The Explorers Getting Started with Online Research

1
The ExplorersGetting Started with Online Research

• Information Technology for the Public Sector
• October 5, 2006
• Ken Johnson, Sarah McInerney,
• Kyle Sapkiewicz, and Lisa Bassilios

2
Agenda

• Quick Overview of Chapter
• Case Study
• Introduction to Debates
• Group Research
• Debates
• Conclusions and Take-Aways

3
Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Research

• Online Research can be more useful, with more
  current information than research from books
  alone
• Web has easier access
• Scan multiple sources quickly as well as
  multimedia sources
• Reliability issues of online sources
• Bias and lies online
• Inconsistencies

4
Primary vs. Secondary Sources

• Primary Source A person who provides information
  based on direct knowledge or experience
• Secondary Source A person providing information
  without direct knowledge of or experience with
  the topic
• Helps in assessing the authenticity of sources

5
Tips for Online Research

• Assess primary data
• Look at photographs and film clips
• Consult the dictionary
• Consider multimedia resources to form your own
  opinion based on more than printed words
• Google searches, site searches, and page searches
• Connect and link sources/relate gathered material
  

6
Case Study

• Research Questions
• What legal rights to privacy do Internet users
  hold?
• In what regards have privacy rights been
  curtailed since 9/11?
• The Investigative Process
• Generalized search narrow and highly
  reputable data
• Act like a detective following leads
• Use various sources (e.g. CRS, ACLU, and
  Academic Source)
• Ask questions during process to define meaning
• Bookmark and revisit Webpages

7
Case Study
8
Case Study

• Findings
• Many of the privacy acts prior to 2001
  safeguarded public against government but not
  commercial misuse
• There is no universal cross-sector public policy
  for privacy protection
• Constitution only protects citizens from
  government evasion
• Patriot Act allows government to investigate
  citizens for any websites visited
• FTC encourages posting of privacy statements.
  Firms are obligated to follow their internal
  policies. Voluntary system
• 80 percent of Windows operated home computers
  have been infected with viruses

9
Lets Test it Out!

• Debate Teams 4 Groups, 2 pro 2 con
• Ground Rules for Debate
• 1. Must cite source for points and counterpoints
  (e.g. according to)
• 2. Sources must be credible and NO BLOGS!!
• 3. Anyone can talk, but please keep it civil and
  do not interrupt your fellow classmates while
  they are speaking. Be civil, but dont hold
  back!
• 4. Once time has elapsed for researching topic,
  no further researching is allowed

10
Lets Test it Out!

• Two Topics
• Right to Privacy Do citizens have a right to
  expect pre-9/11 privacy rights in a post-9/11
  world?
• E-Democracy Does E-Democracy promote or restrain
  democracy?
• Think about your argument and what sites would
  support your point
• Credible endorsers of your points
• Be careful of false or misleading sites

11
Concluding Comments

• What did you learn? How can online research hurt
  you if not used correctly?
• How has online research affected controversial
  issues/topics?
• Loads of Information at your fingertips.Could
  you have gone to the library and gathered this
  much info to support your argument?