Using the Web for Research

1
Using the Web for Research

• Introduction to PsychologyProfessor Kathleen
  WallsPhiladelphia UniversitySchool of
  Continuing and Professional Studies
• Jordana Shane, LibrarianPaul J. Gutman Library,
  Philadelphia UniversityShaneJ_at_PhilaU.edu

2
Handouts

• Resources for PSYCH-101
• PPT Presentationand URL for the presentation
• My business card and contact information

3
Goals for Our Session

• Gain an overview of the WWW
• Gain a frame of reference for finding information
  on the free, public web
• Review some criteria for evaluating information
  found on the free web
• Find some good information for your projects!

4
My Other Goals for Every Session

• Consciously experiencing the research process
• Getting you to use the additional links on your
  handouts
• Providing context and support for future projects
  and research sessions

5
Agenda for Our Session

• Why use the WWW?
• When to use the WWW?
• Finding information on the free web
• Exploring free web resources for psychology
• Evaluating free web resources

6
(No Transcript)
7
Using the WWW

• Why do YOU use the WWW?
• When do YOU use the WWW?
• Satisficing

8
Ways to Find Information on the World Wide Web

• People
• Portal Sites
• Resource Pages
• Subject Directories
• Search Engines
• General Search Engines
• Specialty Search Engines

9
(No Transcript)
10
People and Portal Sites

• I am a person
• I think that the portal site of the APA will help
  you, so I tell you!
• Example of a portal site
• American Psychological Association
• http//www.apa.org

11
Tips for Navigating Large Websites

• Use the structure that is already in place
• Browse the Subjects rather than searching in the
  box
• Look for words such as Browse, Subjects or
  Topics to dig down into the site

12
(No Transcript)
13
Resource Pages

• Example of a general resource page
• Digital Librarian
• http//www.digital-librarian.com

14
(No Transcript)
15
Subject Directories

• Are sometimes very large!
• Might be for the general public, or for a
  specific audience
• Often have a search mechanism
• Are organized by main topics, broken into smaller
  sub-topics
• Explore one of the subject directories listed on
  your handout

16
(No Transcript)
17
Search Engines

• General Search Engine example
• Google - www.google.com
• Use the Advanced Search features
• Use a general search engine to find portal sites,
  directories, or resource pages, by using those
  words as search terms

18
Specialty Search Engine

• SCIRUS is a specialty search engine, programmed
  to find scientific information
• Use the Advanced Search screen
• Only look at Web Results
• http//scirus.com
• How do your results compare to those from Google,
  the general search engine?

19
(No Transcript)
20
Evaluation of Web Resources

• Use the tutorials on your handout
• Finding Information on the Internet A Tutorial
• http//www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Int
  ernet/FindInfo.html
• Evaluate Web Pages, from Widener University
• http//www3.widener.edu/Academics/Libraries/Wolfgr
  am_Memorial_Library/Evaluate_Web_Pages/659/

21
Citation and Documentation

• Philadelphia Universitys Learning and Advising
  Center has guidelines. Click on APA to see
  examples of an APA References page, and tips on
  in-text citation
• http//www.philau.edu/learning
• Finding Information on the Internet A Tutorial
  Style Sheetshttp//www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingL
  ib/Guides/Internet/Style.html

22
(No Transcript)
23
The End

• Jordana Shanes email address
• ShaneJ_at_PhilaU.edu