Responsible Research: How to Use the Internet Effectively

When it comes to using the internet for research, there is a LOT of gray area. What constitutes plagiarism? Is Wikipedia a valid source? How much of an article can I “borrow” without giving credit? How do I tell a reliable source from a sketchy one? These are questions most students doing research have grappled with. In this article, we will endeavor to answer some of these FAQs.

Can I use Wikipedia for my research?
The short answer is not really. Wikipedia can be a good starting point, but not much more than that. For instance, if you are writing on a topic you don’t know much about, this site can provide a good primer. However, using a Wikipedia article for your main research is a big no-no. The problem is that anyone can edit information in a Wikipedia entry at any time, meaning the accuracy of the article is not always guaranteed. Most teachers will deem information from the site not acceptable for research papers because of the concerns mentioned above and, frankly, because they will just consider you lazy. A good alternative is Oxford Reference Online:
http://www.oxfordreference.com/

Wikipedia itself even warns that “any encyclopedia is a starting point for research, not an ending point.” You can find all of the site’s guidelines for academic use here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Academic_use

What is plagiarism in a research paper?
Plagiarism is a big, scary word that every teacher threatens you with on the first day of class. But what exactly is it and how can you tell the difference between citing responsibly and plagiarizing? The big idea here is that there is a huge difference between paraphrasing (using an idea you have read, but putting it in your own words) and plagiarizing (using another person’s work word-for-word without giving credit.) Plagiarizing is never ok, and teachers can generally tell when you’ve lifted information verbatim versus when you’ve summarized it. To avoid being a plagiarist, be sure to highlight the source of the information as you research so that you can remember to cite it. The same way you wouldn’t want someone to steal your Instagram pic, you shouldn’t steal someone’s writing. Examples of successful and unsuccessful paraphrases and how to avoid plagiarism can be found here:
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase.html

How do I find reliable sources on the internet?
We live in an age of misinformation. We take memes as fact, and things we see on social media as gospel. So in this time of informational uncertainty, how can you be sure the resources you are using for your paper are legitimate? First and foremost, see who wrote the article. Is it by an authority on the subject or is it from someone’s personal blog? A person’s opinionated blog post does not constitute valid source material. Secondly, think about how you got to the page. Using Google will yield very different results than will using a library database. The internet is like the jungle: you have to be careful and watch your back when using it for research. Other factors to consider are: what is the site’s domain? Is the page current? Does the page function well? The point is don’t just assume anything you find online counts as valid material. You have to be picky and make sure what you are using for research is not just some dude’s opinion. Here are some further resources to help you in your journey to find reliable sources:

https://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/Legacy_Cycle/mf_jm/Challenge%201/website%20reliable.pdf

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2010/11/reliable-sources-and-citations

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/02/

In summary, keep in mind as you are researching that just because it’s online doesn’t make it good source material. The last thing you want is to hand your teacher a paper full of other peoples’ opinions that you’ve stolen without giving credit. Be careful, discriminate, and learn how to use the information and paraphrase it. This will help ensure that you’re handing in original work and your grade will certainly reflect the effort that you put into researching responsibly!

Written by Phil Lane

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