Research Guides: SOC 210: Introduction to Sociology: How Do I . . .

Google Scholar: Finding Scholarly Information on the Web

Type your search topic (such as "nursing and technology") in the box and then click the "Search" button. Your search results (should be more academic-related, since you are using Google Scholar) will be listed below. Click on the search words to go directly to the website.

Using Websites in Papers

Always check to make sure your site has valid information before including it in an academic paper. Here's a checklist of information.

*Evaluation of Web Resources*	*How to Interpret What You See*
Authoritative: Is the source of the information reputable and reliable? What group or individual authored the site?	Authoritative: Did the author provide an email address or contact phone number? Is there a physical address?
Timeliness: Is the information "stale" or poorly maintained? Are the links up to date?	Timeliness: When was the site last updated? Is the information current?
Accuracy: Can the information be verified? Based on what you already know, does the information seem credible?	Accuracy: Are there references and footnotes to follow for more information? Are there spelling mistakes? Missing punctuation marks?
Structure: Has someone put some careful thought, time, and effort into the site?	Structure: Is the site organized? Do the links work?
Content and Bias: Is the information well-balanced and of good quality?	Content and Bias: What is the purpose of the site? Why and for whom was it written?

Finding Websites

Type your search topic (such as your career interest) in the box and then click the "Search" button. Your search results will be listed below. Click on the search words to go directly to the website.