The document discusses researching World War 1 using the internet versus databases. It provides tips for evaluating information found on the internet, such as checking if the website is backed by experts, the authorship and date of information, and whether the information is verifiable, comprehensive, and unbiased. The document also notes key differences between databases and the internet, such as databases containing mostly peer-reviewed academic content that is updated daily, while internet content is more varied and irregularly updated with little reviewing.

1. World War I
Research
Internet vs. Databases
Benton Library Media Center
Monday, November 9, 2009

2. LET’S TRY GOOGLE!
google.com
Monday, November 9, 2009

3. EVALUATING INFORMATION
“Wrong” “Right”
Information Information
Monday, November 9, 2009

4. EVALUATING THE INTERNET
Monday, November 9, 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.
Monday, November 9, 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.
Monday, November 9, 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.
Monday, November 9, 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.
Monday, November 9, 2009

9. HOW TO USE GOOGLE
ADVANCED SEARCH
google.com
Monday, November 9, 2009

10. WHAT IS A DATABASE?
search engine for printed publications
scholarly journals popular magazines
newspapers other content
Monday, November 9, 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.
Monday, November 9, 2009

12. bentonmediacenter.ning.com
Monday, November 9, 2009