Research and the Internet

Adapted from “Research and the Internet”, Online Writing

Lab (OWL), Purdue University

Google and Yahoo are great!

BUT• How do you find quality information?

• What is quality information?

Why do we need to evaluate web sources?

• AnyoneAnyone can publish on the Internet.

• We have to check

accuracy.

Is it true? Is it complete?

Search Engines

• Google, Yahoo, Altavista, Dogpile, etc.

• Send you to websites that give information based on your search search termsterms..

• Think about your search terms, be specific, use and, or.

Search Terms are Important

• Words you use to tell the computer to what you want

• Ex. Drunk driving is your topic

• Alcohol

• Alcohol and driving

• Alcohol and driving not adults

When you get results (links)

Diabetes Treatment by MedicineNet.com

Learn about the different treatments for diabetes including: medications, insulin, insulin pumps, inhaled insulin, and insulin pens.www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_treatment/article.htm - 45k - Mar 25, 2007 –

• Read the website descriptions.

Select the website you think will help you

most based on its description.

Decide: does it give you the information you need?

Examine for credibility

There are different types of web pages.

Informative

Personal

Political/Interest groups

Sales/”Infomercials

Entertainment

Determine Authorship• Who created the website?

Find the home page or “About us” to determine who publishes the web page.

Does the author have credentials?

What is the author’s purpose? (to sell, to inform to convince, to give personal opinion?

Type of website and author’s purpose

.org .gov .com

.edu .net

If you erase the address back to this information you will also find the home page.

Ex: www.dadeschools.net/library www.dadeschools.net

Evaluate Content

How can you tell if the information is accurate?

Are sources of information listed?

(Bibliography, Works Cited page)

If the subject is controversial

Are opposing views presented?

Evaluate Content

COMPARE with other sources on the Internet or in books, magazine articles.

Never rely on only one source.

Look at multiple sources and compare.

Evaluate Content

Who is the audience?

Are there links to other credible websites? Can you email the author or webmaster?

Evaluate Content

• Is the site connected to a university, government,

organization

or businessbusiness?

• Can you buy

something

at the site?

EVALUATE

• Think about your search terms

• Select the websites that can help you.

• Check for credibility.

• Determine depth of information.

• Assess date of information.

What is information?

• It is data (facts, observations, opinions) that you can use to draw conclusions.

• Just like food is the substances you use to maintain life.

• Information is food for your mind.

• Exercise care in feeding your mind!!!!