Tips for Effective Internet Research

The internet has simplified the process of conducting research. Rather than visiting a physical library, individuals with internet connectivity can effortlessly utilize search engines to find relevant information. However, the vastness of the web also increases the likelihood of encountering misinformation. To navigate this, it's crucial to adhere to certain guidelines to discern reliable sources from unreliable ones.

Choose your starting point wisely. If your institution provides access to specific search engines or databases, utilize them. For academic research, databases like EBSCOhost offer peer-reviewed articles, ensuring accuracy and credibility. Even for personal inquiries, academic sources offer the most trustworthy information. Accessing these databases may require a login through your library's website. Alternatively, Google Scholar provides access to academic literature and directs you to free article copies.

Seek Out Field-Specific Databases

Consult a Knowledge Professional

Exercise Caution When Using General Search Engines

Select Keywords Strategically

Opt for specificity when necessary. When delving into unfamiliar territory during research, start broad, then refine your search based on initial findings.

• For instance, inquiring about the total annual expenditure on welfare programs in the U.S. will reveal various assistance schemes like TANF and SNAP. Utilize this insight to pinpoint your focus, leading to a more targeted search, such as 'annual SNAP expenditure in the U.S.'

Seek out credible, authoritative references. The paramount challenge in online research is ensuring the credibility of chosen sources. Prioritize information from government entities, academics, and reputable news outlets.

• Government sources typically feature '.gov' in their URLs, such as www.state.gov for the U.S. Department of State. Academic sources are best accessed through databases like EBSCOhost or Google Scholar.
• Websites ending in '.org' belong to non-profits, but exercise caution as credibility varies. While major news sources like The Guardian are generally reliable, verify that you're reading factual content, not opinion pieces or blogs.

Expand your search horizon. Don't confine yourself to initial search results; delve deeper to gather comprehensive information for your research.

• While reviewing every search result may be impractical, examining multiple pages ensures you don't overlook crucial data. Due to search engine algorithms, top results may prioritize promotion over accuracy.

Utilize Wikipedia cautiously. Although a useful starting point, wikis like Wikipedia are susceptible to inaccuracies, outdated data, or bias due to open editing. When using such platforms, consult the 'References' section for reliable sources, favoring original references.

• For instance, when researching penguins, starting with the Wikipedia page and examining its reference section reveals peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, providing authoritative information.

Prioritize original sources whenever feasible. Amidst your research, encountering numerous online statements is inevitable, yet not all are reliable or valuable. Some sources lack proper citations or may misinterpret references. Verify facts from their primary sources whenever possible.

• For instance, when investigating changes in welfare spending over the past two decades, avoid trusting blogs or secondary sources. Credible sources typically reference federal agency data. Hence, it's advisable to seek out original government data sources for direct citation, enhancing the authority and credibility of your research.
• Citing original sources enhances the credibility of your research. For example, citing an article from a reputable institution like the National Institutes of Health carries more weight than citing a similar article from WebMD. Ideally, referencing original scholarly research further strengthens your argument.

Seek consensus for validation. In instances where the original source is elusive, cross-verify facts across multiple credible platforms.

• Regardless of the information sought, refrain from trusting unverified data until identical information is corroborated by several independent sources. For example, if the original source for SNAP expenditures in 1980 is unavailable, cross-reference the data across multiple trustworthy sites to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Scrutinize the source's affiliations. Evaluating website ownership or sponsorship aids in discerning credibility. For instance, websites associated with reputable institutions like the Mayo Clinic often provide credible information, while those lacking institutional affiliations or inundated with ads may be less reliable.

• When using academic databases, consider the publisher's reputation. Journals like the New England Journal of Medicine and academic publishers like Oxford University Press carry more weight than lesser-known counterparts.
• If uncertain about a source's credibility, consult its 'About Us' section or conduct an internet search for additional context. Obscure sources may necessitate further investigation using web domain search engines.

Evaluate the author's credentials. While many online sources may lack authorship, peer-reviewed research typically includes named authors with verifiable credentials.

• Consider the author's educational background; individuals like Neil deGrasse Tyson with a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from esteemed institutions like Columbia University are likely to offer credible insights. Conversely, amateur blogs lack authority despite accurate information.
• Assess the author's body of work; extensive publication history within a specific field enhances credibility, especially if peer-reviewed.
• If authorship is absent, assess the source's credibility. Government sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may lack author attribution but remain authoritative based on institutional credibility.

Consider the publication date. Ensure your information is current, particularly for medical or scientific topics. Scientific consensus evolves with new studies. Aim for recent articles for the most updated information.

• For instance, when researching cancer treatments, prioritize recent articles over decades-old publications, even if from prestigious journals.

Seek reliability and accuracy. Many sources claim to be factual but may harbor biases. Avoid sites with clear agendas that may manipulate or ignore evidence.

• Check for citations; credible sites provide references, sometimes linking to original research articles. Lack of references or outdated/poor-quality sources indicates unreliability.
• Beware of bias signaled by emotional language or inflammatory rhetoric. Academic writing aims for impartiality, avoiding such biases.
• Assess credibility through grammar and links; reputable sites maintain accuracy, while numerous errors or broken links may indicate illegitimacy.

Document your sources. To prevent errors, always cite your sources, allowing verification by others when necessary.

• Webpage citations typically include author (if available), article/page title, site name, web address, and access date.

Beware of web transience. A source's availability today doesn't guarantee its presence tomorrow. Preserve web pages to safeguard your research's relevance.

• Print or save pages as PDFs for personal reference. Periodically check links for validity. Use Archive.org's Wayback Machine to access archived pages.

Explore technological solutions. Utilize various web browser features, apps, and services to efficiently save and organize your sources.

• Utilizing bookmarks allows easy source saving. Organize sources into subfolders for specific topics, enhancing accessibility and organization.

Establish your personal archive. Advanced research software and services enable the creation of personalized source repositories.

• Sync sources to the cloud, capture web page images, and add keywords for enhanced organization. Consider freeware like Zotero or services like Pocket for comprehensive source management beyond standard bookmarking.