if you consider other criteria more relevant.
Include a narrative that explains the reasoning for your chart and common findings.
Step 4. Identify
Identify two queries you will use in searching: a person and a topic. Each query should be academically relevant and related to the recommendations you identified in the Module 1 analysis. The person query could be an author of a relevant article or someone well known in the field of information literacy. Perform a total of six searches – the person query in each of the three databases/search engine and the topic query in each of the three databases/search engine.
Step 5. Analyze
Analyze the search results, including the number and type of results found.
Step 6. Create
Create a chart to summarize the search result information. You may use the Database Comparison Query Results Chart linked on the Learning Objects page or create the chart yourself.
In the table column labeled “Notes on Evaluating Articles,” describe in note form the ease or difficulty in evaluating articles in the database/search engine.
For example, Is the date of publication easily found to evaluate currency? Is an abstract available for evaluating utility? Does the database list the number of times the article has been cited? What might this tell you about the article?
Step 7. Select and Analyze
Select one article from each database/search engine from the topic search for a total of three articles.
Analyze each article the using the following four criteria in paragraph form.
Validity: Who is the author/authority? Does the article contain sources within the text and in a reference page? Does the author provide evidence to support statements?
Quality: Is the article balanced or biased?
Currency: Is the date of publication easily found to evaluate currency? Is the article recent (within the last 5 years)? If not, is the article historical or seminal?
Utility: Is an abstract available for evaluating utility? Does the database list the number of times the article has been cited? What might this tell you about the article?
Include the APA-formatted reference for each of the three articles.
Step 8. Recommend
Compare the results for the databases and search engine in terms of quantity of resources and the quality of the resources found. Why are some databases/search engines better suited for certain types of searches?
Based on your readings in the course and your experience using the databases/search engine, write a paragraph with recommendations of how to best use electronic databases/search engines when searching for and evaluating information.
Step 9. Compile
Compile your results from Steps 3-8 including the charts in a how-to information packet for peers. Include an APA formatted reference list.
Step 10. Submit
Submit the information packet.
Please read the Assignment GuidelinesLinks to an external site. before you begin working.
Module 2 Discussion
Evaluating Information Skills
According to the American Association of School Libraries (AASL), “The amount of information available to our learners necessitates that each individual acquire the skills to select, evaluate, and use information appropriately and effectively.”
Use the questions to guide an original response.
What problems have you encountered when searching for and evaluating information for personal and/or professional reasons?
What tips would you share regarding searching for and evaluating information?
How do you evaluate the use of Wikipedia as a source of academic information?