Tips for competent research
I. Definition - What is research competence?
Research literacy, or information literacy, is an important part of media literacy and describes the ability to research, evaluate and critically analyze information on the Internet as effectively and thoughtfully as possible. It is an important skill in today's information society, as we are confronted with a multitude of information, fake news and AI-generated content on a daily basis. It is crucial to identify relevant and trustworthy sources.
II. Skills - How do I research?
Effective research techniques include the use of reputable sources, search engines and databases. The basis of any research is your own critical thinking and common sense!
III Tools - What do I use for research?
It is important to use various search engines and to critically question which sources are trustworthy. In addition to the popular search engines google and bing, there are also DuckDuckGo and Startpage, which focus on data protection and anonymity without storing personal data. Ecosia is an environmentally friendly search engine that supports reforestation projects worldwide.
It is also worth searching specifically on reputable websites and databases.
IV. Fact check - What are reputable sources?
Reputable information is often difficult to identify on social media - especially in the age of AI. Hardly anywhere does news and therefore fake news & deep fake, i.e. fake photos, audio, videos, spread as quickly as on Instagram, X, TikTok and co. There we also encounter bots, e.g. chatbots & social bots.
Seven questions to assess seriousness:
1. Is the article written in neutral language?
2.Does the website have an imprint?
3. Has the author already been published in a scientific journal?
4. Who is behind the publication?
5. What is the author's motivation?
6. Is the study meaningful?
7. Are the sources cited reliable?
Services for checking fake news are:
EU vs. Didinfo: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/de/
Facts for Friends "Read - Understand - Share": Facts for Friends
Faktenfinder der Tagesschau: faktenfinder - Fakten-Checks und Hintergründe
Hoax: www.user.tu-berlin.de
Politifact: PolitiFact
Snopes: Snopes.com
Serious sources are official bodies such as the Federal Foreign Office, federal or state governments and public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF). Universities, institutes and international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, WHO, EU, UN,... are also reputable sources.
V. Citeability - Which sources do I use for presentations?
A citable source is a reliable and verifiable source of information that can be cited in scientific papers or other texts. Typically,
citable sources are academic books, journals, scientific studies,
government reports or official documents. These sources usually contain
accurate information that has been checked by experts and include references ,
to ensure traceability.
Users of the Hofheim Public Library can access the digital Brockhaus encyclopaedia with student and children's encyclopaedia free of charge. You can log in with your library card via the following link: https://auth.brockhaus.de/login
How competent are you online? Test yourself: Digitalcheck NRW
Sources
Public libraries and their role in education and culture in rural areas | kubi-online (last viewed on 20.11.2024)
Research skills at school - IfaK - Institute for Applied Children's Media Research (last viewed on 19.12.2024)
Netzwerk Bibliothek Medienbildung (last viewed on 16.01.2025)