Finding and Evaluating Business Information
● Google is not a synonym for research
○ LMS (learning management system)-allow company to provide some training
online as well as manage all content and record keeping for the system.
● How do you determine what info you need?
○ Be sure you have a good understanding of your major research question or prob
as well as the assumptions it’s based on. What ?s will your audience expect you
to answer when you present the research? What sources will your audience
expect you to consult?
○ Scope of a research study refers to the breadth and depth of your research.
○ Limitations-characteristics of research that prevent you from generalizing your
findings more broadly.
■ Quantitative-gathers # data
■ Qualitative-open-ended ?s and observations for insights into attitudes,
values, and concerns of research subjects
● How do you conduct research in print and online sources?
○ Can use:
■ Online publication index-articles in that publication
■ Online article database-articles originally published in print journals,
magazines, and newspapers
■ Online business research tools-company, industry, and market data
■ Library online catalog-e/books, and other publications available through
that library
○ Desktop search tool-search engine designed to search for files on your computer
or file server that contain specific words or that were produced w/in a specific
time period
○ Academic journals advantage-written and peer reviewed by professionals in the
field to ensure that articles are accurate and honest. Books-professionally
reviewed, edited, and produced
○ Counter smart web search
■ Use quotes around search items
● Find sites that include the exact phrase rather than sites that
include each of the words somewhere on the page
■ *
● Find a phrase that includes an unknown or variable world
■ Use file types
○ Credibility
■ Authorship, accuracy, and age
■ Does the source identify the author?
■ Is the author qualified or an expert in this content?
■ Is the source published by a reputable press, or is the website sponsored
by a reputable org?
■ Does the author provide support for claims?
■ Was the book or article peer reviewed?
● Google is not a synonym for research
○ LMS (learning management system)-allow company to provide some training
online as well as manage all content and record keeping for the system.
● How do you determine what info you need?
○ Be sure you have a good understanding of your major research question or prob
as well as the assumptions it’s based on. What ?s will your audience expect you
to answer when you present the research? What sources will your audience
expect you to consult?
○ Scope of a research study refers to the breadth and depth of your research.
○ Limitations-characteristics of research that prevent you from generalizing your
findings more broadly.
■ Quantitative-gathers # data
■ Qualitative-open-ended ?s and observations for insights into attitudes,
values, and concerns of research subjects
● How do you conduct research in print and online sources?
○ Can use:
■ Online publication index-articles in that publication
■ Online article database-articles originally published in print journals,
magazines, and newspapers
■ Online business research tools-company, industry, and market data
■ Library online catalog-e/books, and other publications available through
that library
○ Desktop search tool-search engine designed to search for files on your computer
or file server that contain specific words or that were produced w/in a specific
time period
○ Academic journals advantage-written and peer reviewed by professionals in the
field to ensure that articles are accurate and honest. Books-professionally
reviewed, edited, and produced
○ Counter smart web search
■ Use quotes around search items
● Find sites that include the exact phrase rather than sites that
include each of the words somewhere on the page
■ *
● Find a phrase that includes an unknown or variable world
■ Use file types
○ Credibility
■ Authorship, accuracy, and age
■ Does the source identify the author?
■ Is the author qualified or an expert in this content?
■ Is the source published by a reputable press, or is the website sponsored
by a reputable org?
■ Does the author provide support for claims?
■ Was the book or article peer reviewed?
