How to Research– Finding RELIABLE Information
Getting Started
Where is the first place you go when you start researching a project?Google, Wikipedia, YouTube
But how reliable are those sites? How do you know the information you are
reading comes from a reliable resource?
Warnings with Googling
Anyone’s website can come up Whether it’s a 10 year old’s website or a Doctor’s
Wiki’s like Wikipedia can be changed by anyone They are open source documents
Blogs and Youtube videos are often personal opinion and have a lot of bias in the content
Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test CURRENCY
When was the information published or last updated? Have newer articles been published on your topic? Are links or references to other sources up to date? Is your topic in an area that changed rapidly, like
technology or popular culture?
Bad Example Good Example
Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test RELEVANCE
Does the information answer your research question? Does the information meet the stated requirements of
the assignment? Is the information too technical or too simplified for
you to use? Does the source add something new to your
knowledge of the topic?
Bad Example Good Example
Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test AUTHORITY
What are the author’s credentials? Is the author affiliated with an educational institution
or prominent organization? Can you find information about the author from
reference sources or the Internet? Do other books or authors cite the author?
Bad Example Good Example
Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test ACCURACY
Are there statements you know to be false? Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar? Was the information reviewed by editors or subject
experts before it was published? What citations or references support the author’s
claims? What do other people have to say about the topic?
Bad Example
Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test PURPOSE
Is the author’s purpose to sell, persuade, entertain, or inform?
Is there an obvious bias or prejudice? Are alternative points of view presented? Does the author omit important facts or data that might
disprove the claim? Does the author use strong or emotional language?
Bad Example Bad Example
Still Want to Google?
FIND GOOD KEYWORDS!!!!! Before you start googling, make sure you know
what your search terms will be Use articles, teacher lessons, or your prior
knowledge to find keywords that will help narrow your search
Type 3-5 words for your Google searches rather than 1-2 or a near sentence
Still Want to Google?
Narrow your results using the sidebar (images, video, etc.) or advanced toggle ex: English only, posted in last year, etc.
Use Quotation marks ex: “7th Century” instead of 7th Century
Try Synonyms ex: popular/common/favourite Click on a site and evaluate it before taking any
notes from it!
Use Reliable Websites
Use Reliable Search Engines Check the GMS Library Website
Consider Wikipedia for BASIC information and then use the links at the bottom for targeted jumps
Consider museums, video sources (YouTube), television channels (History.com), and ethical photo sources (Creativecommons.org)
Cite your Sources
Use Bibme.org or Easybib.com Easy to use online Bibliography creators
Simply pick your Bibliography style (APA, MLA, etc.) Then pick your media type (book, website, etc.) Then paste the website link/book/video into the Cite
It bar Then copy and paste the citation into a word
document
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