Research Advice

Sources

Finding credible information on the internet can be frustrating and time-consuming. Here is some advice on how to have more success.

1. Use databases provided in MARVEL! and Infotrac before searching the world wide web. These databases provide reference book information, magazine articles, newspaper articles, primary documents and multimedia information such as photographs, videos, and audioclips.Home use of MARVEL is available by free registration; use the password provided to open Infotrac at home.
2. Use the Librarians’Index to the Internet (www.lii.org) to search for broad topics. This will provide you with a few websites that are chosen by librarians to be websites that are accurate, current, unbiased and well-organized.
3. When you use Google, Yahoo or other large search engines, combine keywords that describe what you are looking for. Use " quotation marks" to indicate that you are looking for a specific phrase or name. For additional advice read the Google Advanced Search Techniques (http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/refinesearch.html) and the Yahoo Advanced Search option (http://search.yahoo.com/search/options?fr=fp-top&p=)
4. Gather and read information from a variety of resources when you are doing research. Consult the Credible Sources handout for a checklist of information resources to consider.