NDSU Department of Child Development and Family Science
North Dakota Department of Human Services
June 1999 -- Volume 2, Number 3
Candace Philbrick • Graduate Student in CDFS/MFT • 3034 20th Street South • Fargo, North Dakota 58103 • Candace_Philbrick@ndsu.nodak.edu
Basic information on how to do a search on the Internet is explained. Common tools such as search engines and Boolean logic are discussed. Also, guidance is offered on how to evaluate the credibility of resources found on the Internet. Lastly, valuable information on how to cite the sources found on the Internet is provided.
Human service providers have a responsibility to stay informed about the changes that are rapidly occurring in the field. Because of the Internet, information about research and practice knowledge available is unlimited. Another benefit is the speed at which each human service provider can exchange and share valuable information with colleagues through the Internet.
The Internet can be both incredibly useful and incredibly frustrating. The average computer user may become anxious or frustrated with the vast amount of information available on the Internet. One aspect of out technology that is often confused is the terms used. Many times the terms World Wide Web and the Internet are exchanged incorrectly. "The Internet is a collection of information stored in computers physically located throughout the world. Much of the information is organized onto electronic pages. The World Wide Web (or Web) is on facet of the Internet consisting of client and server computers" (O'Callaghan, 1999).
The information on the Web is useful, but there are also many sites that are unfiltered and are of questionable quality. Some of the sites are only out there to benefit the person/company who wrote the Web page. The old adage "buyer beware" is very relevant here.
This article will provide some basic information on how to do a search on a topic, explain some common tools such as search engines and Boolean logic, and offer guidance on how to evaluate the credibility of the resources found on the Internet. Finally, some information on how to cite the sources found on the Internet will be discussed.
A Web search engine is like an index in a library. It would be almost impossible to know what all the resources are in a library index without the help of such aides as ERIC, WINSPIRS, and a computerized index of all of the books. The search engines are organized like the index of a library so you can locate individual appearances of words in documents all over the Web. This allows you to seek out specific words and phrases in your search without having to filter through the entire Internet on your own. The search engine does all the work.
Searching can be both a positive and negative experience. It may become frustrating if you do a search and get several thousands of hits on your topic. That is why using some of the tools available is so crucial. These tools can help eliminate some of those unwanted hits. Some examples of quality search engines include Excite, AltaVista, Lycos, Infoseek, and HotBot.
There are also Web directories that are located on the Internet. The difference between a directory and a search engine is becoming less apparent because search engines are now building large subject catalogues into their systems as well. One should think of a Web directory as a subject catalogue. This would be analogous to the subject catalogue in your local library (Barlow, 1999).
Yahoo is an example of an actual directory or a subject index. It organizes the Web by dividing it into topics and subtopics. Some examples of these categories include Arts, Science, Health, Business, News, and Entertainment. If the information that you're looking for on the Web fits neatly into an obvious subject or category, go first toYahoo or one of the other Web directories. In order to make this work effectively you must have a good sense of how to find your subject within hierarchies of larger subjects.
It is best to keep searches simple with usually no more than two words for your topic. The start of a search involves refining your topic of choice. The purpose of thinking about your topic before you start searching is to determine what terms to search for and what search tool features you need to employ.
A search on the Internet can be successful if you use some of the tools to help reduce the number of hits on your search. Many times a search produces thousands of hits; this becomes too much to filter through. One way to limit your search is to use Boolean logic.
Boolean logic is a method for describing a set of objects or ideas. Boolean logic consists of the operators AND, OR and NOT. Arranging these operators makes it possible to create a logical statement that will help with your search (Cohen, 1999). One of the most recent and effective uses of Boolean logic is in search engines. The use of these operators AND, OR and NOT can effectively communicate what you are searching for to the search program. The absence of this tool leads to searches without precision. The better you know how to use Boolean logic the more effective your searches will be. This will lead to quicker searches, less time on the computer, and more time using the information for you intended purpose.
Another important tool is the use of parentheses in a search. This is known as forcing the order of processing. When you surround words with parentheses the search engine will process this part of the search first. Next, the search engine will combine the results of the first search with the last part of your search (Cohen, 1999). For example, if you were to put (guns and violence) and children on a search, a search engine would first find all the hits with guns and violence. Next, the search would combine these results with children. By using this method, one can be sure that the first part of the search is kept together as a logical unit. This will help eliminate some of those hits that do not pertain to your search.
A tool that can be combined with the use of Boolean logic is the use of the positive (+) of negative sign (-) before a word. The + sign before a word indicates that the search requires that word to be in the search. The - sign before a word in a search indicates that the word is to be excluded in the search (Library of the University of California, Berkeley, 1999).
It is essential to evaluate information from the Internet. Critically evaluate each piece of work that you intend to use as a resource. A way to help determine if the information on the page is credible is going through a checklist that whether or not the information is valuable for its intended purpose or topic. One of the key components of any document on the Web is the author. Who is the author of the document? (Binghamton University Libraries, 1999). Is it a name you recognize from your field of study? Does the author list important biographical information such as their position and affiliation with an institution/association/company? Is there a Web address listed to find out more information about the author? O'Callaghan (1999) suggests that even the author's telephone number should be listed.
