What to use and when?

Information resources can vary a lot in terms of coverage, depth and format. Knowing when to use a particular type of information and later organising the information can help you in effectively conducting your research or writing your assignment.

The following list tells you which sources to use when looking for particular types of information:

1. Topic Definition -- Dictionary, encyclopaedia, textbook
2. Topic Overview -- Textbook, encyclopaedia, other reference books
3. Basic Facts -- Textbook, Yearbook, other reference books
4. Current Information -- Journals, conference proceedings, World Wide Web

For a detailed review of the coverage of different information types and resources see Module 1: Available Information Resources.

5.1	Module 5 objectives
5.2	What to use and when
5.3	Evaluating information resources: using the CRAAP test
5.4	Evaluating internet resources
5.5	Organising information
5.6	Module 5 review
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