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Chapter 4 also provides examples of each of these kinds of sources of information and shows how to locate and search these sources. Finding Web sites Since you are reading this, you are already connected to the Internet. If you are an experienced Internet searcher, you don’t need any more help. However, if you are a beginner in Internet searching, you may want a little help in getting started. We suggest you go to one of the popular search engines, such as:
And type “internet searching” or some similar phrase in the search box on the home page of the site. After hitting ENTER, you will see a list of sites with information about how to search the Internet. One or several of the sites should start you on your way to becoming an expert Internet searcher. Limitations of the Internet Searching for useful Web sites can be fun and rewarding. It can also be frustrating and produce misleading results. Perhaps the greatest limitation of the Internet is the variation in quality and trustworthiness of the content on Web sites. Unlike articles in journals, most of which are independently reviewed for quality or books edited by experts, persons responsible for many Web sites make their own decisions about the content of their sites. As a result, sites vary greatly in the accuracy or value of their contents. Viewers have to decide whether they trust the information provided on any site. Generally, this is not a problem on sites maintained by a majority of academic, professional, governmental, or international organizations. Some of these, however, may have a particular point of view on issues and seek to influence viewers to adopt their positions. So, be warned: You are on your own when viewing and deciding what to use from a Web site. Another problem is overload. For example, a search on Google on August 10, 2007, for information on designing questionnaires produced over 28,300 responses or “hits.” Getting far more responses than you can possibly read happens often. In Chapter 4 we describe some ways you limit the number of responses you get. Sometimes, however, you will not find the expected site. This can happen for a number of reasons. You may have made an error in typing the address. The address has to be typed exactly. An error in even one letter or other character will cause you to get a message that the site cannot be found. After you type in address, read it carefully to make sure it is correct.
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