What is the Internet?
- A global network that connects devices together, allowing users to send and receive data and access resources.
How is it used for research?
When searching the Internet for your academic work, it's important to use some strategies for verifying whether or not it is a source that is reliable. This is a CRAP checklist you can use to help you find the most credible information (and weed out the crap!). Be skeptical and ask a lot of questions about your sources.
- Currency - Check for dates and updates, some topics change a lot and you'll need to look for more recent information and research in order to be accurate.
- Reliability - Look deeper into a source than just being happy it has what you want. Check the context of the information and look for references to outside research and transparency in finding out the mission or agenda of the author or organization.
- Authority - Investigate the author, supporter, or organization behind the information you are using. What is their experience or expertise in the subject.
- Do a Google Search and use the stack of dots to find out more, or do a Wikipedia search for the organization or author. How long has the organization been around? How many members does it have? Where is their funding coming from? What other books or articles has the author written? Do they have an area of expertise?
- Look at the "about us" or "mission" information, if it isn't transparent or seems biased or opinion-based, those are red flags.
- Purpose/Perspective/Point of View - Is it clear that the information is there to inform or is it to sell, convince, or otherwise manipulate you in some way? Is there an obvious or not so obvious opinion or side that they take on the subject? It's not necessarily bad to take a side but you need to be aware of it and seek perspectives from multiple points of view when possible.
- Check to see if there are citations, references, or links to where data or evidence used to create the information comes from.
- Search for information in more than one place, consider what kind of sources it comes from, and look for a variety of sources that have more than one point of view.
How will I use it for class?
- You will use it to supplement your research.