If you are still unsure if the author is credible, you can contact him or her directly to verify any information you receive if you are having any doubts
A second variable to consider in the process of evaluating information from the Internet is the purpose or function of the document (Leita, 1999). Why was the document created? Was the intended purpose for academia, personal/company advertising or profit or to just to inform?
Finding out who the author of the document is can usually help determine the intended purpose or function. Does the document have a URL that connects to the home page of the institution affiliated with the document? Or does the document reside on a personal? If it is the latter, what is the intended purpose of the individual creating a Web page?
Another component of evaluating information from the Web is how current the document is. Many times this criteria is referred to as the currency of the document on the Web (O'Callaghan, 1999). It is essential to know how recent the information was placed on the Web to determine if the document is worth using. Is the information going to stay at this site? Does the document include a last updated date of the document?
The structure of the document can also help you determine if the information is credible. What kind of information is included in the document? Is it a factual document? Can you tell by glancing at the document who the publisher is? In other words, can you tell where the document lives on the computer? Reading the Web address should identify who holds the information on the Web.
You should be able to locate these vital elements within a document you are evaluating. The author or contact person is usually located in the footer. A link to local home pages is usually located either in header or footer. The institution or affiliation is usually located in either header or footer. The date of the creation or revision is usually located in the footer. The intended audience is usually determined by examining the body of the work. The purpose of the information provided, whether it is to persuade, explain, inform or explore, is also determined by examining the body (Scholz, 1996).
Referencing information from the Web is a process that is still evolving. Citing information from the Web has changed slightly since the last edition of the APA Manual. This is why it may be common to see several styles used in journal articles. The format presented is the most current information. According to the most recent information from the American Psychological Association Web page, citing information from the Web using APA style should begin with the same information that is provided from a printed source. There are only a few additional items at the end of the citation when referencing from the Web. The date of retrieval of information from the Web is placed after citing the source it came from. This is important because information is changing constantly on the Web, and when people read the document they should be able to review the site to see if it has been updated since you have referenced the material. After the date, indicate that the information came from the World Wide Web. Another addition to the citation is the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or address from which you retrieved the information. This is placed directly after the date and place the information came from. Cameron (1998) gives an example of a reference entry:
An article from the American Psychologist:
Jacobson, J.W., Mulick, J.A., & Schwartz, A.A. (1995).
A history of facilitated communication: Science, pseudoscience, and antiscience: Science working group on facilitated communication. American Psychologist, 50, 750_765. Retrieved January 25, 1996 from the World Wide Web: http://www.apa.org/journals/jacobson.html
Also, citing a reference within a document when the author is not available requires only the address where you got the information. It is not necessary to make a reference entry in these cases.
This article is a brief summary of some basic information on how to do a search on a topic. Some common issues such as search engines and Boolean logic were addressed. These tools can be very useful when searching the Internet. There are also several other tools that are available as suggested earlier with a reference to a particular site that will be helpful in this area.
Secondly, ideas on how to critically evaluate the information on the Internet were provided. This is an essential skill to obtain when using information from the Internet. Without the knowledge of the credibility of the site the information that is obtained from a site may be useless. There are several variables that are involved in the process of evaluating a document. Some of the key variables are the author, structure and how up to date the document is.
Referencing resources used is a critical component of using information from any source. Citing information from the World Wide Web starts with the same format as referencing from a printed source. There are some additional items at the end of the source such as the date retrieved, the World Wide Web, and the address. The Internet provides the individuals of the world a resource that is rich with information. Knowing how to obtain, evaluate and cite this information is the key. There are many resources available on the Internet that provides such information. This article is a summary of some of that information organized as a resource for those interested in improving his/her skills in using the Internet.
Barlow, L. (1999, February). How to use Web Search Engines. Monash Information Services. Retrieved March 15, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.monash.com/spidap2.html
Binghamton University Libraries. (1999, February). Evaluating Internet Resources. Retrieved March 14, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://library.lib.binghamton.edu/webdocs/evaluation.html
Cameron, L. (1998). How to Cite Information From the Internet and the World Wide Web. American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 20, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.apa.org/journals/webref.html
Cohen, L. (1999, January). Boolean Searching on the Internet. University at Albany Libraries. Retrieved March 14, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/boolean.html
Leita, C. (1996, January-March). Evaluating Internet Resources: A checklist. California State Library InFoPeople Project. Retrieved March 14, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.infopeople.org/bkmk/select.html
Library of the University of California, Berkeley. (1999, January). How to choose the search tools you need. Teaching Library Internet Workshops University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved March 17, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/ToolsTables.html#Recommend
O'Callaghan, M. (1999, April) Evaluating Internet Sites. Valley City State University. Retrieved April 11, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://cii.vcsu.nodak.edu/classroom/authorityaccuracy.htm
Scholz, A. (1996, February). Evaluating World Wide Web Information. Purdue University Libraries. Retrieved March 14, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/research/classes/gs175/3gs175/evaluation.html
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The North Dakota Journal of Human Services, June 1999 -- Volume 2, Number 3