Aims and objectives
This module will:
- introduce you to different kinds of information and where to find them
- give advice on search strategies
- help you to evaluate information.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- develop a search strategy to find the best information for your needs
- find different kinds of information using different tools
- evaluate information you find.
7. Check your knowledge
Take the quiz
Check what you know and get a certificate if you pass!
UQ students and staff (UQ login required):
You are welcome to take the quiz without logging in:
Use the UQ login version if your course coordinator has asked you to complete this module. Your completion status may be shared with them.
Module summary
What is information?
- Information is part of a hierarchy with data and knowledge.
- One way of thinking about information is as data with added meaning.
Types of information
- Common sources of information include books, journals, newspapers and websites.
- Peer reviewed journals are an excellent place to look for authoritative information.
- You may need to use special types of information for your assignments. The Library has guides to help you find these.
Finding information
- Planning a search strategy will help you to find the best information for your assignment.
- Library Search provides access to our resources and is a great place to start.
- Databases are more subject specific and allow for very advanced searches.
Searching the internet
- Internet search engines curate the results that you get back so treat them with care.
- Just because information is freely available on the internet doesn't mean that it's of less good quality. Open access journals are often peer reviewed and freely available.
Evaluating information
- There are a lot of ways to tell whether information is reliable.
- You can use the CRAAP method as a quick reminder of key qualities.
Fake news, facts and data
- Alternative facts aren't facts.
- Fake news isn't a new phenomenon but can still be hard to spot.
- Be careful when reading about or using statistics - are you getting the full picture?
Duration: 
Approximately 30 minutes
Graduate attributes
Knowledge and skills you can gain to contribute to your Graduate attributes:
Critical judgement
Independence and creativity
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