Encyclopedia Br
Author(s): The Open University
3.4 Databases
At a basic level, a database is a collection of information which can be searched. It is a way of storing, indexing, organising and retrieving information. You may have created one yourself to keep track of your references – or your friends' names and addresses. They are useful for finding articles on a topic, and can be used to search for many different types of information.
You may find some of the following databases useful for your topic. They contain different types of informatio
Author(s): The Open University
3.2 Search engines and subject gateways
Although both search engines and subject gateways will help you find the resources that you need, the types of information that you find will differ.
Search engines such as Google and Yahoo! search the internet for keywords or phrases, and then show you the results. These results are not mediated by the search engines, and therefore you need to use your own judgement on the reliability of the results. You may, for example, find websites written by experts, alongside websites written by
Author(s): The Open University
2.1 Planning your search
Your approach to searching will depend to a great extent on what kind of person you are. In an ideal world, when searching for information for a specific purpose, we would all find what exactly we were looking for at the first attempt, especially if we are in a hurry. However, it’s always a good idea to have some kind of plan when you are searching for information, if only to help you plan your time and make sure you find the information you need. If I was starting to search for material on
Author(s): The Open University
1.4 Evaluating information
How well does the following statement describe your approach to evaluating the information that you use?
When I come across a new piece of information (e.g. a website, newspaper article) I consider the quality of the information, and based on that I decide whether or not to use it.
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5 – This is an excellent match; this is exactly what I do
Author(s): The Open University
1.3 Searching for information on technology
How well does the following statement match what you do when you begin a new search for information?
Before I begin a new search for information (maybe for an assignment, or to help you choose your next holiday destination), I spend some time thinking about what I already know, what the gaps in my knowledge are, and the best types of information to meet my needs.
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1.2 Key resources
When you need to find information in technology, how confident are you that you know the best places to search (e.g. search engines, subject gateways, online databases, etc.) to find the information you need?
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5 – Very confident
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4 – Confident
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3 – Fairly confident
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2 – Not very confident
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1 – Not confident at all
How familiar are you with journal articles
Author(s): The Open University
1.1 Assessing your current level of knowledge
If you explore all the resources and activities in this unit, you might need to allow between two and nine hours to complete it.
Before you read this guide, why not use the self-assessment questions on the screens to rate your current level of knowledge?
Print or save these questions and for each question, mark the most appropriate number on the scale. When you have finished, you can review your answers. A score of three or less might indicate a gap in your knowledge or u
Author(s): The Open University
5.4.4 Theories of leadership
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Trait theories see leadership as requiring certain personal characteristics.
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Style theories see leadership as the adoption of certain styles of interaction: e.g. task-centred (or structuring) leadership and person-centred (or supporting) leadership.
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Contingency theories argue that different circumstances demand different modes of leadership.
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The Open University5.4.3 Two key leadership activities
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Providing feedback: giving evaluative feedback so that it is experienced as helpful rather than destructive.
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Problem ownership: the importance of accepting responsibility for our own problems, rather than blaming others.
Author(s): The Open University
5.4.1 Leadership roles
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The classic ‘scientific’ view of the leader is as the central ‘controller’ – planning, monitoring and regulating.
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The more ‘democratic’ view sees the role as facilitator, or coordinator.
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The more ‘educational’ view sees it as that of adviser, teacher, source of expertise, etc.
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Adair identified three overlapping areas: achieving the task, building and maintaining the team, and developing in
Author(s): The Open University
5.3.4 Leadership theory summary
This brief review of leadership theories has indicated that there are no simple answers to what it is that makes some leaders more effective than others, and no single best leadership style or approach. What matters is that the style adopted should fit with the expectations of those being led and be consistent with the task at hand (that is, it should not ignore the specific characteristics of the task itself).
There are no simple answers, which is perhaps why this continues to be the s
Author(s): The Open University
5.3.3 Contingency theories
Contingency theories are based on the idea that there is no single best style of leadership but that the most effective style depends upon the circumstances. The aspects of the circumstances identified as significant are:
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the leader's characteristics and style (thus absorbing the two earlier theories).
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the subordinates' expectations and experience.
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the nature of the task and the organisational environment.
Author(s): The Open University
5.3.2 Style theories
Style theories are based on the assumption that it is the style of leadership that matters. The alternative styles are generally phrased in terms of ‘task centred’ or ‘person centred’; these have also been called ‘structuring’ and ‘supporting’ styles, corresponding roughly to the ‘scientific’ and ‘social relations’ styles of management.
The leadership styles are not mutually exclusive and can be represented in the form of a grid, as in Author(s):
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