The document discusses the differences between using the internet and databases for research. It provides tips for evaluating information found on the internet by considering whether a website is backed by experts, the author can be identified, the information is verifiable elsewhere, and is up-to-date. It also discusses how to perform advanced searches on Google. The document then explains that databases provide curated content from scholarly journals, newspapers and other sources that is peer-reviewed and updated daily, unlike much of the varied content found on the internet.

1. Business Information
Internet vs. Databases
Benton Library Media Center
Thursday, October 1, 2009

2. LET’S TRY GOOGLE!
google.com
Thursday, October 1, 2009

3. EVALUATING INFORMATION
“Wrong” “Right”
Information Information
Thursday, October 1, 2009

4. EVALUATING THE INTERNET
Thursday, October 1, 2009

5. Is the website backed by experts?
Can you determine the
authors of the website?
Is the website commerical
or non-commercial?
Image: “dot com” by Thomas Hawk via Flickr under a CC-license.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

6. Is the information verifiable elsewhere?
Is the information
backed by sources?
Is the information
relevant to your topic?
Images: “IT everywhere #31” by Paul the Wine Guy via Flickr under a CC-license.
“Smack in the middle” by ogimogi via Flickr under a CC-license.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

7. Is the information up-to-date?
Does the website
present new information?
Can you tell when the
information was published?
Images: “#1 New MacBook” by Mikael Miettinen via Flickr under a CC-license.
“2009-07-09 What Day Is It?” by RG of CS-taking a bit of a break via Flickr under a CC-license.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

8. Is the information comprehensive?
Is there a clear bias
for a single viewpoint?
Is the information presented
objectively (when needed)?
Images: “Chain” by waffler via Flickr under a CC-license.
“Load or unload” by Pulpolux !!! via Flickr under a CC-license.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

9. HOW TO USE GOOGLE
ADVANCED SEARCH
google.com
Thursday, October 1, 2009

10. WHAT IS A DATABASE?
search engine for printed publications
scholarly journals popular magazines
newspapers other content
Thursday, October 1, 2009

11. DATABASES vs THE INTERNET
academic content varied content
VS
updated daily updated irregularly
VS
peer reviewing little or no reviewing
of articles of websites
PEER REVIEW
VS
Images: “049”, “Fresh from the Still”, “question mark ?”, “What ?” , “Question
mark” via Flickr, under a CC-license.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

12. bentonmediacenter.ning.com
Thursday, October 1, 2009

13. NEED A PASSWORD?
click on the image of keys
password: bentonlibrary
Thursday, October 1, 2009