Analyzing the Sources

Analyzing the Sources (hereinafter, the Session) is a hands-on session designed to get its participants started analyzing the data relevant to WorldOpp. The Session is the seventh of ten sessions of WorldOpp Placement Seminar (hereinafter, the Seminar).

Outline

Discovering the Data is the predecessor session.

How to verify data sources

Verification of data sources in this case refers to determining whether the source of the data presented is credible or not. This is very important in cases where the learner is using external sources of information in their learning path.

Data is divided into primary and secondary sources. 

Primary sources refer to data in its raw form. This means that the researcher went to the field and collected this data and as such it is not available elsewhere. Secondary sources of data refer to books, periodicals or other forms that have been used to store and preserve the data collected. A researcher will only go to the field to collect primary data if the available secondary data cannot be used in the research .

CNM wiki makes use of secondary sources of data to explain concepts to the learners. This is captured in lectures, videos and other learning materials.

To verify a data source, the candidate needs to the source of the data in question and determine if it is an authoritative source before consuming the data as 'gospel truth'. for instance, if one wanted to get information about Michael Jackson, he or she would get more credible information form hi s biography or website rather than from sensational media which normally exaggerate issues to make a sensational story.

How to analyze data

Composing the Documents is the successor session.