Web When? Web Why?

Step 1: When to Use the Internet for Research or:
Oh, sure, it's easy ... but is it any good?

The Internet is a very tempting resource, sitting there in front of you, waiting to tell you what you want to hear.  It is NOT, however, the best place to start your research.  The World Wide Web is growing exponentially (billions of sites are reported to be indexed by the Google search engine), and it is certainly an essential INFORMATION tool.  As most of you know, you can find information on everything from antique dolls to the latest model automobiles, from maps to mp3, and any topic in between.  To take advantage of the special characteristics of each type of research tool, ACADEMIC research draws information from a variety of sources.  Depending solely on the internet for research is foolish (and in an unfortunate case at Johns Hopkins, deadly).  For a scholarly research project, a well-balanced bibliography should contain information from each of the following sources:

1)  Encyclopedias and books are still your best bet for general background information.  Use the indexes in encyclopedias and books to pinpoint information.  Encyclopedia articles are well organized, based on fact, and edited to check for accuracy.  A general outline of the subject is usually provided, and important vocabulary or search terms will be identified.  Innovations like Wikipedia are very helpful for quick reference, although some recent studies cast some doubt on the accuracy of this collaborative, online encyclopedia.

2)  Magazine or journal articles provide updated information, and those from scholarly or academic journals provide well-grounded, objective research and careful examination of topics by authorities in that particular field of study. 

3) The Internet is the place to look for

• the most recent or latest information
• new developments
• emerging topics (technology, pop culture, etc.)
• current statistics
• contact information (organizations, government, companies, etc.)
• special interest groups focused on a unique or hard-to-find topic  

NEXT:   On your worksheet, list two reasons when the Internet would be the appropriate choice for research. 

NEXT:  Web How?  This part of the tutorial gives you a chance to learn how to use the Internet efficiently.  At times, you will be working in a "frames" environment, with instructions in the left frame of your screen and a "live" connection to various search engines in the right frame of your screen.  You do not have to write anything on your worksheet until you see the icon.

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