CSI: Critically Searching the Internet

A workshop on evaluating information sources, and becoming an efficient searcher of the web

Practice #1 Determining Reputation and Credibility * * * *

Find out who "authored" the information on the example web pages below. Check their credentials. Decide if they are qualified to write about the topic.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6

Example 7

Example 8

Practice #2 Practice Determining Reputation and Credibility of Web Sites

Below are web pages on four topics. Compare the web pages in each group and decide which one is the most trustworthy. Why did you come to that decision? Now do some research on the authors/sponsoring organizations and determine if they are authorities in the field, and if they are appropriate resources for a college level research paper. Was your first impression the same as after you researched it?

Group 1

Use of Psychoactive Medication During Pregnancy...

Pregnancy and Mental Illness

Parents with Mental Illness

Mental Health

Personal Accounts: Mental Illness, Motherhood, and Me

Group 2

Breast Cancer Statistics

Breast Cancer Center

Y-Me Breast Cancer Statistics

Breast Cancer Reports and Data

National Breast Cancer Coalition

Group 3

Clinton's Big Ditch

History of the Erie Canal

Erie Canal History

Erie Canal and DeWitt Clinton

An Excerpt from the Journal of Thomas S. Woodcock

Erie Canal Time Machine

Group 4

Mary Magdalene

Magdalene.org

Mary Magdelene

Mary Magdalene: Saint or Sinner?

Mary Magdalene's Royal Lineage

 

 

 

 

Practice #3 Reading Google Results Screens

Look closely at the Google result screens given to you in class. See how many of the links you can eliminate just by noticing what the result screen shows you. Look for the URL for clues. Look to see if it is a .edu or .com or a .org site. Is it a Canadian or Australian site? Is it Wikipedia or another tool that may not be reputable? Is there a tilde(~) in the address? That means it is a personal web page, one that the organization sponsoring the site is not responsible for. Look at the excerpt. Do all your search words appear? Do they appear in the same sentence, or are they separated by ellipses (...)? Do you recognize any of the web sites? You can save time by paying close attention to these clues and only clicking on the most promising web sites.

 

Practice #4 Use Google Advanced Search to find information on these topics. Remember to try to look for searchable databases.

1. Find a neurologist in Rochester who has an office in the neighborhood "Greece," accepts Blue Choice, and is a recent graduate of medical school.

2. Find an oral history transcript of a person involved in the attempt to register African-American voters in the 1960's.

3. Is the iguana an endangered species?

4. I want to learn how to pronounce ancient Mayan hieroglyphics.

5. Are there any Indonesian newspaper published in English?

6. A friend of mine named Tylor Donald claims he is a certified pilot. Is he?

7. Find a list of novels dealing with amnesia.

8. Someone told me that a baseball card I have is worth a million. How can I find out? The name on the card is Jackie Robinson.

9. What did the Mets uniforms look like (home and away) in the year 1984?

10. I found a bottle of wine in my very rich, wine collector uncle’s house. How do I find out the worth of this bottle without someone trying to swindle me out of money? The name of the wine is Amuse Bouche 2002.