Chapter 11: Gathering Information and Supporting Materials

Flashcards testing concepts, definitions, research methods, and source citation rules from Chapter 11.

What is the distinction between data, information, and knowledge?

Data are facts collected from a particular source; information is a select group of facts referenced to better understand a set of data; knowledge is information with meaning attached to it.

What is information literacy?

The ability to locate, evaluate, and incorporate important information into one's own knowledge base.

What is the difference between information overload and information anxiety?

Information overload is the experience of having more data and information than one has capacity to process in a given time, whereas information anxiety is the stress felt when unable to access, understand, or process necessary information.

What are the five steps associated with the information gathering process?

1) Define the problem and consider your goals, 2) Use diverse strategies and search terms when searching, 3) Scan and evaluate information for relevancy, 4) Integrate information found from a variety of sources, and 5) Organize the information gathered.

How does a primary source differ from a secondary source?

A primary source is the original source material or research, while a secondary source is material that builds on or comments on work done by a primary source.

Which sections of a research article should you focus on to find what the study found and its implications?

The results and discussion sections.

Why should speakers use soft statements like "This study suggests" instead of "This study proves"?

Soft statements are necessary because speakers must be careful about the conclusions drawn from primary or secondary evidence rather than making absolute claims.

Which specialized index is recommended for speech research related specifically to communication?

Communication of Mass Media Complete Index.

How are surveys and statistics defined in the context of public speaking?

Surveys are studies that ask a sample of the population a limited number of questions to discover public opinions on an issue; statistics are numbers used to summarize information or compare quantities.

What techniques should be used when presenting statistics in a speech?

Round off numbers, simplify and translate them as needed, and incorporate visual representations such as pie charts, line graphs, or bar graphs.

What features make Google Scholar an effective tool for research?

It sorts through professional articles, books, and periodicals, allows filtering by date ranges (e.g., the last five years), and displays other articles that have cited a specific source.

What is data triangulation?

A technique to enhance credibility by verifying and confirming the results or insights from one source of information with other types of information on the same topic.

What four questions should you ask to test the credibility of a source?

1) Is the information in the source current? 2) Does the source draw appropriate conclusions? 3) Is the source objective? 4) Are there clear markers of credibility for the source?

In what three places must sources be documented to avoid plagiarism?

Within the body of your outline, listed on your reference list, and cited during the oral delivery of your speech.

Which citation style is standard in communication studies?

APA style.

What information is required for in-text citations in an outline for non-quotes versus direct quotes?

Non-direct quotes require the author's or authors' last names and publication year; direct quotes additionally require quotation marks and the page or paragraph number.

What three elements must be included when delivering an oral citation during a speech?

The author or authors of the piece, the date of publication, and the name of the publication.