Online Research

Good vs. Poor Internet Resources

#1 Thing to RememberJust because something is online, that does NOT mean it is accurate!

Stay Away FromBlogsPersonal WebsitesWikis – YES, this means Wikipedia!Movies (that are meant for entertainment purposes)

UNLESS they are documentariesHistorical Novels (that are meant for entertainment

purposes)

Only use biographies, autobiographies, and non-fiction.

Anything you are not SURE about! Source: http://homeworktips.about.com/od/paperassignments/a/badsources.htm

If you have trouble finding credible information…Try using different KEY WORDSPut your KEY WORDS in a different orderBe more specific.Delete some words from your searchTry using the singular and/or plural form of a

wordTry going to the next page of the SERPs

(search engine result pages)Ask for help!

Source: http://www.kyvl.org/kids/p2_search/cantFind.html

Not sure if it’s good or bad?Is it a .gov and .edu website?Is it an Online Journal or Educational magazine?Is it a well known and credible News Source?

Television AND Print News (Magazines/News papers)Check the datesInvestigate the author

They should be an EXPERTAre the sources listed?

If not, check three other sources to compare information

Source: http://homeworktips.about.com/od/researchandreference/a/internet.htm

DO USE.gov and .edu sitesOnline Journals and Educational MagazinesWell known news sourcesSites and articles that are up to date/currentArticles written by authors that are known as

EXPERTS in their field. Sources that can be backed up by at least

three other sites with the same information.

Trust Your InstinctsIf you are not sure if an online source is

accurate or not, STAY AWAY FROM IT. When conducting research online, it is better to err on the side of caution than to take a risk. Do not use an online resource unless you are

100% sure it is credible.