Did you know that there are over 100,000 medical research scientists in the United States? Even for a position like this, the Internet is still one of the most powerful tools.
Regardless of if you conduct online research for your occupation or for a school project, it’s crucial to understand how to find reputable sources. Let’s explore key factors that you need to keep in mind during your online research studies.
Check When the Information Was Published
The date is generally located near the article title.
If you’re looking at a website, it might be in the footer. It’s important to take note of this because information found on the internet can quickly become outdated. You wouldn’t want to use information from an article written in 2002 about technology since so much has changed in such a short amount of time.
Furthermore, some topics such as current events or politics can change rapidly, and you’ll want to be sure that the information is as recent as possible.
That being said, there are certain topics where using older data might not present a problem. For example, if you’re researching the history of a country, using data from 10 or 20 years ago isn’t going to make much of a difference.
Examine the Author or Publisher
If an author’s name is listed, take some time to research them. Do they have any credentials in relation to the topic? Are they employed by a credible organization?
If you can’t find anything about the author, that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is something to take note of. The same goes for the publisher.
If you’re looking at an article from The New York Times, you can be fairly certain that it’s reputable. On the other hand, if you come across an article from a website that you’ve never heard of, it’s worth doing some additional digging.
This is something that applies to all ages and skill levels, including high school research opportunities.
Look for Additional Sources and Citations
When you research online, take note of any sources that are cited. These are generally listed at the end of the article.
Take a look at these sources and see if they’re reputable. If they are, that’s a good sign.
If not, you might want to be wary of the article.
In addition, see if the author has listed any additional sources that you can check out. These are generally listed near the beginning of the article and can give you a better idea of whether or not the information is reliable.
Online Research Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult
As long as you keep the above information in mind, you will discover that finding reputable sources for your online research is a simple process. From here, you’ll be well on your way to gathering quality facts that can support your project.
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