The Internet (Use with Caution!)

 

Although many people first go to the Internet for information, it is not always the best place for what you need because:

  • Most information on the Internet does not go through a review process. Anyone can publish on the internet without passing the content through an editor. Pages might be written by an expert on the topic, a journalist, a disgruntled consumer or even a child.
  • Some information on the Internet is not free. Many webpages are free to view, but some commercial sites will charge a fee to access their information.
  • Most information on the Internet is not comprehensive. Rarely will you be able to use a search engine on the internet to collect information about your topic from earlier decades and different types of sources.
  • Most information on the Internet is not permanent. Some well-maintained sites are updated with very current information, but other sites may become quickly dated or disappear altogether without much if any notice.

 

The Internet can be a good research source for:

  • learning more about companies and organizations;
  • researching information from the U.S. government;
  • finding quick facts;
  • catching up with current news;
  • gathering opinions of people;
  • and connecting to library resources.

 

The Internet is a good tool for finding information, but it is usually not the best place to begin academic research.