Post on 27-May-2015
ISTC 201Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.edu Research & Instruction Librarian
Slides: http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherslides1
First… Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu Cook Library Reference:
410.704.2462. IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU Albert S. Cook facebook profile! Slides: http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherslides1
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Agenda Video Discussion Background reading/Internet searching Keywords Evaluating Resources
Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
What are the pros and cons of so much information being online?
What do you do to be sure you’re finding credible resources? How do you evaluate
the information you find while researching?
Why is it important to support your argument with valid sources?
Google Analytics (2012) Google analytics in real life – Site search. http://youtu.be/cbtf1oyNg-8
DuckDuckGo (2012). There are no “regular results” on Google anymore.http://vimeo.com/duckduckgo/bubble
New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB
Web “Pre-Searching” Why start your search online?
Find background information
Help solidify research topic
Find new terminology to use as keywords
Find links and/or citations to other sources
Through out the lesson:Fill out this spreadsheet http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherc1 Enter your name and research topic
Improve Google
internet and bully
Advanced Google searching
Duck Duck Go
body image and girls
Cook Library’s Guide to the Web
Find some websites! Enter your websites into the online
worksheet
Keywords are critical! Sample topic:
Which age is childhood obesity in the United States the highest?
First, break the question down into concepts: Which age is childhood obesity in the
United States the highest?
More on keywords… Expand your list to include synonyms then add to
it once you have done some background reading.
Which age is childhood obesity in the United States the highest?
childhood obesity United Statesadolescent over weightUSAchild* obese North Americayoung BMI
Create keywords Enter your keywords into the online
worksheet Enter synonyms
Search Tip #1Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT
internet AND children Combining >1 topic
instruct OR teach Combining synonymous
terms
Which is better?
Search Tip #2 Use truncation!
Educat* finds Educate Education Educating Educator
Etc…
Search Tip #3 Phrase Searching…
Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be searched in the specific order)
Examples: “No Child Left Behind” “school reform”
Putting it all together…Which age is childhood obesity in the United States
the highest?
childhoodchild*
adolescentyoung
obesityover weight
BMI
United StatesUSA
North America
child* OR adolescent OR young
AND
obesity OR overweight OR BMI
AND
United States OR USA OR North America
Go back to your keywords Insert AND, OR, NOT Can you truncate any of your words? Can you use phrase searching?
Evaluate what you find Go to one of the websites below and
analyze it http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
CurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose/Point of View
Check for CRAP
Check for CRAP Currency
How recent is the information?
Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?
Based on your topic, is this current enough?
Why might the date matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Check for CRAP Reliability
What kind of information is included in the resource?
Does the author provide citations & references for quotations & data
Where am I accessing this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Check for CRAP Authority
Can you determine who the author/creator is?
What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/
Check for CRAP Purpose/Point of View
Is the content primarily opinion?
Is the information balanced or biased?
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Analyze your Website Enter your CRAP analysis on the online
worksheet
You need 3 scholarly web resources for your paper. Take this time to try to find at least one website you can use!
Thanks for listening! Next class:
Watch 2 more video and prepare for discussion
Use your keywords to find books/articles
Questions? Feel free to contact me:
Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat