Develop with Derby: Finding and Evaluating Sources of Information

One way of finding information, and one that you probably use every day, is to use Google.  Google is the largest and most popular search engine in the world with more than 3.5 billion searches performed by it every day. 

Google can be a great research tool, but be aware that:

• Not everything is available to access from Google. Academic articles may be behind pay walls.
• The top search results are often adverts. Some sites may pay to appear higher in listings.
• Google tailors your search results based on your past history.

It's also really important that you develop critical evaluation skills as you use web-based content. Just like social media, the internet is not quality checked in the same way as academic databases; anyone with access can create credible looking websites and publish content online.  Have a look at the evaluating information section to discover more about developing your evaluation skills