Evaluating Resources

The topic that the group chose has been a very interesting one considering all of the publicity that has been in the media as of late. There is definitely not any shortage of information that is out there on this particular topic, but with the amount of misinformation that’s out there, we have to be a bit more discerning. The news and media tends to be a great place for the most up to date information on the topic since it is an ongoing issue. However, our primary sources will include studies, reports, and journals. I will be attending the APA Convention this week and I noticed that they are having several presentations on this exact topic and I may be able to get information from there as well.

Being able to conduct research will give us verifiable data and statistics that we can use. I’m sure everyone feels passionate about particular topics, and the one that we selected is no different. However, despite how we may feel about a particular issue does not exclude it from facts. One or many of us may hold a particular view that is contrary to evidence that has been collected that we may have based on observation. If we stated that information as being fact, then the basis of what we are trying to convey is invalid. Therefore, doing research and having access to it keeps us honest and correct.

Doing the research benefits more than just one person. Everyone looks for something different. I may be more focused and looking for keywords that address the issue of mental illness whereas another group member may address the need for accessibility. In either case, we all come up wit different resources that benefit everyone in the long wrong. It will give us diversity. Likewise, there are a ton of resources out there. It is almost impossible for one person to peruse all of them on his or her own. Having a group allows us to disseminate the research among all of the members of the group. We’ll be able to cover many facets of the same topic better this way.