• use criteria to evaluate online information in light of  your own goals and purposes

 
• follow a sequence of steps to carry out a research project that includes online resources.

Nuts and Bolts Criteria are important basic criteria that apply to almost any kind of information. Click on this icon whenever you want guidance for evaluating information. 

Steps are pages intended to help you use online information effectively throughout the research process. Read the Step page that corresponds to where you currently are in your research, or skim the steps for an overview. 

Step pages include issue icons, which link to discussions of barriers, skills, or other topics.  These issue pages are intended to help you work effectively and enjoy what you are doing. Different issue icons appear on different Step pages. 

Note: Feel free to print parts of this module that you wish to carefully review. For close study, printed copies are easier to read than a computer screen. 

This module includes references to both online and print materials so you can explore topics in greater depth. You can access the reference list from any module page. 

To help you integrate the information provided here with your own knowledge and experience, several exercises are included. 

Remember, "nothing will contribute to the quality of your work more than your sense of its worth and your commitment to it." (Booth, Colomb, and Williams, 1995, p.36). 

Have fun and good luck! 

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