AQL Research and Information Literacy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which citation style is most commonly required in social science courses?
- APA (American Psychological Association) (Correct answer)
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- Chicago/Turabian
- IEEE
Correct answer: APA (American Psychological Association)
APA style is the standard citation format in psychology, education, and other social sciences, emphasizing author and date in in-text citations.
Question 2: In an APA in-text citation, what information is typically included?
- Author's last name and year of publication (Correct answer)
- Author's full name, year, and page number
- Title of the article and the journal name
- Publisher's name and location
Correct answer: Author's last name and year of publication
APA in-text citations follow the author-date format: (Smith, 2021), with a page number added for direct quotations (Smith, 2021, p. 45).
Question 3: What is a 'keyword search' strategy?
- Using specific, relevant terms to locate information in a database or search engine (Correct answer)
- Searching only within the title field of a database
- Reading every source from start to finish to find relevant sections
- Browsing library shelves without a specific term in mind
Correct answer: Using specific, relevant terms to locate information in a database or search engine
Keyword searching involves selecting the most relevant and specific terms related to a topic and entering them into a search engine or database to find pertinent sources.
Question 4: What is the difference between a 'bibliography' and a 'works cited' list?
- A bibliography lists all sources consulted; a works cited list includes only sources actually cited in the paper (Correct answer)
- A bibliography is shorter than a works cited list
- A works cited list includes all sources read; a bibliography lists only quoted sources
- They are identical and the terms are completely interchangeable
Correct answer: A bibliography lists all sources consulted; a works cited list includes only sources actually cited in the paper
A bibliography includes all sources consulted during research (even if not cited), while a works cited list includes only those sources that were specifically referenced in the text.
Question 5: Why is it important to cross-check information across multiple sources?
- To verify accuracy and reduce the risk of relying on incorrect or biased information (Correct answer)
- To increase the length of the reference list
- To comply with a minimum source count requirement
- To ensure all sources agree with one another
Correct answer: To verify accuracy and reduce the risk of relying on incorrect or biased information
Cross-checking information across multiple credible sources helps confirm its accuracy and reveals whether a claim is broadly supported or potentially inaccurate.
Question 6: What does 'information literacy' mean?
- The ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use information (Correct answer)
- The ability to read at a college level
- Knowing how to use a library card catalog
- Being able to type quickly and accurately
Correct answer: The ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use information
Information literacy is the set of skills needed to recognize when information is needed and to find, evaluate, and use that information effectively and ethically.
AQL Research and Information Literacy 2
Which citation style is most commonly required in social science courses?