Topic 5    Types of information

Sometimes we need information for very specific purposes e.g. when studying we may need it in order to prepare a TMA, to help revise for an exam or just to give us specialist knowledge of a particular aspect of the programme. Let's look at the information you might need to support your OU study. You may need different types of information at one time or another. The categories listed below will give you a useful framework for thinking about your information needs:

• news (What's the latest on X? What is happening about Y?)
• ideas and opinions (What do people think about X?)
• research results (What does the latest research tell us about X?)
• theoretical analysis/theory (What are the different theoretical perspectives on Y?)
• everyday practicalities (e.g. train timetables, telephone numbers, maps)
• facts and figures (How many cases of X were there last year?)
• history or background (When did X start? What happened?)
• people's experience (What is it like to suffer from X? Or to use Y service?)
• advice or help (Can anyone help me with my work on Y?)
• technical information (How to mend Z)
• legal information

You can probably think of others.