Research Fundamentals - Sources of Data
Individuals
Individuals are a valuable source of data for many people and the advantages of these people are that they are often reliable, particularly if their position is favourable. These positions are those such as a specialist in their chosen field that applies to the data required. Human beings each hold their own individual bank of knowledge, some of these individuals specialise in a certain area of knowledge. These people are therefore more reliable, valid and accurate in their conveying of data on their particular area of speciality. Such individuals include people such as brain surgeons, neuroscientists, carpenters, and even teachers in specific fields.
Digital
Many regard and understand that the Internet, among other digital sources such as television and radio, is a very valuable source of up-to-date data and other information. The Internet is vast network that all manner of people from all manner of places can access, particularly those who are specialists in their fields and areas of knowledge. This then gives credibility and reliability to the information on the Internet, given that much work that wishes to be recognised as such is marked with the author’s name. For instance, all over the Internet scholarly journals and sites wherein articles are uploaded can be found that are accurate, reliable, valid and credible.
Print
Much like digital sources, printed sources are widely accessible and cover all manner of topics, however, unlike most digital sources there is more reliability accredited to printed sources for many reasons, one of which being an author is always listed. Printed sources of information are also more often than not easier to find than a web search as they are organised by topic in most libraries and there is also more often than not catalogued for even further ease of searching. Save for libraries, printed information can also be found in pamphlets, which are a reliable and valuable summary of information about a particular topic that are found all over, including in libraries, shops, offices, etc.
Individuals are a valuable source of data for many people and the advantages of these people are that they are often reliable, particularly if their position is favourable. These positions are those such as a specialist in their chosen field that applies to the data required. Human beings each hold their own individual bank of knowledge, some of these individuals specialise in a certain area of knowledge. These people are therefore more reliable, valid and accurate in their conveying of data on their particular area of speciality. Such individuals include people such as brain surgeons, neuroscientists, carpenters, and even teachers in specific fields.
Digital
Many regard and understand that the Internet, among other digital sources such as television and radio, is a very valuable source of up-to-date data and other information. The Internet is vast network that all manner of people from all manner of places can access, particularly those who are specialists in their fields and areas of knowledge. This then gives credibility and reliability to the information on the Internet, given that much work that wishes to be recognised as such is marked with the author’s name. For instance, all over the Internet scholarly journals and sites wherein articles are uploaded can be found that are accurate, reliable, valid and credible.
Much like digital sources, printed sources are widely accessible and cover all manner of topics, however, unlike most digital sources there is more reliability accredited to printed sources for many reasons, one of which being an author is always listed. Printed sources of information are also more often than not easier to find than a web search as they are organised by topic in most libraries and there is also more often than not catalogued for even further ease of searching. Save for libraries, printed information can also be found in pamphlets, which are a reliable and valuable summary of information about a particular topic that are found all over, including in libraries, shops, offices, etc.