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Website Research

Content adapted from the guide Website Research by Rebecca Hill Renirie, Central Michigan University Libraries, retrieved from https://libguides.cmich.edu/web_research

Website Research

Websites can be used for references in papers just like articles, or books.  Maybe you've been given instructions to find websites that are "scholarly".  While websites usually aren't peer-reviewed in the same way that books or articles are, you DO want to make sure the websites you use have information that is current, relevant, accurate, reliable, and unbiased, and put online by someone who knows what they're talking about.  Use this guide to find out how to check websites for credibility!

URLs

Why do websites end in .com, .org, .edu, or .gov? Find out how to search Google for each type.

Scott Schiller, 2009, https://flic.kr/p/6mu9LE

CRAAP Test

Learn the basics of evaluating a website with the CRAAP test - it's not as bad as it sounds!

Enokson, 2010, https://flic.kr/p/7FvhcL

Example Websites

Put your CRAAP knowledge to the test with these examples of what NOT to use in a research paper.

epSos .de, 2012, https://flic.kr/p/dAPegg

Fake News

Find out more about fake news and how to spot biases and misleading information in news media.

Stuart Rankin, 2017, http://tinyurl.com/n8l7x4g

Wikipedia References

"NO WIKIPEDIA" says your prof, but the information there might lead to websites you CAN use.

mikeedesign, 2008, https://flic.kr/p/4JMquU

Open Access

Free collections of resources online - including some scholarly research articles.

biblioteekje, 2009, https://flic.kr/p/75LVJi

Picture Permissions

All licensed for use under Creative Commons 
https://libguides.sjfc.edu/website-research
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