Utilizing the Internet for research.

1. Utilizing Internet Resources
Paul D. Page, M.A., M.L.S.

2. Finding Information on the Web
About 47
Billion
webpages
About 44
Billion
webpages
About 34 Billion webpages Source:
http://www.worldwidewebsize.com/
Paul D. Page, M.A., M.L.S.

3. 1. Websites are constructions.
What is written is the product of many decisions and determining factors:
the author’s attitudes, interpretations and conclusions are built into the text.
2. Websites contain belief and value messages.
Reflect the opinions of their authors/creators; whether
intentional or not these opinions may be biased and seek to influence the reader.
3. Interpretation is subjective.
Demographic factors and experiential factors influence how we interpret a
message.
4. Websites serve a variety of interests and/or agendas.
Websites are produced intentionally. Many may seek to promote an agenda
along ideological lines or to produce a profit as a result of commercial interests.
5. Websites develops their own “language” in order to position readers.
Websites create meaning through distinctive techniques, conventions and
aesthetics.
*Adapted from The Capacity Building Series, The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat , Ontario
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/Critical_Literacy.pdf

4. Evaluation Criteria
Currency - The timeliness of the information
Relevance - The importance of the information for your needs
Authority - The source of the information
Accuracy - The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the
content
Purpose - The reason the information exists
Paul D. Page, M.A., M.L.S.

5. American
Medical
Association
DoctorYourself
WebMD
Ask Dr. Weil
Wikipedia MedicineNet
World Health
AARP
Net
US Census
Paul D. Page, M.A., M.L.S.

6. “ Wikipedia is like a digital circus where the clowns
are in charge of feeding the lions.”

8. •Anybody can edit
•It’s free
•Updates are quick
•Use of hyperlinks
•Size of topic unimportant
•Opportunity to discuss
topic

9. •Anybody can add or edit
•Vandalism
•Bias in some areas
•Lack of traditional editing
•Incompleteness
•Writing quality

10.  Verify with other sources
 Utilize links
 View the history
 Remember the collaborative process
 Look for bias
Use only as a STARTING POINT in the research process !