Web research IDS 801

Using the ‘web’ for researchIDS 801 Dr. Cynthia Garrety

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consider this...

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It wasn’t so long ago that using the web for research was frowned upon by academics

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What changed?Everything..the CloudGoogle ScholarMendeley

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The Cloud

More and more research can be found online

No more stigma attached to online only journals

Open Educational Resources

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Google Scholar

Google Scholar has gone mainstream

Recommendations based on your scholar search

“Stand on the shoulders of giants”

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Mendeley

Free Reference Manager

Academic Social Networking

Access your research anywhere

Import research

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Evaluating ‘Web’ResourcesRules for

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Authorship

Who wrote this?

Are they credible?

In your field of study, are they recognized?

Is the article linked to another author you trust?

can you find biographical information?

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Accuracy and Verifiability of Details

Data was gathered and an explanation of the research methodology are included

Methodology is appropriate to the topic

Document relies on other sources listed in a bibliography

Background information that was used can be verifited

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CurrencyTimeliness of the information

Includes the date(s) at which the information was gathered

refers clearly to dated information (based on 1900 census)

Includes a publication date and date of copyright

Keep in mind..search engines like google rate on popularity in many cases

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Publishing Body

Is there a name of an organization given?

Is the organization suitable to the topic?

Does the document come from a personal account?

Can you find the organization by examining the url?

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Point of View/BiasInformation is rarely neutral

Note the url of the document. Does it reside on a server of an organization with a clear bias?

Assume corporations will present products in a positive light

If you are gathering political information use several sources from varying viewpoints

never assume the points of view are easy to detect!

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Referral to and/or knowledge of the literature

The document includes a biography

The author alludes to or displays knowledge of related sources, with proper attribution

The author displays knowledge of theories or techniques considers appropriate

Author acknowledges if they take a biased or controversial stand

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