This document outlines an instruction session on evaluating online resources. It includes tips for developing effective search strategies using keywords and Boolean operators. It also provides guidelines for evaluating websites using the CRAP test, which analyzes the currency, reliability, authority, and purpose/point of view of resources. Students are instructed to apply these skills by analyzing example websites and documenting their findings in a shared spreadsheet. Contact information is provided for the librarian leading the session.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/tsem2014mcarthurc1

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook facebook profile!
 http://bit.ly/tsem2014mcarthurc1

3. Agenda
 Pre-class reading Discussion
 Background reading/Internet searching
 Keywords
 Evaluating Resources

4. Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
 What are the pros and
cons of so much
information being online?
 What do you do to be sure
you’re finding credible
resources?
 How do you evaluate the
information you find
while researching?
 Why is it important to
support your argument
with valid sources?
New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May
Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB
Prater, E. (2011) Beware online filter bubbles. TED:
Ideas worth spreading.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_onlin
e_filter_bubbles.html
Dickson, E. (2014) I accidentally started a Wikipedia
hoax. The Daily Dot.
http://www.dailydot.com/lol/amelia-bedelia-wikipedia-
hoax/

5. Web “Pre-Searching”
 Why start your search online?
 Find background information
 Help solidify research topic
 New vocabulary words
 Breadcrumb trail

6. Improve Google
Internet and bully Body image and girls
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
 Cook Library’s Guide to
the Web

7. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 Which age is childhood obesity in the United States the
highest?
 First, break the question down into key concepts:
 Concept #1: childhood
 Concept #2: obesity
 Concept #3: United States

8. Think of more words
 Enter your synonyms here:
 http://bit.ly/tsempoll14
 View results here:
 http://bit.ly/tsempollr14

9. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add
to it once you have done some background
reading.
 Which age is childhood obesity in the United
States the highest?
childhood obesity United States
adolescent
child
young
fitness
BMI
over weight
America
North America
USA

10. Create keywords
 Write your research topic on your worksheet
 Pass it to a group member
 Group member fills in key concepts and synonyms

11. Search Tip #1
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT
internet AND children
 Combining >1 topic
instruct OR teach
 Combining
synonymous terms

12. Search Tip #2
 Use truncation!
 Educat* finds
 Educate
 Education
 Educating
 Educator
 Etc…

13. Search Tip #3
 Phrase Searching…
 Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words
will be searched in the specific order)
 Examples:
 “No Child Left Behind”
 “school reform”

14. Putting it all together…
 Which age is childhood obesity in the United States
the highest?
childhood obesity United States
child* OR adolescent OR young
AND
obesity OR overweight OR BMI
AND
United States OR USA OR North America
adolescent
child
young
over weight
BMI
obese
Americans
North America
USA

15. Create a search strategy
 Using the keywords on your worksheet and the search
tips mentioned here create a search strategy

16. Evaluate what you find
 Go to one of the websites below and analyze it
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7

17. Check for CRAP
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View

18. Check for CRAP
 Currency
 How recent is the
information?
 Can you locate a date
when the resource was
written/created/updated?
 Based on your topic, is this
current enough?
 Why might the date
matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/si
zes/m/in/photostream/

19. Check for CRAP
 Reliability
 What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
 Does the author provide
citations & references
for quotations & data
 Where am I accessing
this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

20. Check for CRAP
 Authority
 Can you determine who
the author/creator is?
 What are their
credentials (education,
affiliation, experience,
etc.)?
 Who is the publisher or
sponsor of the
work/site?
 Is this publisher/sponsor
reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

21. Check for CRAP
 Purpose/Point of View
 Is the content primarily
opinion?
 Is the information
balanced or biased?
 What is the purpose of
the information? Is it to
inform, teach, sell,
entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/
photostream/

22. Group work:
Fill out this spreadsheet
 http://bit.ly/tsem2014mcarthurws
 Enter your names and choose a research topic for the
group
 Find a reliable website
 Find a “bad” website

23. Provide feedback
 Please go here and let me know what you think of the
class
 http://bit.ly/2014techfeed
 Next class:
 Watch 2 more video and prepare for discussion
 Use your keywords to find books/articles

24. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat