Why Not Google? 5 Things Students Should Consider for Academic Research

Consider:

1. There is a difference between search and research (see Myon book, Computer Search and Research). In addition, Google (and other free search engines) are designed for searching (often showing top searches for paid and/or popular sites) and academic and professional databases were designed for research (schools, libraries, and groups pay to have access to the information compiled by professionals and experts).
   
   
   "... Searching is the first step, when yo use a computer to find information. Research is the second step--looking at the information carefully, to decide whether it is useful."

2. Current research projects are building a foundation for high school credit work, collegiate, and/or professional research. Aside from gaining knowledge about the topic, another purpose is to acquire research skills based on best practices that will save you time and help you to more likely obtain accurate information. With the Internet as a common tool, students often don’t have the skills to complete high level research observed often in college settings.  (Articles available, linked as handouts)

3. Consider fair use of material (use of words, pictures, video and audio (example: 10 % of a song or no more than 30 sec), paraphrasing, quoting with limits (consider fair use and ask your teacher), and citing sources to avoid plagiarism. (ask your librarian).

4. Using Google (or use another search engine) instead of going straight to an available library database (example: Proquest/eLibrary at FHSA OPAC Links: http://www.library.arkansas.gov/landing-page/details/databases-by-title), means you should master boolean operators (AND, OR, NEAR, NOT)  and other strategies.  Know that research is often not a quick activity.  With this in mind, quicker may still mean after a time of looking, reading, and trying different strategies that some professional may have already done for you in an available database.

5. Choosing to Google (or use another search engine) instead of going straight to a professional or academic database (example CALS A-Z: https://www.cals.org/research/databases-atoz.aspx), requires using a teacher recommended plan to ensure you have reliable sources and consider that some professionals may have already saved you some steps/time in an available database..
    
   
   

Previous Post Addition (10.25.17)
Review Library Procedures
http://fhsalmc.blogspot.com/p/rules-and-procedures.html
(A few reminders and updates: 1- Be sure to sign in by the workroom door everytime you come into the library and are not with a class. 2- If for some reason there is no adult present in the library, you should return to class immediately (usually there will be a sign posted on the front door so look for it as well).


Handouts  (login to view draft)
https://docs.google.com/a/lrsd.org/document/d/18hmXV4hRkoS9-Fz_CMoV_FKohzeVQkKXOsBrheyS7Sw/edit?usp=sharing 

Challenge:

List some of your favorite sites for research and use the chart provided to see how well these sites score for credibility.

References 

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