Websites
Research Quality Websites
• Find good Websites
• Evaluate Websites
• Recommended Websites
Find good Websites
A few search tips:
• Google Advanced Search will bring up credible sites by limiting the domain. Try .gov (US government), .mil (US military), .mt.gov (state of montana), .edu (college/university).
• Google Products and other engines will do subject searches for maps, images, financial information, etc.
• Keywords: think broadly! Try both specific and general (trees and oaks). Use acronyms and spell out abbreviations (US and united states).
Evaluate Websites
Since anyone can put up a website, how to you tell if a site is trustworthy? Answer these questions.
• Goal of the site?
To entertain, sell, convince/promote, educate, inform...
• Intended audience?
Consumers, general public, students, professionals...
• Author's Expertise?
Reporter, hobbyist, professional, researcher, faculty...
• Bias?
Narrow/broad, pro/con, what facts are missing?
• References?
Are claims founded on list of sources, recommended reading?
• Check the facts!
Use internet to check claims, names, addresses, credentials...
Recommended Websites
Librarian's Internet Index - Websites grouped by subject
The Internet Public Library - Websites grouped by subject
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