Research Research SkillsSkills

Did You Know?

How are you searching now?

Google and Ask.com allow you to type natural language search strings, in other words, you type how you talk or ask questions.

Example: What is the population of China?

Internet Search Internet Search StrategiesStrategies

Problems with Problems with Natural Natural

Language Language SearchesSearches Often natural language Often natural language

searches turn up too searches turn up too many or too few results. many or too few results.

So, what is the best way So, what is the best way to search?to search?

Boolean Boolean OperatorsOperators

The most effective and The most effective and efficient way for you to efficient way for you to search is to break down your search is to break down your topic into key concepts and topic into key concepts and include one or more include one or more Boolean operators Boolean operators

What is a Boolean operator?What is a Boolean operator?

Boolean OperatorsBoolean Operators Boolean operators are words Boolean operators are words

that include or remove possible that include or remove possible search results.search results.

The three Boolean operators The three Boolean operators are:are:

ANDAND

OROR

NOTNOT

AND AND SearchesSearches

AND searches include AND searches include results that have both results that have both search terms search terms

Example: tigers AND lions Example: tigers AND lions have results that are about have results that are about bothboth tigers and lions tigers and lions

OR SearchesOR SearchesOR searches include results OR searches include results with either one with either one oror the other the other search term search term oror both both

Example: tigers OR lions Example: tigers OR lions would include results that would include results that were either about lions or were either about lions or tigers or possibly both.tigers or possibly both.

You will find MORE results You will find MORE results using an OR search.using an OR search.

Quotation MarksQuotation Marks Another good way to narrow Another good way to narrow

your results is to put your results is to put quotation marks around your quotation marks around your search phrasesearch phrase

The results will be hits with The results will be hits with that exact phrasethat exact phrase

Example: “tiger life Example: “tiger life expectancy” expectancy”

EvaluatingEvaluatingWebsitesWebsites

Why Evaluate Why Evaluate Websites?Websites?

Anyone can publish on the WebAnyone can publish on the Web Many resources are not verifiedMany resources are not verified No editorsNo editors Web often used to give a point of Web often used to give a point of

viewview Market orientatedMarket orientated Mix of entertainment, Mix of entertainment,

information and advertisinginformation and advertising

Evaluate Websites Evaluate Websites Using the CRAAP Using the CRAAP

testtest•Currency

•Relevance

•Authority

•Accuracy

•Purpose

CurrencyCurrencyThe timeliness of the The timeliness of the

informationinformation. .

Is the information up-to-date?Is the information up-to-date? Is the date of publication Is the date of publication

available?available? Is there sufficient information Is there sufficient information

on the topic?on the topic? Are there broken links on the Are there broken links on the

page?page?

RelevanceRelevanceThe importance of the The importance of the

information for your needsinformation for your needs Does the information relate to Does the information relate to

your topic or answer your your topic or answer your question? question?

Who is the intended audience? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an Is the information at an

appropriate level (i.e. not too appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary)? elementary)?

Have you looked at a variety of Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this sources before determining this is the one you will use? is the one you will use?

AuthorityAuthorityThe source of the The source of the

information.information. What are the author’s qualifications What are the author’s qualifications

for writing this web page?for writing this web page? Are the author’s name and Are the author’s name and

credentials listed on the website?credentials listed on the website? Is there contact information on the Is there contact information on the

site?site? Does the URL reveal anything about Does the URL reveal anything about

the author or source?the author or source?          examples: .com .edu .gov .org .netexamples: .com .edu .gov .org .net

AccuracyAccuracyThe reliability, The reliability,

truthfulness, and truthfulness, and correctness of the contentcorrectness of the content Can it be verified in an Can it be verified in an

encyclopedia?encyclopedia? Is it relevant to your topic?Is it relevant to your topic? Does the author indicate where Does the author indicate where

he found the information?he found the information? Is the information free of Is the information free of

spelling and grammatical spelling and grammatical errors?errors?

PurposePurposeThe reason the information The reason the information

existsexists What is the purpose of the What is the purpose of the

information? to inform? teach? sell? information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? entertain? persuade?

