Organization of Organization of InformationInformation

GNED 104 Research MethodsGNED 104 Research Methods

Wilfred Drew, Associate Wilfred Drew, Associate LibrarianLibrarian

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What is “information” &What is “information” & why organize it? why organize it?

1: the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence.

2: knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction.

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Characteristics of Characteristics of InformationInformation

Analytical or FactualAnalytical or Factual Objective or SubjectiveObjective or Subjective Primary or SecondaryPrimary or Secondary Format (physical form)Format (physical form)

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Characteristics of Characteristics of InformationInformation

Analytical Information:interpretation of facts.Example: encyclopedias, books, magazines.

Factual Information:made up of facts only, no explanations or interpretations of statements.Examples: statistics, dictionaries, who’s who.

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Characteristics of Characteristics of InformationInformation

Objective Information:presents all sides of a topic.Example: encyclopedias, reference books.

Subjective Information:presents one view point or opinion.Examples: editorials, book reviews, critical essays.

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Characteristics of Characteristics of InformationInformation

Primary Information:information in original form or copy of original form.Example: diary, art work, raw data.

Secondary Information:repackaged, any material other than original.Examples: gossip, class notes, encyclopedias.

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Characteristics of Characteristics of InformationInformation

Books: Books: printed on paper and stored on shelves.printed on paper and stored on shelves.

Periodicals :Periodicals : printed on paper and stored on printed on paper and stored on shelves or as microfilm in cabinets.shelves or as microfilm in cabinets.

Non- print:Non- print: on computers,tapes, on computers,tapes, cassettes,cd,DVD, cd-rom, radio & TV broadcasts, cassettes,cd,DVD, cd-rom, radio & TV broadcasts, etc. Includes electronic books & full text of etc. Includes electronic books & full text of magazines online.magazines online.

Format (physical form): each requires different type of storage

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How Organized Are You?How Organized Are You?

ClothesClothes CDsCDs HomeworkHomework Addresses and phone Addresses and phone

numbersnumbers

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Classification Systems Classification Systems

Used to organize information.Used to organize information. Simplifies access and searching.Simplifies access and searching.

Examples:Examples: Newspaper Want AdsNewspaper Want Ads YahooYahoo MenuMenu LibraryLibrary

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Yahoo Yahoo ----

Uses subject categories from Uses subject categories from general to specific:general to specific:

Home > Education > Higher Home > Education > Higher Education > Colleges and Education > Colleges and Universities > United States > Universities > United States >

New York > Education > College New York > Education > College and University > Community and and University > Community and TechnicalTechnical

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Restaurant Restaurant Menu:Menu:

Grouped by type of food Grouped by type of food item:item:

SandwichesSandwiches Fresh SaladsFresh Salads Beverages & DesertsBeverages & Deserts PotatoesPotatoes PitasPitas

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Library of Congress (LC): Library of Congress (LC):

Organizes the library by broad Organizes the library by broad groups.groups.

Assigns each book or item a Assigns each book or item a unique call number. unique call number.

Assigns each book various subject Assigns each book various subject headings for searching purposes.headings for searching purposes.

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LC organizes by broad LC organizes by broad groupsgroups

A General B Phil. & Relig. C History: Aux.D History: Top. E-F Amer. Hist. G Geog. & Anth.H Social Sci. J Poli. Sci. K LawL Education M Music N Fine ArtsP Lang. & Liter. Q Science R MedicineS Agriculture T Technology U Military Sci.V Naval Sci. Z Bibl. & Libr.

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LC assigns each book or LC assigns each book or item a unique call number.item a unique call number.

Call Number is similar to your Call Number is similar to your mailing addressmailing address

Call Number is used to find a book Call Number is used to find a book on the shelf .on the shelf .

Examples:Examples:

GV351 . S23 1998GV351 . S23 1998

GV351 . Z56 1999GV351 . Z56 1999

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LC assigns each book LC assigns each book various subject headingsvarious subject headings

Each item has several headings Each item has several headings assigned.assigned.

Allows you to search for a specific Allows you to search for a specific subject.subject.

Examples:Examples: Scholarships -- United States-- Statistics.Scholarships -- United States-- Statistics. College costs -- United States-- College costs -- United States--

Statistics.Statistics.