1. Credibility is
Everything
Discovering Evidence
 Internet
 Newsstands
 Library
 Interviews
 Surveys & Polls
Guard your Ethos

2. Discovering Evidence
Internet
 Credibility
 Google & Google Scholar
 Wikipedia
 Informational websites
 non-profit and government sites
 Twitter
 Subscribe to issue & subject matter feeds
 credible organizations devoted to the issue/subject

3. Discovering Evidence
Newstands
 Credibility
 Do they fact-check?
 What are they selling?
 Who is the Audience?
 Time
 Newsweek
 The Economist
 National Geographic
 Discover
 Scientific American
 US News & World Report

4. Discovering Evidence
SPSCC Library
 Credibility
 Databases & Resources
 CQ Researcher
 Ebsco
 CINHAL
 Points of View
 OED

5. Discovering Evidence
Interviews
 Credibility
 Excellent way to quickly learn the “insider’s view”
 Requires preparation
 Transcribing: 1 hour of tape = 4 hours transcription

6. Discovering Evidence
Interviews
 Prepare
 Do some reading in your interviewee’s area of expertise
 Know Who you are talking to: research them : ]
 Don’t expect them to hold your hand ; ]
 Know the Purpose of your visit
 Make a short list of pithy, open-ended questions
 Choose your first question
 Choose your last question
 And Dress as if you respect your opportunity… : ]

7. Discovering Evidence
Interviews
 Arrive 5 minutes early
 Review your notes
 Greet everyone with confidence—shake hands
 Briefly introduce yourself and the purpose of your visit
 Turn recorder on, set on desk, ask “do you mind if I record?”
 Ask your first question—stating the individual’s name for the tape
 Listen to their answer
 Make note of “cues” to follow
 Don’t ask questions out of idle curiosity
 Stay on task
 Be respectful—be humble—be bold

8. Discovering Evidence
Interviews
 Stay on Task
 Follow intriguing cues that relate to your purpose
 Keep the interview moving..stay on task
 Listen
 Notice allusions—research later
 Ask your final question—by this time it may be modified
 Ask advise for further research:
 Who else to talk to?
 Facilities to visit?
 Important articles to read?
 Thank them for their time…get their card
 Shake hands
 …leave the door open ; ]

9. Discovering Evidence
Surveys
 Know your Purpose
 Freewrite to focus and clarify your Purpose for the Survey
 Write your Statement of Purpose in 8 words or less
 Design your Survey
 Make a short list of pithy, open-ended questions
 Clarify your wording: You will get what you ask for
 User test your survey on friends
 Refine your wording based on results
 Likert scale
A typical Likert Scale progression
Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree

10. Discovering Evidence
Polls
 Polls are a great way to gather local data
 Design your Question(s) Thoughtfully
 Yes or No
 Take a Broad Sample
 Compile your Results

11. Credibility is Everything
Discovering Evidence
 Internet
 Newstands
 Library
 Interviews
 Surveys & Polls
Guard your Ethos