ISTC 201Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.edu Research & Instruction Librarian

Slides: http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherslides1

First… Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu Cook Library Reference:

410.704.2462. IM/email

Phone: 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU Albert S. Cook facebook profile! Slides: http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherslides1

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Agenda Video Discussion Background reading/Internet searching Keywords Evaluating Resources

Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs

What are the pros and cons of so much information being online?

What do you do to be sure you’re finding credible resources? How do you evaluate

the information you find while researching?

Why is it important to support your argument with valid sources?

Google Analytics (2012) Google analytics in real life – Site search. http://youtu.be/cbtf1oyNg-8

DuckDuckGo (2012). There are no “regular results” on Google anymore.http://vimeo.com/duckduckgo/bubble

New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB

Web “Pre-Searching” Why start your search online?

Find background information

Help solidify research topic

Find new terminology to use as keywords

Find links and/or citations to other sources

Through out the lesson:Fill out this spreadsheet http://bit.ly/istc2014splutherc1 Enter your name and research topic

Improve Google

internet and bully

Advanced Google searching

Duck Duck Go

body image and girls

Cook Library’s Guide to the Web

Find some websites! Enter your websites into the online

worksheet

Keywords are critical! Sample topic:

Which age is childhood obesity in the United States the highest?

First, break the question down into concepts: Which age is childhood obesity in the

United States the highest?

More on keywords… Expand your list to include synonyms then add to

it once you have done some background reading.

Which age is childhood obesity in the United States the highest?

childhood obesity United Statesadolescent over weightUSAchild* obese North Americayoung BMI

Create keywords Enter your keywords into the online

worksheet Enter synonyms

Search Tip #1Boolean “search connectors”

AND OR NOT

internet AND children Combining >1 topic

instruct OR teach Combining synonymous

terms

Which is better?

Search Tip #2 Use truncation!

Educat* finds Educate Education Educating Educator

Etc…

Search Tip #3 Phrase Searching…

Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be searched in the specific order)

Examples: “No Child Left Behind” “school reform”

Putting it all together…Which age is childhood obesity in the United States

the highest?

childhoodchild*

adolescentyoung

obesityover weight

BMI

United StatesUSA

North America

child* OR adolescent OR young

AND

obesity OR overweight OR BMI

AND

United States OR USA OR North America

Go back to your keywords Insert AND, OR, NOT Can you truncate any of your words? Can you use phrase searching?

Evaluate what you find Go to one of the websites below and

analyze it http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7

CurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose/Point of View

Check for CRAP

Check for CRAP Currency

How recent is the information?

Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?

Based on your topic, is this current enough?

Why might the date matter for your topic?

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Check for CRAP Reliability

What kind of information is included in the resource?

Does the author provide citations & references for quotations & data

Where am I accessing this information?

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Check for CRAP Authority

Can you determine who the author/creator is?

What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?

Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?

Is this publisher/sponsor reputable

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

Check for CRAP Purpose/Point of View

Is the content primarily opinion?

Is the information balanced or biased?

What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Analyze your Website Enter your CRAP analysis on the online

worksheet

You need 3 scholarly web resources for your paper. Take this time to try to find at least one website you can use!

Thanks for listening! Next class:

Watch 2 more video and prepare for discussion

Use your keywords to find books/articles

Questions? Feel free to contact me:

Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU

Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat