Page 191 - Keys to College Success

see what you can generate. If you get too many hits, try using
more specif c keywords.
3. Evaluate the results. The f rst links on your search results may or
may not be the most relevant. Often, top hits belong to individu-
als or companies that have paid to have their sites show up f rst.
Scan through the results, reading the short synopsis of each. You
may need to look further, perhaps to the second or third page of
results, to f nd what you need.
4. Skim sites to evaluate what seems most useful. Once you identify a
potentially useful link, go to the site and evaluate it. Does the site
seem relevant and reputable? What is its purpose? For example, a
blog is apt to focus on opinion; a company’s site is likely to pro-
mote its products; an article in a scholarly journal may focus on
research f ndings.
5. Save, or bookmark, the sites you want to focus on. Make sure you
can access them again. You may want to copy URLs and paste
them into a separate document. Consider printing Internet materi-
als that you know you will need to reference over and over again.
6. When you think you are done, start over. Choose another search
engine and search again. Different systems access different sites.

Your need to be an effective researcher doesn’t stop at graduation.
The skills you develop as you research school projects will serve you
Much, although not all, research can be done using well in any job that requires use of the Internet and other resources to
online databases. Get to know the databases and other find and evaluate information.
resources your school makes available to students.

Evaluate Every Source

Because the reliability of Internet content varies widely, your Internet research is only
as strong as your critical thinking. Robert Harris, professor and Web expert, has
developed a system for evaluating Internet information called the CARS test for
information quality (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support). Use the infor-
mation in Key 6.9 to question sources as you conduct research. You can also use it to
test the reliability of non-Internet sources.

Vary Strategies and Sources

The limitations of Internet-only research make it smart to combine Internet and library
research. Search engines cannot find everything for several reasons:

■ Not all sources are in digital format.
■ The Internet prioritizes current information and may not find older
information.
■ Some digital sources may not be part of your library’s subscription offerings.
■ Internet searches require electricity or battery power and an online connection.
Use the Internet as a starting point to get an idea of the various documents you
may want to locate in the library and read in print. When you find a blog or website
that provides only a short extract of important information and then references the
rest, find that original article or book and read the information in its entirety. Often,
risking the time and effort that extra searching takes will reward you with more accu-
6 rate, in-depth, and useful information.
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