CAASPP Research Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student finds a website with no author listed and no publication date. What should the student do before using it as a source?
- Use it immediately since websites are always reliable
- Check if the information can be verified by another credible source (Correct answer)
- Avoid all websites and only use printed books
- Ask a classmate if the website looks trustworthy
Correct answer: Check if the information can be verified by another credible source
When a source lacks an author or date, you should cross-check the information with another credible source before using it.
Question 2: Which search strategy would BEST help a student narrow down too many search results about climate change?
- Use fewer keywords in the search bar
- Add specific terms like 'climate change effects on California agriculture' (Correct answer)
- Search only on social media platforms
- Click on the first result that appears
Correct answer: Add specific terms like 'climate change effects on California agriculture'
Adding more specific keywords narrows search results to the most relevant information.
Question 3: What does it mean to 'synthesize' information from multiple sources?
- Copy each source word for word into your paper
- List each source separately without connecting ideas
- Combine information from different sources to form a new, unified understanding (Correct answer)
- Use only one source to keep ideas consistent
Correct answer: Combine information from different sources to form a new, unified understanding
Synthesizing means combining ideas from multiple sources to build a new, cohesive understanding of a topic.
Question 4: A student is writing about the history of the Golden Gate Bridge. Which source would provide the MOST reliable historical facts?
- A travel blog written by a tourist
- An encyclopedia article from a reputable publisher (Correct answer)
- A social media post with many likes
- A fictional novel set near the bridge
Correct answer: An encyclopedia article from a reputable publisher
Reputable encyclopedia articles are fact-checked and written by experts, making them reliable for historical information.
Question 5: When taking notes for a research project, why is it important to write down the source information immediately?
- So you can copy the entire article later
- To avoid accidentally plagiarizing and to properly cite the source (Correct answer)
- Because teachers require exactly five sources
- To make your notes look more official
Correct answer: To avoid accidentally plagiarizing and to properly cite the source
Recording source information immediately prevents plagiarism and ensures you can cite references accurately.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes a primary source?
- A textbook summary of a historical event
- A documentary film about a war
- A diary written by a soldier during the Civil War (Correct answer)
- An encyclopedia entry about the Civil War
Correct answer: A diary written by a soldier during the Civil War
A primary source is an original document or firsthand account, such as a diary written by someone who experienced the event.
Question 7: A student reads two articles that disagree about whether a new medicine is safe. What is the BEST next step?
- Believe the article that was published first
- Look for additional sources from medical experts to compare perspectives (Correct answer)
- Ignore both articles and choose a different topic
- Use whichever article is longer
Correct answer: Look for additional sources from medical experts to compare perspectives
When sources conflict, consulting additional expert sources helps you evaluate which claims are better supported.
CAASPP Research Skills 2
A student finds a website with no author listed and no publication date.
What should the student do before using it as a source?