Online ResearchOnline Research

An introductionAn introduction

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

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

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

How can you tell the difference?How can you tell the difference?

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

Judging the Quality of WebsitesJudging the Quality of Websites

There are six criteria for telling good There are six criteria for telling good websites from bad websites.websites from bad websites.– AuthorityAuthority– AccuracyAccuracy– CoverageCoverage– ObjectivityObjectivity– CurrencyCurrency– NavigationNavigation

AuthorityAuthority

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

Remember: Anyone can Remember: Anyone can publish anything on the publish anything on the internet!internet!

Ask yourselfAsk yourself

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

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

Is the site's sponsor listed? Is the site's sponsor listed? Is there a link to information about the Is there a link to information about the

sponsor? Is the sponsor reputable? sponsor? Is the sponsor reputable?

A URL can provide clues to a site’s A URL can provide clues to a site’s sponsorsponsor

All websites have an address, a URL All websites have an address, a URL (Universal Resource Locater).(Universal Resource Locater).– The URL for the Furr High School webpage is The URL for the Furr High School webpage is

http://hs.houstonisd.org/FurrHShttp://hs.houstonisd.org/FurrHS Most URLs identify the type of organization Most URLs identify the type of organization

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

Common Domain TypesCommon Domain Types

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

identifiers)identifiers)

As a general ruleAs a general rule Government, military, & educational sites are Government, military, & educational sites are

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

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

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

All sites should be examined for bias and All sites should be examined for bias and accuracy.accuracy.

What if there is no author or What if there is no author or sponsor given?sponsor given?

Copy the URL of the site and go to Copy the URL of the site and go to Google.Google.

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

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

What if authors or sponsors are What if authors or sponsors are listed, but no information is listed, but no information is

provided?provided? Enter the authors’ or sponsors’ Enter the authors’ or sponsors’

names in quotations into the Google names in quotations into the Google search box, and see what kind of search box, and see what kind of information comes up.information comes up.

AccuracyAccuracy

Ask yourselfAsk yourself– Are there any obvious mistakes?Are there any obvious mistakes?– Can you check any of the information Can you check any of the information

presented as facts?presented as facts?– Try a Google search on some of the Try a Google search on some of the

statements or look in a text book or statements or look in a text book or encyclopedia to check them.encyclopedia to check them.

CoverageCoverage

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

AskAsk– What topics are covered?What topics are covered?– How in-depth is the material?How in-depth is the material?– What does this webpage offer that other sources What does this webpage offer that other sources

do not?do not?– How valuable is this information to your search?How valuable is this information to your search?

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

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

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

ObjectivityObjectivity Remember: Remember: The internet is a public forum The internet is a public forum

where individuals are free to express their where individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs however they choose.opinions and beliefs however they choose.

AskAsk– Is opinion being presented as fact?Is opinion being presented as fact?– Is the information biased?Is the information biased?– Are all sides of the issue fairly presented?Are all sides of the issue fairly presented?– Is the page designed to sway opinion?Is the page designed to sway opinion?– Is the language inflammatory?Is the language inflammatory?

How can you detect bias?How can you detect bias?

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

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

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

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

CurrencyCurrency Remember: Remember: the web is a dynamic the web is a dynamic

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

AskAsk– Is the page dated? (Check the bottom of Is the page dated? (Check the bottom of

the page.)the page.)– How recently was it updated?How recently was it updated?– If there are links, are they still working?If there are links, are they still working?– Are there any obviously outdated Are there any obviously outdated

statements?statements?

NavigationNavigation

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

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

contents?contents?– Are links clearly visible?Are links clearly visible?– Does the site take a long time to load?Does the site take a long time to load?– Are errors reported when the site loads?Are errors reported when the site loads?

NoteNote

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

More tipsMore tips

Google is a great search engineGoogle is a great search engine– for finding pictures for finding pictures – For very narrow search queriesFor very narrow search queries– For looking up authors’ & sponsor’s namesFor looking up authors’ & sponsor’s names

Google is not good for general searches.Google is not good for general searches.– Often millions of hits are produced for a single Often millions of hits are produced for a single

inquiry.inquiry.– Results are not filtered for authority, accuracy, Results are not filtered for authority, accuracy,

or anything else.or anything else.

For better search resultsFor better search results

Use HISD Online ResourcesUse HISD Online Resources– Accessed through the library links on Accessed through the library links on

Furr Library HomepageFurr Library Homepage– Also accessed directly at Also accessed directly at

http://www.hisdlibraryservices.org/onlinhttp://www.hisdlibraryservices.org/online_resources.htme_resources.htm

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

You are now ready to do online You are now ready to do online research.research.

ReferencesReferences

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

PowerPointPowerPointcreated bycreated by

Gerrod George,Gerrod George,LibrarianLibrarian

Furr High SchoolFurr High SchoolHouston, TexasHouston, Texas