“Since everything is on the Internet, I don’t need books..right?” No. You need books more than the Internet. I cannot put enough emphasis on how incorrect this question is. That’s like thinking watching movies is better than reading the book. Personally, I don’t believe in that because I feel that books are so much more accurate. And based off experience, I have never watched a movie that was as accurate as the book. Its the same way with the Internet as well. Things online are based off of books. Just like movies, that information you find online may not always be accurate.
First off, not everything on the Internet is true nor reliable. Say you’re working on a research project that includes finding serious information on a specific topic. While the Internet is easily accessible with the click of a mouse, books are much more reliable than a blog online. The reason being that information can easily be altered online, whereas it is difficult to change written text (even if it is crossed off with markers or written all over, the information is still there making it challenging to argue against).
Second, information on the web is constantly changing, whether it be correct or not. One should always consider where the information is found. If the information is from a reliable source such as an online library, news websites, or from an accredited university or college, then it would be logical to use. However, if it is found some one’s personal blog, chances are, they are more opinions than facts.
But in general, it is always better to get information from a book than to question the quality of the website.
First off, not everything on the Internet is true nor reliable. Say you’re working on a research project that includes finding serious information on a specific topic. While the Internet is easily accessible with the click of a mouse, books are much more reliable than a blog online. The reason being that information can easily be altered online, whereas it is difficult to change written text (even if it is crossed off with markers or written all over, the information is still there making it challenging to argue against).
Second, information on the web is constantly changing, whether it be correct or not. One should always consider where the information is found. If the information is from a reliable source such as an online library, news websites, or from an accredited university or college, then it would be logical to use. However, if it is found some one’s personal blog, chances are, they are more opinions than facts.
But in general, it is always better to get information from a book than to question the quality of the website.
Razan:
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely true! When utilizing information on the internet you must always be sure to properly evaluate the source, otherwise you risk producing faulty and inaccurate research. I also think that in order for research to be well rounded a researcher should consider many different sources including some that may not be available on the internet. If you are researching the history of a disease, for example, you might not find much online beyond the late 1980s but diseases like the plague, whooping cough, and small pox had major historical effects on this country and others and you might not find a whole lot available online. Some of our older journals still aren't available online yet. Still, don't give up on the internet for research! When using an academic database you can generally rely on the information you receive. The key in researching is to make sure you find the most accurate and pertinent information to your question--regardless of what form its found:)
Charlotte Vandervoort, Library Tech I
Health Sciences Library
Razan--
ReplyDeleteAs a researcher, one should be both skeptical yet respectful of information available on the internet. You should always question a websites authenticity and expertise but you can rely on thousands of databases and journal websites that are currently available. The key is being able to distinguish between a true academic source and one that appears to be legitimate but is not! Ms. Moser's class was very good in teaching you how to ascertain whether information is true or false on the net. You have gained some excellent researching skills in your library class. I promise you that those skills will come in handy in your pursuit of a college education and beyond!
Charlotte Vandervoort, Library Tech I
Health Sciences Library