Using the Web as an Aid in Research - Introduction
Scope
When we use the term Web, we are not including the journal indexes, library catalogues, journals and books that are traditionally accepted as research tools and materials, even though they may be available over the Internet. We use the term Web to mean everything else on the Internet.
Limitations of the Web as a Research Tool
- Some thesis supervisors and journal editors do not consider websites to be proper sources to be cited in a research publication.
- It can be difficult to evaluate the accuracy of claims made on a website. By contrast, claims made in a journal article have undergone a screening process before the article was accepted for publication.
Consequences
- Because of the limitations mentioned above, it is safest to use materials on the Web as a bridge to get additional information that will make it easier to find high-quality research material using the traditional tools and materials (journal indexes, library catalogues, journals and books).
- Powerful uses of the bridge technique include:
- Fixing a bibliographic reference that appears to be wrong, or lacking information. With corrected, or additional, information you may be more successful in getting a copy of the article or book that corresponds to the bibliographic reference.
- Finding background information on a topic that you are unfamiliar with, before going to a journal index or a catalogue. The background information will help you choose an appropriate journal index, as well as good search terms for the topic.
- If you have found some websites that you really would like to use and cite directly (instead of using just as a bridge), then you should evaluate those websites so that you do not find yourself in an embarrassing situation later.
