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Google
Google
The Good:
The Good:
It's easy to use.
You get fast results.
A lot of information is free.
The Bad:
The Bad:
Anyone can publish to the web.
There is no sortable organization as to how the results are displayed.
There is little accountability for credibility and accuracy.
Sites and information sometimes change or disappear.
It's hard to limit your search to just what you want.
Many journal articles found on the open web only provide abstract information (a brief paragraph summary); you need to pay for the full-text article.
Your search results are the result of algorithm that may be influenced by your location, search history, as well as other factors.
What the internet is helpful for:
What the internet is helpful for:
It's quick for finding contact information and current news.
You can find texts in the public domain.
It's a great starting point for research.
Research Databases
Research Databases
The Good:
The Good:
The articles are fact-checked, reviewed by editors, or peer-reviewed for accuracy.
The data is organized and easy to search.
You can easily filter your results by date, author, topic, and much more.
Database articles are fairly permanent--not likely to change quickly.
The library pays for your access to these databases.
The Bad:
The Bad:
Each database has a slightly different organization.
We often go first to our favorite search engine (Google, Bing, etc.), and breaking habits can be hard.
Some databases are password protected, so it takes an additional step to access the information.
What research dabases are most helpful for:
What research dabases are most helpful for:
You can find scholarly information not found on the open web.
Some databases focus on specific topics, simplifying your search.
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