The Information Life Cycle
Researching a topic and preparing a speech are similar to listening to and being a part of an ongoing conversation on a topic. Different sources contribute different perspectives and come into play at different times and for different reasons. For example, if you compare a series of tweets while an event was unfolding with a news article written a day later about the same event, you are likely to find that the article offers more details and perspectives than the tweets, while the tweets may show more emotional responses. This is part of the “information lifecycle,” as you will learn in the video below. Knowing where messages fall in the information lifecycle will help you determine the relevancy and uses of the sources you access.
Types of Information
The information life cycle highlights a range of materials you may come across in your research process, each of which is created with specific audiences in mind. Below is a summary of several types of resources you may find yourself consulting as you prepare your speeches.
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News and Media
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples New York Times Bangor Daily News Washington Post Portland Press Herald National Public Radio CNN
Start your news search in Reuters. |
Current information News stories, features Opinion and commentary Texts of speeches, interviews Many have a regional focus Photographs, infographics​ Usually no citations or reference list Many stories written by journalists who often consult with experts |
Connect to audience with stories or firsthand experiences Links to original research or data that you can use to build your story and credibility with the audience Images that may help tell a story and connect with audience Diverse perspectives or points of view Background information on your topic |
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Magazines
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Popular magazines - examples National Geographic Psychology Today Rolling Stone Entertainment Weekly |
Focused toward the general public Usually oriented to pleasure reading Numerous ads, photos Shorter articles Broad overviews |
Connect to audience with stories or firsthand experiences Links to original research or data that you can use to build your story and credibility with the audience Images that may help tell a story and connect with audience Background information on your topic |
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Opinion magazines - examples Nation National Review Mother Jones Christianity Today |
Educated audience, but not necessarily scholarly audience Particular viewpoint Commentary on politics and society Book & movie reviews, interviews |
Inclusion of diverse perspectives or points of view Background information on your topic
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Trade magazines - examples Accounting Today Advertising Age Engineering & Technology TEACH Magazine
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Written for professionals or practitioners in specific occupations or trades (e.g., teachers, engineers, accountants) Current trends and practices Product information and colorful ads Articles may have short reference lists, but references are usually few, if any Often produced by a commercial or society publisher |
Inclusion of professional approaches to an issue, or best practices in a field |
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Scholarly Journal Articles
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples Art History Communication Research Journal of Biomedical Science Journal of Building Engineering Journal of Pediatric Nursing Political Geography Novel: A Forum on Fiction
Start your search for scholarly articles in Academic Search Complete, and limit results to peer reviewed articles. |
Written by topic experts Technical language of the field Usually peer reviewed Often nonprofit (few or no ads) Charts, graphs, technical drawings Often include reports of original research Works cited, references Sections on research methods, results, discussion, literature review |
Original research and/or data that help tell a story of what scholars are attempting to understand, describe, or suggest about your topic. Oral citations might include phrases like, "Studies show... " or "Research suggests..." In-depth information on your topic |
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Government Information
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples Centers for Disease Control & Prevention site on marijuana and public health. Virginia General Assembly website where you find out about state legislature. U.S. Commission on Civil Right's 2020 report on Hate Crime Statistics and Incidence in Virginia. U.S. Economic Development Administration 2018 Virginia Annual Report. |
Current and historical information on a wide range of topics, in accessible language data, infographics Often includes research reports and policy papers (these often include reference lists) |
Original research and/or data that help tell a story of what scholars are attempting to understand, describe, or suggest about your topic. Oral citations might include phrases like, "Studies show... " or "Research suggests..." Compiled research and/or data that help demonstrate a big picture view of your topic. In-depth information on your topic |
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Books
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples Popular Fiction: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling Literary Fiction: Sing, Unburied Sing, by Jessmyn Ward Popular Nonfiction: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson Scholarly Nonfiction: The Ecology of the English Outlaw in Medieval Literature: From Fen to Greenwood Era by Sarah Harlan-Haughey Start your search for books in Primo, our library catalog, and limit results to books, audiobooks, and/or ebooks.
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Long-read format, but content varies widely Nonfiction books provide in-depth analysis of a subject Scholarly books are aimed at academic readers, often addressing advanced research Not as current as articles or social media posts (longer time to publication) Popular books are written for the general public and often aim to make complicated topics understandable |
Background information on a topic. Scholarly books have chapters that are similar to journal articles, wherein authors present original research. These studies can be used just as you would use original research in a journal article to provide evidence to your audience. |
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Social Media
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples YouTube Blogs |
Opinions, testimony Scholars and organizations often share recent research on subjects related to their work
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Firsthand experiences and opinions from the general public, or from notable figures, that you feel will illustrate a particular position on a topic. Links to other, possibly relevant, resources and organizations. |
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Research Starters - Background Information
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| Item Types & Examples | Characteristics | Purpose(s) in Speech |
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Examples General Encyclopedias: Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia (great source to wrap your mind around a topic and gather ideas for issues you want to explore) Subject Encyclopedias: Psychology & Behavioral Health, Encyclopedia of Energy Issue Briefs and Overviews, like CQ Researcher and Opposing Viewpoints Start background research on trending topics in CQ Researcher or Opposing Viewpoints. |
Good place for background information on a topic Often written by a topic specialist Often provides additional references Great place to find keywords/related terminology that you could use in your database searches |
Background information on your topic. |
