Page 94 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Unit 11: Evaluation of Information Sources in Social Science

the original. Then only, the researcher can review the cautionary and other comments that were made Notes
in the original source.

3. Data Completeness
The completeness refers to the actual coverage of the published data. This depends on the methodology
and sampling design adopted by the original organization. Is the methodology sound? Is the sample
size small or large? Is the sampling method appropriate? Answers to these questions may indicate the
appropriateness and adequacy of the data for the problem under study. The question of possible bias
should also be examined. Whether the purpose for which the original organization collected the data
had a particular orientation? Has the study been made to promote the organization’s own interest?
How the study was conducted? These are important clues. The researcher must be on guard when
the source does not report the methodology and sampling design. Then it is not possible to determine
the adequacy of the secondary data for the researcher’s study.
The given below is the critically evaluation of key secondary sources of information:

A. Books
Most books are initially reviewed by publishers or editors for quality of content and writing style, as
well as marketability.
The following points should be considered while evaluating the books:

y Author or contact person—located on title page; brief biographical information may be included
in introductory pages or at end of book

y Publisher—located on title page
y Date of publication—located on title page
y Intended audience—determined by examining the content, preface, and introduction.
y Purpose of the information—determined by examining the content, preface, and
introduction.
B. Periodicals
Periodical articles generally undergo review processes, but at different levels, depending on the type
of publication.
Newspapers and popular or general interest magazines usually have staff writers who are responsible
for writing in certain areas. Scholarly journal articles generally undergo a more rigorous peer review
process: experts in the subject field review the article manuscript before publication to ensure reliability
and credibility.
The following points should be considered while evaluating the books:
y Author or contact person – usually located on first page of article; position and/or institutional
affiliation may be included as footnote on first page or at end of article
y Editorial board – members, with their affiliations, may be listed on introductory pages of
issue
y Publisher – usually located on contents page of issue
y Date of publication – usually located on cover and/or contents page
y Intended audience – determined by examining the content; publication may state intended
audience in note on contents page
y Purpose of the information – determined by examining the content

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