Gathering Sources
As you prepare to gather sources, you will need to consider the following questions:
- What information do you need?
- Who might write that sort of information?
- Where might you locate that type of information?
Use these answers to help you decide where to begin gathering sources. For example, certain government websites might post statistics on many subjects, but those websites probably won't provide a critique of those statistics. For critique or analysis of statistics, you may need to read academic articles or visit websites that report on that topic.
Potential Starting Points
Keep in mind that every source of information [for example, Google Scholar or Academic Search Complete] looks and works differently. While Google Scholar has one main search box, Academic Search Complete has multiple boxes. Exploring how each of these tools works, and understanding what the tool is searching [all of the internet or only certain resources] can help you target the types of information you are seeking.
- PLU Library Catalog
- Who can access it: Anyone can search in the library catalog, however only those who are affiliated with PLU can access the resources.
- What can you find in it: The library catalog lets you browse almost everything that the library purchases, digital and physical. This includes academic articles, books, movies, music scores, etc.
- Things to know: The filters on the left side will let you manage the number of results. Consider using the advanced search features for further control.
- Academic Search Complete [ASC]
- Who can access it: Only people affiliated with PLU can access this resources and its content.
- What can you find in it: ASC is a multi-disciplinary database where you can find both scholarly and non-scholarly sources of information. If you are doing research in the social sciences, ASC as well as other EBSCO databases can be of use in your research.
- Things to know: The advanced search features is quite useful when trying to locate specific types of information [articles, reviews, speeches, etc.]. Though ASC will suggest terms for you to consider when searching, don't always follow its lead. Be mindful about what words you use when searching and be as creative as necessary.
- JSTOR
- Who can access it: Only people affiliated with PLU can access this resources and its content.
- What can you find in it: JSTOR is a multi-disciplinary database that is quite useful when doing humanities research.
- Things to know: JSTOR can often integrate content from Wikipedia to give you context when exploring certain topics. Each article that you find in JSTOR will have these topics, use them to find related articles to the ones you already have.
Already know what you need? Here are a few more options:
Consider consulting encyclopedias or books related to your topic. Additionally, resources like Credo Reference can provide you with general information about your topic. | Consider using books related to your topic. You can search for books in the Library Catalog. | Consider using a database or journal that is associated with your theme or the discipline for which you are writing. You can browse for databases by academic discipline in the A-Z Databases List. |
Questions to Consider
Q: When using a certain tool, like Academic Search complete, what voices or perspectives might be privileged? Whose voices might be missing within this sort of tool?
Q: In what ways might the choice of a certain tool, like the NY Times database, impact the information you are able to gather?
Data collection is a standout amongst the most essential stages in carrying on a research. You can have the best research plan in the world, however, in the event that you can’t gather the necessary data you will not have the capacity to complete your venture. Data collection is an extremely challenging work which needs exhaustive planning, diligent work, understanding, determination and more to have the capacity to complete the assignment
effectively. Data collection begins with figuring out what sort of data is needed, followed by the collection of a sample from a certain section of the population. Next, you have to utilize a certain tool to gather the data from the chosen sample. Normally we can gather data from two sources namely primary and secondary. Data gathered through perception or questionnaire review in a characteristic setting are illustrations of data obtained in an
uncontrolled situation. Secondary data is the data acquired from optional sources like magazines, books, documents, journals, reports, the web and more. The chart below describes the flow of the sources of data collection.Sources of Data Collection: Primary & Secondary
→ What is Data Collection?
→ Sources of Data Collection
→ Sources of Primary Data Collection
Primary data will be the data that you gather particularly with the end goal of your research venture. Leverage of Primary data is that it is particularly customized to your analysis needs. A drawback is that it is costly to get hold of. Primary data is otherwise called raw information; the information gathered from the first source in a controlled or an uncontrolled situation. Cases of a controlled domain are experimental studies where certain variables are being controlled by the analyst.
The source of primary data is the populace test from which you gather the information. The initial phase in the process is deciding your target populace. For instance, if you are looking into the attractiveness of another washing machine, your target populace may be newly-weds.
Clearly, it’s impracticable to gather information from everybody, so you will need to focus on the sample size and kind of sample. The specimen ought to be arbitrary and a stratified random sample is frequently sensible. In our washing machine illustration, sub populations may incorporate adolescent couples, moderately aged couples, old couples, and previously wedded couples.
→ Sources of Secondary Data Collection
You can break the sources of secondary data into internal as well as external sources. Inner sources incorporate data that exists and is stored in your organization. External data refers to the data that is gathered by other individuals or associations from your association’s outer environment.
Examples of inner sources of data incorporate, but are not restricted only to, the following:
- Statement of the profit and loss
- Balance sheets
- Sales figures
- Inventory records
- Previous marketing studies
If the secondary data you have gathered from internal sources is not sufficient, you can turn to outside sources of data collection, some outside sources of data collection include:
- Universities
- Government sources
- Foundations
- Media, including telecast, print and Internet
- Trade, business and expert affiliations
- Corporate filings
- Commercial information administrations, which are organizations that find the data for you