Knowing how to search for information can help you with your school work. Looking for information is also part of everyday life. How much does that video game cost? How do you get to the zoo? What are the swim times at your local pool? These are questions that you can answer if you know where to look. Knowing what you are looking for, where to find it, and how to evaluate the answers you get are really important skills to learn for the present and future!
Doing research on the web? Use these tips to evaluate the website to make sure the information is reliable.
Online Research Tips
Before using information taken from a website for your homework, ask yourself these questions to make sure it’s a reliable resource for your project.
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Who?
- Who wrote the content of the website?
- Is the author an expert on the subject?
- Can you find more information about the author?
- Can you contact the author?
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What?
- What does the author say is the purpose of the website?
- Is the information given in the website the author’s opinion or facts? Is it a joke?
- Based on what you know already, is the information correct?
- Can the information be confirmed from another website or book?
- What other websites does the site link to?
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When?
- When was the site created?
- When was it updated?
- Is the content current?
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Why?
- Why is this information useful?
- Are there any references included on the website?
- Why is this website better than another resource?
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Where?
- Where does the information come from? Where is the site hosted? (The site can be hosted by a school, a museum, the government, or a person).
- Is there more information about the host of the site?
How to Find and Use Our Databases:
- Go to our homepage (markhampubliclibrary.ca)
- Click Online Databases.
- Type in your customer barcode number (located on the back of your library card) and your PIN
- Click on the category you want or the “Quick Search” button
- Start searching.
For more research tips, ask your librarian!
