Research Sources:

Source Mediums, Boolean Operators, Credibility

Challenges, and Databases (AVL)

Dr. Allison Blakeney

Librarian, Park Crossing High School

Objectives

To identify types of research resources (source mediums – print/online)

To describe how to evaluate online information sources

To describe how to use Boolean operators for research

To review the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) – collection of online databases (access and use)

Resources for Research(Types of Sources)

Traditional print sources

Books and Textbooks

Newspapers

Academic and Trade Journals

Government Reports and Legal Documents

Press Releases and Advertising

Flyers, Pamphlets, and Leaflets

Multimedia

Internet-only Sources

Web sites

Weblogs/Blogs

Message boards, Discussion lists, and Chat rooms

Multimedia

https://owl.English/purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/552/

Information Literacy SkillsInformation Literacy is the ability to identify what information is needed, understand how the information is organized, identify the best sources of information for a given need, locate those sources, evaluate the sources critically, and share that information. It is the knowledge of commonly used research techniques.Information Literacy - Home - University of Idaho www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/University of Idaho

Evaluating Online Sources and Credibility Clues

• URL – Uniform Resource Locator (Web Address) .com (commercial entity) .org (nonprofit organization) .net (network – Internet .mil (military) .gov (government) .edu (education

• Author

• Author’s Authority

• Sponsorship

The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation(see handout)

WHO

Who wrote the pages and are they an expert?

Is a biography of the author included?

How can I find out more about the author?

WHAT

What does the author say is the purpose of the site?

What else might the author have in mind for the site?

What makes the site easy to use?

What information is included and does this information differ from other sites?

Created by Kathy Shrock http://www.schrockguide.net/uploads/3/9/2/2/392267/5ws.pdf

The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation

WHEN

When was the site created?

When was the site last updated?

WHERE

Where does the information come from?

Where can I look to find out more about the sponsor of the site?

WHY

Why is this information useful for my purpose?

Why should I use this information?

Why is this page better than another?

Created by Kathy Shrock http://www.schrockguide.net/uploads/3/9/2/2/392267/5ws.pdf

Boolean Operators

Using search engines like Google, Bing, etc. to search the Internet for specific information can be a time-consuming activity.

Boolean Operators are search tools that can organize your Internet searches and save your hours of unfocused searching by using the following Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT, Parenthesis, and NEAR.

Boolean Operator - AND

You can narrow your search and receive fewer and more accurate results by entering the word AND between two words. Your search will only provide results that contain both words.

If you enter women AND doctor, your search will only provide results with both words.

Boolean Operator - OR

If you want to search for pages that may have just one of several words, include OR (capitalized) between the words. Without the OR, your results would typically show only pages that match both terms.Example: world cup location 2014 OR 2018

See Google Search Help

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en

websearch.htm

Alabama Virtual Library (www.avl.lib.al.us)

The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources. It is primarily a group of online databases that have magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research. Through the AVL, an equitable core of information sources is available to every student and citizen in Alabama, raising the level of excellence in schools and communities across the state.

Britannica Online School Edition

EBSCO Search

ERIC (EBSCO)

Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (EBSCO)

History Reference Center (EBSCO)

Review and Evaluation

Name types of research resources (source mediums – print/online)

Describe methods for evaluating online information sources

Describe how to use Boolean operators for research

Describe how to access the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) – collection of online databases (access and use)