LP week 5

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• Leerjaar 3

LP week 5

Goals

•        I will identify a relevant local issue: what problems affect my local community?
•        I will collect relevant information about this issue: what research methods can I use and what questions should I ask?
•        I will evaluate data: what biases can I identify and how reliable are my sources?
•        I will analyze information: what causes the problem and which consequences need to be considered when finding a suitable solution for this problem?
•        I will organize my research in a graphic organizer: how can clearly communicate my research conclusions?
•        I will reflect on my research process: what have a I learned and what can I do differently/better next time?

Goals

•        I will identify a relevant local issue: what problems affect my local community?
•        I will collect relevant information about this issue: what research methods can I use and what questions should I ask?
•        I will evaluate data: what biases can I identify and how reliable are my sources?
•        I will analyze information: what causes the problem and which consequences need to be considered when finding a suitable solution for this problem?
•        I will organize my research in a graphic organizer: how can clearly communicate my research conclusions?
•        I will reflect on my research process: what have a I learned and what can I do differently/better next time?

Survey

Who was able to finish their survey and get atleast 6 responses?

For today

Organising analysing your data

Some more time

• If you were not able to do the survey yet or want to do more surveys/interviews take this time to organize this.
• If you have done all this, start organizing your information.

1. What where the responses of the survey/interview?
2. What important information have you gotten from secondary sources?

Evaluation

Researchers must evaluate their data to make sure that it is good. You need to check your sources for biases and reliability. Be aware if your source only presents a one-sided perspective of the issue and make sure that the information provided is accurate and reliable. 

Finally you must also look at how arguments are developed: are they logical and supported by verifiable evidence?

Bias

A bias is a prejudice against or in favor of an idea, a person, or a group. A biased source may give evidence for only one side of an argument, or present information in an unfair manner.

A biased source might present information in a way that supports its own interest, rather than a search for truth.

Bias

Read each paragraph on the next slide.

Set 1 is about a visit by new neighbors;

Set 2 is about the characteristics of pet owners. 

What are they biased for or against?

Cross-checking data

Always double-check facts and data. Even reputable sources, such as major newspapers, can make mistake in presenting information. Sometimes data is accidently misprinted, but biased sources might knowingly provide incorrect or incomplete information.

This why you must always double-check data and use more than once source to support the information you want to use. Checking the same information in more than one source is called cross-checking. 

Always double (and triple!) check your data!

Judging Claims

You need to evaluate the claims made in all of your sources, including the interview(s) that you held. 

Use the questions on the next slide to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the claims made in your sources:

Does the argument present valid evidence, such as statistics or quotes from experts?

• If so, include the evidence in your notes.
• If not, then it is just an assumption. What evidence would help prove their claim?
  
  

Is the argument logical? Use the following criteria to check for a logical flow:

• Are the relationships between causes and effects clear and reasonable?
  
• Look for consistency: does the information fit together without any contradictions to what else has been said, or what is known to be true?

Are there errors in the reasoning? Be on the lookout for fallacies such as:

• ad hominem: attaching their opponent’s personal character rather than their ideas.
  
• straw man: misrepresenting or exaggerating opponent’s arguments to make it easier to attack.
• circular reasoning: using conclusions of your argument as a premise to support the same conclusion again.
• false dilemma: presenting only two options as if they are the only possibilities when more options exist

Get to work

Double check your data and verify that you have used more than one source to get the information you want to use. Then answer the following questions:

1. How are your arguments developed: are they logical and supported by verifiable evidence?
2. Do your arguments offer valid evidence, such as statistics or expert quotes? If so, write these down clearly.
3. Which claims are made? Write down on what information these are based.
4. Do you encounter fallacies in your found information. If yes, which ones?

Done?

Start organizing the found information:

• What where the responses of the survey/interview?
  
• What important information have you gotten from secondary sources?

Goals

•        I will identify a relevant local issue: what problems affect my local community?
•        I will collect relevant information about this issue: what research methods can I use and what questions should I ask?
•        I will evaluate data: what biases can I identify and how reliable are my sources?
•        I will analyze information: what causes the problem and which consequences need to be considered when finding a suitable solution for this problem?
•        I will organize my research in a graphic organizer: how can clearly communicate my research conclusions?
•        I will reflect on my research process: what have a I learned and what can I do differently/better next time?