How to Search & Research: Tips

Module 6

Research is something we have all done in just about all of our classes. For some, this can be tough. For others, it is a simple task. Here are some tips for everyone- no matter how good or bad you are at researching.

When looking at an online resource, evaluate it using these 3 things:

1. Source reliability:
   1. Does it contain the author’s contact info?
   2. Does the author have credibility? Sometimes the website will provide a bio about them. Or you can check to see if they’ve written many scholarly articles.
   3. Have you heard of the website before? Does it have a good reputation?
   4. For scholarly research avoid blogs and wiki’s.
   5. Check for biases. If a website is sponsored by Bernie Sanders, you can assume it will have liberal bias.
   6. Check for peer reviews. Peer reviewed articles are good.
2. Information quality:
   1. Check for broad generalizations. These usually means the accuracy should be questioned.
   2. Make sure the articles are up to date so you are getting the most accurate info possible.
   3. Make sure the facts are consistent- especially the statistics. You don’t want an article telling you that the Earth is round and square in the same article.
   4. Bad grammar and spelling is a tell-tale sign to forget that resource.
   5. Check for citations and references. This means the author isn’t afraid to be fact checked. Pulling information from multiple resources makes for a better article.
3. Information usefulness
   1. Does the article have the info you were looking for?
   2. Is there enough detail in the article? Maybe a page isn’t enough to answer a lengthy question.
   3. Is it written for an appropriate audience? A website made for high school students may not have everything that a website written for college students contains.

Keep this list handy while researching. I have found that a mix of web and school database resources work best for me.

Good luck researching!