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SOCL 223: Logics of Inquiry (Dixon): Supplement with Web Resources

Spring 2021

 

There are a number of other sources for data and statistics available online; click here to view more suggestions. 

Searching the Web

SEARCHING THE WEB: 

There are many questionable sources of information on the internet -- but there are also some really great ones, if you know where and how to look. 

Google Site Search is an invaluable tool for locating sources on the web which may be scattered across disparate websites. 
 
  • site:*.gov extracurricular* will search for references to extracurriculars across US government websites. 
  • site:*.edu extracurricular* will conduct the search across educational websites. 
 Government websites offer a wealth of sources and information, but can be very unwieldy to navigate. Google Site Search can allow you to search a site more efficiently. For example, if you were hoping to find what the Department of Education has to say about the value of extracurricular activities, you could use site:*ed.gov extracurricular*  to search the Department of Education website for that information. 
 
Just remember to carefully evaluate your sources: 

 WHO is the author? How are they qualified? What bias may they have? 

 WHAT  is the source? Is it a research report? An entertainment piece? An opinion essay?  And what does this tell you about the source's audience, purpose, and potential bias(es) or shortcoming(s)? 

 WHEN was the source published or updated last? Is there information which seems out-of-date? 

 WHERE was the source made available? Who publishes it, or hosts the website? What is the domain extension?

The publisher and/or domain can help you determine a website's origin. For example, .gov is the domain for United States government sites and .edu is for US Educational institutions. Note that not all .com sites are unreliable and not all .org sites are reputable -- .org simply means that the website is for a non-profit group. 

 WHY was this source created? What is the purpose and audience of the source? Who benefits if this source reaches and/or successfully convinces readers? 

 HOW was this source created? Does it refer you to its sources of information, and/or link you to other credible sources? Can you determine if the original information is represented accurately? 

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Social media platforms can be a valuable resource for “primary sources” on ongoing phenomena. Believe it or not, there are even specific guidelines for citing social media as part of your research! 
 
If you're considering how social media could play a role in your project, you may want to consult the sources below: