Online Research An introduction

An introduction

The internet gives quick and easy access to billions of pages of information, making the World-Wide-Web an incredible research tool. Search engines can provide immediate links to thousands of websites on every subject imaginable.

The internet gives quick and easy access to billions of pages of information, making the World-Wide-Web an incredible research tool.

Search engines can provide immediate links to thousands of websites on every subject imaginable.

But mixed in with many high quality sites containing accurate and timely information are millions of pages of inaccurate, misleading, and deficient websites. How can you tell the difference? What are the best ways of doing research on the internet?

But mixed in with many high quality sites containing accurate and timely information are millions of pages of inaccurate, misleading, and deficient websites.

How can you tell the difference?

What are the best ways of doing research on the internet?

Judging the Quality of Websites There are six criteria for telling good websites from bad websites. Authority Accuracy Coverage Objectivity Currency Navigation

There are six criteria for telling good websites from bad websites.

Authority

Accuracy

Coverage

Objectivity

Currency

Navigation

Authority Authority in this instance refers to the extent that the author of the website is an expert on its content. Remember: Anyone can publish anything on the internet!

Authority in this instance refers to the extent that the author of the website is an expert on its content.

Remember: Anyone can publish anything on the internet!

Ask yourself Is there an author or contact person listed on the website? Is there a link to information about the author? Is the author qualified? Is the author an expert in the field? Is the site's sponsor listed? Is there a link to information about the sponsor? Is the sponsor reputable?

Is there an author or contact person listed on the website?

Is there a link to information about the author? Is the author qualified? Is the author an expert in the field?

Is the site's sponsor listed?

Is there a link to information about the sponsor? Is the sponsor reputable?

A URL can provide clues to a site’s sponsor All websites have an address, a URL (Universal Resource Locater). The URL for the Furr High School webpage is http://hs.houstonisd.org/FurrHS Most URLs identify the type of organization sponsoring a page with a 3-letter code called a domain. If a site doesn't list any information about its origins, its domain can provide clues about its sponsor and/or author.

All websites have an address, a URL (Universal Resource Locater).

The URL for the Furr High School webpage is http://hs.houstonisd.org/FurrHS

Most URLs identify the type of organization sponsoring a page with a 3-letter code called a domain. If a site doesn't list any information about its origins, its domain can provide clues about its sponsor and/or author.

Common Domain Types .gov (US government) .mil (US military) .edu (accredited college or university) .com (commercial/for profit) .org (noncommercial/not for profit) .net (computer network) .int (international organization .jp, .uk, .ru, .au, etc. (country identifiers)

.gov (US government)

.mil (US military)

.edu (accredited college or university)

.com (commercial/for profit)

.org (noncommercial/not for profit)

.net (computer network)

.int (international organization

.jp, .uk, .ru, .au, etc. (country identifiers)

As a general rule Government, military, & educational sites are more likely to be edited and have quality control. Mistakes and bias, however, are still possible, and these sites should still be looked at critically. Commercial sites maybe selling products or hosting websites of individuals or groups. Noncommercial and organizational sites maybe promoting the views of special interest groups. All sites should be examined for bias and accuracy.

Government, military, & educational sites are more likely to be edited and have quality control. Mistakes and bias, however, are still possible, and these sites should still be looked at critically.

Commercial sites maybe selling products or hosting websites of individuals or groups.

Noncommercial and organizational sites maybe promoting the views of special interest groups.

All sites should be examined for bias and accuracy.

What if there is no author or sponsor given? Copy the URL of the site and go to Google. Select “Advanced Search” and enter the URL under "Page-Specific Search." This will show who is linking to the site. A lot of similar links will probably indicate a valid site.

Copy the URL of the site and go to Google.

Select “Advanced Search” and enter the URL under "Page-Specific Search."

This will show who is linking to the site. A lot of similar links will probably indicate a valid site.

What if authors or sponsors are listed, but no information is provided? Enter the authors’ or sponsors’ names in quotations into the Google search box, and see what kind of information comes up.

Enter the authors’ or sponsors’ names in quotations into the Google search box, and see what kind of information comes up.

Accuracy Ask yourself Are there any obvious mistakes? Can you check any of the information presented as facts? Try a Google search on some of the statements or look in a text book or encyclopedia to check them.

Ask yourself

Are there any obvious mistakes?

Can you check any of the information presented as facts?

Try a Google search on some of the statements or look in a text book or encyclopedia to check them.

