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1. Search thoroughly: The first item on your results list is there because it's popular, not because it's the best one for you. 2. Evaluate thoroughly: Is it accurate? Is it reliable? Use the evaluation process to feel confident about the websites you use. 3. Cite correctly: Use the citation examples to make certain you're catching the important details. |
Is it CRAAP?* Evaluating Online Resources (PDF):
Although evaluation is part of Step 3, gathering web information means you are stepping out of the library's recommended resources to wade through millions of web sites. Because of that, we suggest you start honing a few evaluation techniques at this point and consider using this guide.
"When you search the Web, you’re going to find a lot of information . . . but is it accurate and reliable? You will have to determine this for yourself, and the CRAAP Test can help. The CRAAP Test is a list of questions you can ask yourself in order to determine if the information on a web site is reliable. Please keep in mind that the following list of questions is not static nor is it complete. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need. So, what are you waiting for?"
* This CRAAP Test created by Meriam Library at California State University, Chico
Google Scholar provides an easy way to search for scholarly literature across many disciplines and resources. For more advanced Google searching tips, visit Google's Advanced Search tips page or watch this video about Google Scholar, produced by Google.
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2d. Websites may contain great information, but it may be difficult to weed out the good information from the bad. Remember these three key ideas, and you'll steer clear of questionable resources.