Do the authors/sponsors make their Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? intentions or purpose clear?

Is the information fact? opinion? Is the information fact? opinion? Does the point of view appear Does the point of view appear

objective and impartial? objective and impartial? Are there political, cultural, religious, Are there political, cultural, religious,

institutional, or personal biases?institutional, or personal biases?

Evaluate these WebsitesEvaluate these Websites

Sea TurtlesGoogle TechnologyFiber Optic ProductsFirst GeneticsMarsAIDS FactsDog IslandNASA Spaceflight

CitationsCitations Make sure you keep track of Make sure you keep track of

websites you visit so you will be websites you visit so you will be able to complete your able to complete your bibliographybibliography

It is helpful to open a Word It is helpful to open a Word document to copy and paste your document to copy and paste your sites to as you are searchingsites to as you are searching

If you use information from a site If you use information from a site without giving proper credit to without giving proper credit to the author, you are plagiarizingthe author, you are plagiarizing

PlagiariPlagiari

smsm 0

The act of The act of passing off as passing off as one' own the one' own the

ideas or writings ideas or writings of anotherof another

Examples of PlagiarismExamples of Plagiarism• Copying and pasting text from Copying and pasting text from

online encyclopedias or any web siteonline encyclopedias or any web site

• Copying another student’s test or Copying another student’s test or homeworkhomework

• Using photographs, video or audio Using photographs, video or audio without permission or without permission or acknowledgmentacknowledgment

• Using another student’s or your Using another student’s or your parents’ work and claiming it as parents’ work and claiming it as your own your own even with permissioneven with permission

• Getting a research paper, story, Getting a research paper, story, poem, or article off the Internetpoem, or article off the Internet

It’s okay if I don’t get caught!

I was too busy to write that paper!

(getting my hair done, big game, too much homework!)My teachers

expect too much!

I’ve got to get into

Top-Notch College!

My parents want me to

get “A”s!

This assignment was BORING!

Everyone does it!

Excuses

Why is this important?Why is this important?

– Your architect cheated his way Your architect cheated his way through design class? Will your new through design class? Will your new home be safe?home be safe?

– Your doctor cheated his way through Your doctor cheated his way through surgical techniques class? Would he surgical techniques class? Would he remove your appendix or spleen? remove your appendix or spleen?

– Your check out clerk cheated in Your check out clerk cheated in math class? Will he give you the math class? Will he give you the right change from your purchase?right change from your purchase?

What What if:if:

How to Avoid PlagiarismHow to Avoid Plagiarism

• If you have paraphrased someone’s If you have paraphrased someone’s work, (summarizing a passage in work, (summarizing a passage in your own words)-always give credityour own words)-always give credit

• Take very good notes--write down the Take very good notes--write down the source as you are taking notes. Do source as you are taking notes. Do not wait until later to try and retrieve not wait until later to try and retrieve the original sourcethe original source

• Avoid using someone else’s work with Avoid using someone else’s work with minor “cosmetic” changesminor “cosmetic” changes

Know How to ParaphraseKnow How to Paraphrase

• Paraphrasing means putting Paraphrasing means putting an idea into your own words.an idea into your own words.

• Don’t just rearrange the Don’t just rearrange the sentences or replace a few sentences or replace a few words.words.

• Be able to summarize the Be able to summarize the original source without original source without having it in front of you.having it in front of you.

Original Passage He was a very silent man by custom.

Paraphrased Text He was usually a quiet person.

Is This Plagiarism?Is This Plagiarism?

Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary. Paraphrased TextAt the beginning of the Great Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to think that the hard times would be only temporary.

Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary.Correct ParaphrasingThe American people were hopeful the difficult times felt at the beginning of the Great Depression would not last.

Paraphrase the Paraphrase the SentencesSentences

The adolescent maneuvered the bi-wheeled vehicle undamaged.

In the metropolis the recreational area was dilapidated.

The educator removed the unruly student from the environment.

Creating a Creating a Bibliography Bibliography

Using an Online Using an Online Citation GeneratorCitation Generator

www.bibme.owww.bibme.orgrg