Coverage Websites are generally not as thorough as books, and sometimes navigation makes it hard to see how much information is really present. Ask What topics are covered? How in-depth is the material? What does this webpage offer that other sources do not? How valuable is this information to your search?

Websites are generally not as thorough as books, and sometimes navigation makes it hard to see how much information is really present.

Ask

What topics are covered?

How in-depth is the material?

What does this webpage offer that other sources do not?

How valuable is this information to your search?

Compare the content with the coverage in similar sites to be sure that you are getting all the information that you need. If pieces of information still seem to be missing from your internet searches, try using more specific key words. Key words can be found from encyclopedia articles and other books on your topic. (If worse comes to worse, ask a librarian.)

Compare the content with the coverage in similar sites to be sure that you are getting all the information that you need.

If pieces of information still seem to be missing from your internet searches, try using more specific key words.

Key words can be found from encyclopedia articles and other books on your topic. (If worse comes to worse, ask a librarian.)

Objectivity Remember: The internet is a public forum where individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs however they choose. Ask Is opinion being presented as fact? Is the information biased? Are all sides of the issue fairly presented? Is the page designed to sway opinion? Is the language inflammatory?

Remember: The internet is a public forum where individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs however they choose.

Ask

Is opinion being presented as fact?

Is the information biased?

Are all sides of the issue fairly presented?

Is the page designed to sway opinion?

Is the language inflammatory?

How can you detect bias? Look for a mission statement or an “about” section on the site’s homepage. Compare the site with other sites relating to the same subject. Do a Google link check just like you did with accuracy to see who else is linking to the site. Compare the site to authoritative print sources, like encyclopedias & textbooks.

Look for a mission statement or an “about” section on the site’s homepage.

Compare the site with other sites relating to the same subject.

Do a Google link check just like you did with accuracy to see who else is linking to the site.

Compare the site to authoritative print sources, like encyclopedias & textbooks.

Currency Remember: the web is a dynamic resource; it is constantly changing. A frequently updated site is likely to have the most accurate and new information. Ask Is the page dated? (Check the bottom of the page.) How recently was it updated? If there are links, are they still working? Are there any obviously outdated statements?

Remember: the web is a dynamic resource; it is constantly changing. A frequently updated site is likely to have the most accurate and new information.

Ask

Is the page dated? (Check the bottom of the page.)

How recently was it updated?

If there are links, are they still working?

Are there any obviously outdated statements?

Navigation Remember: When a site is badly organized or difficult to navigate, you may have trouble finding the information you need. Likewise, if it is slow, it may not always be available . Ask Is the page well organized? Do you see a list of contents? Are links clearly visible? Does the site take a long time to load? Are errors reported when the site loads?

Remember: When a site is badly organized or difficult to navigate, you may have trouble finding the information you need. Likewise, if it is slow, it may not always be available .

Ask

Is the page well organized? Do you see a list of contents?

Are links clearly visible?

Does the site take a long time to load?

Are errors reported when the site loads?

Note Just because a site looks good does not mean that it is easy to navigate or that it contains accurate information.

Note

Just because a site looks good does not mean that it is easy to navigate or that it contains accurate information.

More tips Google is a great search engine for finding pictures For very narrow search queries For looking up authors’ & sponsor’s names Google is not good for general searches. Often millions of hits are produced for a single inquiry. Results are not filtered for authority, accuracy, or anything else.

Google is a great search engine

for finding pictures

For very narrow search queries

For looking up authors’ & sponsor’s names

Google is not good for general searches.

Often millions of hits are produced for a single inquiry.

Results are not filtered for authority, accuracy, or anything else.

For better search results Use HISD Online Resources Accessed through the library links on Furr Library Homepage Also accessed directly at http://www.hisdlibraryservices.org/online_resources.htm Can be used at home. Ask your librarian for the Username & Password.

Use HISD Online Resources

Accessed through the library links on Furr Library Homepage

Also accessed directly at http://www.hisdlibraryservices.org/online_resources.htm

Can be used at home. Ask your librarian for the Username & Password.

You are now ready to do online research.

References INFO CRITIC: evaluating information on the World Wide Web . Texas Tides. Accessed March 17, 2007. http:// tides.sfasu.edu/InfoCritic/index.htm .

INFO CRITIC: evaluating information on the World Wide Web . Texas Tides. Accessed March 17, 2007. http:// tides.sfasu.edu/InfoCritic/index.htm .

PowerPoint created by Gerrod George, Librarian Furr High School Houston, Texas