Activity 2.3 – Analysing Case Studies

How do you select appropriate information sources – where do you start?

• Online databases
  
• Scholarly and peer evaluated journals
• Industry websites
• Company websites

What key words may help narrow your search?

• Generational gap
• e-Learning program design
• Demographic influences on e-Learning

Which UTS Library databases or journals may be useful?

• I have always found the Proquest database as useful as it locates articles from a number of sources
• Other journals of use from a range of disciplines:
  - education
  - business
  - IT

How do you distinguish points of view from facts? Points of view are usually written in a manner that is subjective. Most of the time they contain an opinion in which the author would write in first person. I find that they are usually longer in response and often presents information from a number of angles. Facts on the other hand are clear cut and well defined. They present no sign of bias or judgement.

Are your resources: reliable? Credible?? Authentic?? They are if they can be traced to a recognised or academic source. By recognised I mean if it is coming from a renowned commentator on the issue that I believe it would be reliable, credible and authentic. Also the date of publication should be considered because in e-Learning sources dating before 2000 are considered out of date

Are your resources bias in any way? What do you do about this? Being bias doesn’t necessarily mean that a resource is unreliable or false but it does mean that facts and figures may be exaggerated. This is particularly the case with company websites as of course as companies always present themselves in a positive light. In situations like this being aware of the bias and then taking into consideration the views of other sources will balance your judgement.