Research 101: Information Has Value

1. Have students review terms of use regarding their personal information on a information service they use, such as Google, Instagram, or others. Ask theme what they learned which was surprising?

2. Have students pick their favorite book, research which publishing company published that book, and compare answers.

3. Facilitate class discussion inquiring where they see information systems marginalizing certain voices, as well as the value of information in student's personal lives.

Information has value. Let’s break down what it means. Information can be a commodity,  a means of education, a means to influence, and a means of negotiating and understanding the world. Legal, social, and economic interests influence information production and dissemination. The value of information is created in many different ways, including publishing practices, access to information, the commodification of personal information, and intellectual property laws.

As a researcher, it is important to remember that information has value because:

• It is crucial to give credit to the original ideas of others;

• Intellectual property is a legal and social construct that varies by culture;

• Many information and related services can be offered to you as “free” but requires you to give up private and personal information;

• The systems – such as the publishing industry, academic institutions, government institutions, and more – that produce and share information can marginalize certain individuals and groups.

By recognizing the many manifestations of the value of information, you can credit others original ideas and make informed decisions about how you navigate your information environment. Think about your own life, have their been times when you felt information had personal value to you? Maybe you worked on a group project and had a great idea, only to have a teammate take credit for it in your class presentation. Maybe you have a knick-knack that has personal meaning to you. What does the statement “information has value” mean to you?

Creation of information and products derived from information requires a commitment of time, original thought, and resources that need to be respected by those seeking to use these products or create their own products based on the work of others. In addition, information may be valued more or less highly based on its creator, its audience/consumer, or its message.

Learning goals:

• Give credit to the original ideas of others through proper attribution and citation.
• Recognize the meaning of intellectual property in the United States.
• Understand that intellectual property is a social construct that varies by culture.
• Articulate the purpose and distinguishing characteristics of copyright, open access, and public domain.
• Know how to find open access materials.
• Differentiate between the production of original information and remixing or repurposing open resources.
• Manage their online presences responsibly.
• Decide where their information, as knowledge creator, should be published.

Please note the information contained in this guide is meant to help supplement a class, assignment, or curriculum. Please use the embed links or copy and paste the information into your course guide or site.