Finding Reliable Sources for Research, Homework

Jan 11, 2012 Janelle Martel
The More You Know

The internet is a useful resource for students of all ages, as well as parents who are wishing to help their children with homework.  However, with the vastness of the internet comes many unreliable sources and useless information to sort through.

It is important to remember to also look at the main page of a website to determine its reliability; a reliable website will typically look professionally made, have an author name and include a recent update date.  Use these search engine tips to help find reliable sources using search engines without spending a lot of time browsing websites. 

Choose Your Words Carefully

Choosing your search terms carefully is a good way to ensure that your results are relevant.  Use the most precise keyword available.  For example, if you want more information about blue whales, search for “blue whales” instead of simply “whales.” 

Don’t be afraid to use more than one keyword either.  If you need to learn about the blue whale’s diet, then search for “blue whale diet.” 

Also, be sure that the words are spelt properly; improperly spelled search words often bring up unreliable websites. 

Boolean searches can also be used when you need to limit the search results.  These are words that are not searched for but instead limit, widen or define your search results.  “AND,” “OR” and “NOT” are all Boolean search terms that can be used.  You can also restrict your search to certain types of websites.  For example “site: .gov” and “site: .edu” in front of your search term will return government and education websites that contain your search phrase, respectively.  This can be a good way to search for a reliable website.

Use Special Search Engines

Most research experts recommend using different search engines to help get different results when you are unable to find what you are looking for on a certain search engine.  However, there are special search engines designed for specific purposes that may yield better results, depending on what you are doing research for. My favorite search engines for students include:

Thinkquest Library: This is a database of educational websites created by students who participate in Thinkquest competitions, which have teams of students solve problems using their technological and critical thinking skills.  Students can enter search terms, browse websites by age group, or browse websites by subject to sort through this library of more than 8, 000 websites.

Awesome Library: Awesome Library lets teachers, parents and students enter search terms to sort through more than 37, 000 resources.  I like that this website is run by librarians who carefully review each resource to ensure you are finding a reliable resource.

Ask Kids: I find that this website is easier for younger students to use, as you can enter a question you need answer instead of needing to enter search terms.  It is a search engine designed for kids, so there are built-in safe search features. You still do need to be careful that the website you are viewing is factually correct.

Kids Click!: Kids Click! is another website maintained by librarians.  It is safe for kids and is like an online library as you can enter search terms, browse categories, or sort websites by Dewey decimal system classification. This site stands out because you can search for digital media as well as written information.

NoodleQuest: NoodleQuest has a questionnaire that asks questions about the information needed to guide students through a research strategy.  This is a good tool for students new to internet research or who are having trouble finding the information they need through another search engine.