Research Skills, Logic, & Propaganda

Logic

Stephen's Guide to Logical Fallacies - Stephen Downes

Dr. Michael C. Labossiere's Guide to Fallacies

Logic and Fallacies: From the Atheist Web

Propaganda

Propaganda and Logical Fallacies

Logic, Propaganda, & Deception - by Chip Berlet

Research

Investigative Reporters & Editors

Publishes The IRE Journal. Highly recommended is IRE’s The Reporter’s Handbook: An Investigator’s Guide to Documents & Techniques, (NY: St. Martins, updated periodically). IRA also collects information on how to conduct specific types of investigations based on actual projects by members and hosts annual & regional conferences.

Investigative Reporters & Editors
100 Neff Annex, School of Journalism
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

http://www.ire.org/

Get the Facts on Anyone, 3rd ed. by Dennis King

Explains how to use public sources to check the background of any person or organization, by Dennis King, (New York: Macmillan; Arco, 1999).

Use the Freedom of Information Act:

The Freedom of Information Act applies only to document held by federal agencies. Guides can be found at:
http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foi-act.html
http://www.rcfp.org/foiact/index.html

Use State Open Records and Sunshine Laws

These vary by state, so refer to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press’ guide to what information is available in which states: http://www.rcfp.org

Local branches of the American Civil Liberties Union often have information on (or even guides to) using the state laws.
 

Other Research Resources

Research-Oriented Websites
Virtual Gumshoe: Investigative Resources on the Web

Dynamics of Conspiracist Scapegoating
Debunking Conspiracism
Internet Hoaxes and Urban Legends

Evaluating Internet Resources
A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web
A Student's Guide to Research with the WWW