Answer to Question 1
Answer: Social media sources can extend your reach in gathering information. Consider the following possible ways that blogs, tweets, online videos, and slide sharing sites can contribute to your research. They can help you find experts and other useful sources not published through books or articles. Social media can also allow you to request information through surveys and question-answer sites. Finally, social media can give you a platform for conducting primary research by collecting anecdotal evidenceevidence from people's experienceswhich may not be scientifically valid or representative but may still provide insight into your topic.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: Because the web contains so much information, students often neglect to search for books. However, bookslike print articlescan be more valuable than online resources because books are often professionally reviewed, edited, and produced by reputable authors and publishing companies with established credibility. By contrast, anyone can post resources online about nearly anything. The drawback with books is that they may become outdated more quickly than online content, which can be updated regularly.
To find books that remain relevant and timely, your first stop may be your library's online catalog. The catalog will probably allow you to do a key word search using many of the same techniques you use for a web search. If you find one book that seems relevant to your research, check the online record to see what broader subject categories are associated with that book, and then search for other books in the same category. You may find it equally useful to browse through the library bookshelves. If you find one book that looks useful, go to its location in the library and look at other books in the same section.
The advantage of looking at books in a school library is that the librarians and faculty have determined those books are worthy of being in the library's collection. The disadvantage is that libraries rarely have the newest books since it often takes a long time for a library to acquire a book. For more recent books, try searching the websites of online booksellers like amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. If your library does not own the bookand you cannot buy ityou may be able to ask your library to borrow it from another library.
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