1. How to Research– Finding RELIABLE Information

2. Getting Started  Where is the first place you go when you start researching a project?  Google, Wikipedia, YouTube  But how reliable are those sites?  How do you know the information you are reading comes from a reliable resource?

3. Warnings with Googling  Anyone’s website can come up  Whether it’s a 10 year old’s website or a Doctor’s  Wiki’s like Wikipedia can be changed by anyone  They are open source documents  Blogs and Youtube videos are often personal opinion and have a lot of bias in the content

4. Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test  CURRENCY  When was the information published or last updated?  Have newer articles been published on your topic?  Are links or references to other sources up to date?  Is your topic in an area that changed rapidly, like technology or popular culture?  Bad Example Bad Example  Good Example Good Example

5. Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test  RELEVANCE  Does the information answer your research question?  Does the information meet the stated requirements of the assignment?  Is the information too technical or too simplified for you to use?  Does the source add something new to your knowledge of the topic?  Bad Example Bad Example  Good Example Good Example

6. Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test  AUTHORITY  What are the author’s credentials?  Is the author affiliated with an educational institution or prominent organization?  Can you find information about the author from reference sources or the Internet?  Do other books or authors cite the author?  Bad Example Bad Example  Good Example Good Example

7. Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test  ACCURACY  Are there statements you know to be false?  Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?  Was the information reviewed by editors or subject experts before it was published?  What citations or references support the author’s claims?  What do other people have to say about the topic?  Bad Example Bad Example

8. Checking Reliability – The CRAAP Test  PURPOSE  Is the author’s purpose to sell, persuade, entertain, or inform?  Is there an obvious bias or prejudice?  Are alternative points of view presented?  Does the author omit important facts or data that might disprove the claim?  Does the author use strong or emotional language?  Bad Example Bad Example  Bad Example Bad Example

9. Still Want to Google?  FIND GOOD KEYWORDS!!!!!  Before you start googling, make sure you know what your search terms will be  Use articles, teacher lessons, or your prior knowledge to find keywords that will help narrow your search  Type 3-5 words for your Google searches rather than 1-2 or a near sentence

10. Still Want to Google?  Narrow your results using the sidebar (images, video, etc.) or advanced toggle  ex: English only, posted in last year, etc.  Use Quotation marks ex: “7 th Century” instead of 7 th Century  Try Synonyms ex: popular/common/favourite  Click on a site and evaluate it before taking any notes from it!

11. Use Reliable Websites  Use Reliable Search Engines  Check the GMS Library WebsiteLibrary Website  Consider Wikipedia for BASIC information and then use the links at the bottom for targeted jumpsWikipedia  Consider museums, video sources (YouTube), television channels (History.com), and ethical photo sources (Creativecommons.org)

12. Cite your Sources  Use Bibme.org or Easybib.comBibme.orgEasybib.com  Easy to use online Bibliography creators  Simply pick your Bibliography style (APA, MLA, etc.)  Then pick your media type (book, website, etc.)  Then paste the website link/book/video into the Cite It bar  Then copy and paste the citation into a word document