Doing Research on the Web

1. Define Your Topic:

  • What question are you trying to answer?
  • Try to refine your topic.  You don't want one that it is too broad or too narrow.

2.  Select Keywords and Related words:

  • Write down the keywords.
  • What are some similar terms?
  • Choose a Boolean operator is necessary.  (AND, OR, NOT)

3. Decide Where to Look:

  • Try a known source
  • Virtual Libraries
  • Subject Directories
    • Example: Infomine - (http://infomine.ucr.edu/Main.html)
  • Search Engines
    • Example: Google - (http://www.google.com)
  • Meta-Search Engines

4. Follow Your Leads:

  • Try that link!
    • You can find some of the best sources just by browsing from web site to web site.
  • Take good notes!
    • You may want to go back to a particular site later, so write down the URL.  If you think you might be citing the source you will need the title, URL, author (if known), date last updated (if known), and the date you accessed the site.

5. Evaluate Your Sources:

  • When looking at any source of information you should evaluate these areas:
    • Authority
      • Who is the author?
      • What are his/her qualifications?
    • Accuracy
      • How reliable is the information?
      • Have the facts been checked?
    • Objectivity
      • Does the information have a bias?
      • Does this site have an agenda?
    • Currency
      • Is the site dated?
      • Are there bad or out dated links?
    • Coverage
      • What is the depth and breadth of the information?
      • Does this site have any real value?

  • Exercises in Evaluation:
  1. What is the authority for this web site? Would you rely on it?
  2. Which of these pages seem more accurate? Why?
  3. Is this site being objective?  Does it have a bias or an agenda?
  4. Would these sites be current enough for the particular topic?
  5. Which of these pages has better coverage?

6. Citing Information Found on the Web

  • Currently, there is no "standard" for citing information found on the web, however, citations for web sites usually begin with the same information that would be provided for a printed source (or as much of that information as possible).  After that basic information then the citation should contain the information on how the site can be accessed. Since the Web is a every changing environment, it is very important to note the date you accessed the site in addition to the the date the site was created or updated.
  • Basic information needed: author, title of document, title of complete web site (if applicable), date the document was created or updated, URL, and date of access.
  • Below are two basic examples for how to cite web sites in the APA and MLA styles.