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Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) Student Science Library Information Guide: Start Your Research

A collection of resources to aid in researching questions, exploring topics, and creating reports or presentations about energy use in the fields of engineering.

7 Steps of Research

1. IDENTIFY & DEVELOP (A) TOPIC
2. FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
3. LOCATE BOOKS
4. LOCATE ARTICLES, PRIMARY & IMAGE SOURCES
5. EVALUATE SOURCES
6. CITE SOURCES
7. ASK FOR ASSISTANCE (Librarians & Teachers are here to help)

 


 

How do I evaluate / analyze websites?

When considering a resource you should ask:

1.  Accuracy: 
     Is the website free of mistakes and errors?

2.  Authority/Credibility: 
     What is the quality of the website?  Who is the author?  What is the author's credentials?

3.  Objectivity/Reliability: 
     Can I find the same information from another source?

4.  Currency/Date: 
     When was the information published or produced?

5.  Source: 
      Is the information on the website from the point of origin or from a main body of work?

 

 

Some examples on how to evaluate internet resources:

Evaluating Internet Resources Johns Hopkins University
How to Evaluate Websites (video)

Savvy Info Consumers: Internet Domains University of Washington