Tips & Suggestions For Students

It is easy to waste time and make little progress while searching the Internet, so set some time limits and goals for yourself.
Although it is important to be specific when searching for particular information, surfing the Internet can be a great way to identify a topic or explore several topic ideas. However, once you've identified your topic, be sure to narrow it and formulate specific questions before searching the Web any further. This will help you make your search more productive, avoid wasting time and escape death by drowning in information.
Be sure to note the addresses of good sources. Better yet, if you think the information might change or disappear, print it out.
Start with a source that is known and trusted. For example, if you are researching deforestation, the National Forest Service's Web site would be a good place to start. You can then follow links from this site.
Try using a variety of search engines in order to determine which yields the best results for your topic and purpose, and in order to find a variety of angles.
Remember that a biased or outdated source doesn't make it unusable; you just need to be careful about how you use it. Outdated information may be useful if you want to offer a historical perspective on your topic, but don't present it as currently valid information. A person's opinion may indicate public perception of your topic, but don't present their opinion as fact. And inappropriate sources may still help you generate ideas or find better sources
Try to find and compare several sites in order to determine different viewpoints on an issue, confirm facts, and compensate for bias.
If it takes a long time for the Web page to appear on your screen, you can speed up your computer by turning off the function that allows you to view the graphics on each Website. To do this, choose the Auto Load Images option from the Options menu on your browser. If you find a site for which you want to view the graphics, simply reselect the Auto Load Images option, and then select Reload from the View menu.
Don't use the Internet as a substitute for the library and published sources. The reference desk in the library can still be the best place to start your research process.
Remember that finding information is NOT the end goal. Rather, finding credible and useful information and using that information accurately and appropriate should be your goal.