PLUS + E: help and support with every stage of your research!
Using online sources to find the information you need
This page can help you to: consider different types of online resources; evaluate online resources for yourself so that can identify high-quality information
Types of online resources
How can I learn to recognise high quality online information?
The resources below provide evaluations of different types of resources, This is very general, because some types of resources will be better than others, depending on the topic you are investigating. Click on the link beside each picture to download evaluations of each of these types of online resources.
Web Pages
Click here for the evaluation
Wikipedia
Click here for the evaluation
More support for independent learners
Online help – Wikipedia – the pros and cons
A short, but really useful video on how best to make use of Wikipedia, from Newcastle University Library
https://sixthformstudyskills.ncl.ac.uk/evaluating-sources/video-wikipedia-pros-and-cons/
Online help – Wikipedia – beneath the surface
This short YouTube video from North Carolina State University tells you more about how anyone can become a contributor to Wikipedia
Blogs
Click here for the evaluation
YouTube
Click here for the evaluation
Social Media
Click here for the evaluation
More support for independent learners
Online help – Evaluating content from social media
You Tube videos from Gumberg Library, Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania You Tube look at how to evaluate information from Facebook and Twitter, as well as how to evaluate photos found online for credibility
The videos have Creative Commons licences
https://youtu.be/JzAPeerSshg
This page, from the University of Washington Library, has great resources on evaluating social media content
BBC Bitesize give some really useful advice on verifying images and videos on social media
Learning Resources
More about evaluating online information
Click here to download a presentation which looks in depth at online information, and helps you to decide which are the best resources to use
Remember, you can use resources like the ones below to evaluate resources for yourself
Learning Resources
The PARRC test
Try the PARRC test! Download copies of the resource below, which is based on the CRAAP model used across the world. Ask yourself some questions about the resources you’re planning to use. When you have assessed two or three, it will be obvious which resources are the best ones to use.
Download your own copy of the PARRC test here, and use it to evaluate resources for yourself.
More support for independent learners
Online help – Evaluating sources of information
Useful mind maps from Newcastle University Library which you can download and use to examine the positive and negative aspects of using various types of resources. The page includes an excellent range of other resources which you can use to learn how to evaluate information sources highly recommended
Online help – Should I trust everything I read on the web?
BBC Bitesize provides straightforward advice on using online sources to find information. Includes a helpful, short video
