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Researching Using ICT

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Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page

Flash activity. These activities are not editable. Web addresses

Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation

Functional Skills check

Student task accompanies this slide Printable activity

This lesson will cover:

Data and information.

Using primary and secondary sources.

Creating an online survey.

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Data and information

Effective research involves gathering as much data as possible so it can be analysed and converted to useful information.

What is the difference between data and information?

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Information sources

It is important that you use relevant and accurate information. You must also acknowledge the sources that provided the data or information.

Information can be gathered from many different sources.

You should try to verify the information from another source. Be careful when using the Internet as a source as some websites may be inaccurate.

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Primary sources are sources where the information is captured first-hand. Examples of this could be surveys, interviews, taking photographs or creating your own images and sounds.

Secondary sources are sources created by another author. They are not experienced first-hand and often refer to or explain primary sources. For example, encyclopaedias, web pages, and TV programmes are all secondary sources.

Primary and secondary sources

Sources can be divided into two types.

Good research will draw on a wide variety of sources.

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Primary and secondary

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Primary sources

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Creating a fair survey

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Online surveys

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Locating secondary sources

Secondary sources include:

the Internet

newspapers

books

magazines

leaflets

someone else’s work.You should make sure you always write down (reference) the name of your information source.

Failure to reference sources can result in the infringement of copyright and you may be accused of plagiarism.

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Primary or secondary?