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BUS Primary Core Guide for 101/201 & 222

Activity 1. Exploration of Open Data

In groups of 3-4 students, choose from a list of open access/data portals, and select one to explore. As a team you will answer the following questions to report back to the group:

  1. What do you see as the benefits of using this open access/data portal?
  2. What do you see as being the challenges?
  3. What is one tip that you would share with the rest of the seminar if they were to use this portal?

Activity 2. Evaluation of Resources

In a group of 3-4, pick a private or public company you'd like to work for. Find 3 resources that either further support your reasons for wanting to work there or change your mind. 

At least 1 of these three resources must only be accessible through the library. 

Tell us what you found and why it was helpful in making your decision.

Activity 3. Scoping and Planning of Research

In groups of 3-4, students will pick a company from a list that they may want to work for.  Groups must pretend that they have an interview with this company.

In this context, you need to scope and plan out what research you would like to do on this company before your “interview”. 

As such, you will want to plan out the following:

  • What keywords should I use while searching? (and what are synonyms for these words)
  • Where at the library would I search?
  • What non-library resources would I search?
  • What primary research should I also be doing?

Activity 4. Using Your Search Strategy to Search for Information

Using the search strategy that your group came up with, students will use the library and the internet to search for information that is relevant to their chosen company/industry. 

Students can also start writing a report of their experience on their research, which includes:

  1. The chosen company
  2. The plan that students set out to search, which includes:
    1. What keywords should they use while searching? (and what are synonyms for these words)
    2. Where at the library would they search?
    3. What non-library resources would they search?
    4. What primary research should they also be doing?
  3. How the search differed from the plan
  4. 10 sources that they would use for this context. For each resource, they need to include:
    1. Why would they include these?
    2. Are there any ethical considerations in using each resource?
    3. A proper APA citation for each resource
  5. Key takeaways from these sources for their “job interview” for the company.