Conducting Online Research

1. Conducting Online Research How to Locate and Evaluate Digital Resources

2. Can you search effectively? Many people know a lot about technology but NOT a lot about how to search online!

3. Do I know how to be a good, efficient searcher? Considerations: 1. Am I using the best source? 2. What do I know about Internet research?

4. Internet Research involves: • Search engines • Gathering information • Website– treasure or trash? • Crediting sources (avoiding plagiarism – no copying) • Organizing • Synthesizing info (putting it together) • Presenting what you have learned

5. Electronic Searching

6. But – I found it on the Internet? Treasure... or Trash?

7. Why do we need to evaluate web sources? • Virtually any person can publish almost anything on the Internet. • Unlike most print sources, web sources do not have to be professionally accepted and edited to be published.

8. Before clicking on the link, look to see if it is a personal page. Check out the domain name or the “dots”: .gov = Hosted by a U.S. government agency .com = For-profit business, personal sites .edu = Educational organization .org = Nonprofit organization .net = Hosted by a network .biz = Business site (newer than .com) .ac = Academic organization (outside the United States) ~ = personal webpage

9. Try the C.A.R.S. evaluation checklist: C – Credibility A – Accuracy R –Reasonableness S - Support

10. Credibility • Who is the author? • What are the author’s credentials – experience, education, training – in the field related to this information? • Has the author provided contact information? • Appearance of site – looks professional, pictures and/or graphics, organized, neat Warning signs: Anonymous Information Misspellings, faulty links, messy appearance

11. Accuracy • When was this material compiled or created, and when was it presented? Is it recent? • Is this a comprehensive presentation of the thinking and the facts related to this topic? • For whom and for what purpose (advocacy, information, persuasion) is this information intended? Warning signs: Out-of-date or undated information, expired links, inaccurate or overly generalized information, biased information

12. Reasonableness • Does this author argue points fairly and dispassionately? • Is the material presented objectively, or is it slanted and bias? • Does the information make sense, given what I know of the world? Is it believable? • Does the information contradict itself? Warning signs: Manipulative or emotional language, one-sided information, a conflict of interest between the source and the objectivity of the information.

13. Support • Has the author provided documentation –a bibliography (list of works or resources) for this information? • Can you find at least two other sources that support the data presented? Warning signs Lack of documentation of claims, information that contradicts other reliable sources of information, positions on issues that you already know to be faulty.

14. Test Using the CARS method, evaluate the following website: The Smithsonian’s Education Site

15. Additional Information to remember – Cite your sources, clip art, photos. Give credit where credit is due! You can find sites online that will cite sources for you – http://www.easybib.com http://www.citationmaker.com/

16. Review – Putting it all Together When searching the Internet, use keyword searches to access the fastest, most relevant results. Look at the “dots.” What type of webpage is it? Use the C.A.R.S method to evaluate the page – Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Sources Document your information. Use safety and good, ole’ common sense when working or playing online.