Evaluating websites: the TRAAP Test
Searching the the web is a good place to find reports, conference materials, fact sheets, newsletters and policy documents.
Be vigilant when using websites, consider it's Timeframe, Relevance, Accuracy, Authority and Purpose. To remember this, you can use the acronym "TRAAP". You can use the TRAPP checklist below to help you answer questions about a website or any other resource you're reading. You can look at a more detailed description of TRAPP at on this website.
Google: Advanced and Scholar
Google Advanced Search
Make your web search more accurate by using an advanced search, like Google’s advanced search.
Some examples of how Google’s Advanced Search options can help you refine your search:
site or domain search box – you can search one site or limit your results to a domain, use:
.ac.uk for UK universities,
.org.uk for UK charities,
.nhs.uk for NHS webpages,
.gov.uk for UK government websites
file type drop-down box – finds documents in a particular format, such as PDF, Powerpoint, Excel or Word documents.
Linking University Library resources to Google Scholar
Using Wikipedia
Use Wikipedia with care
Wikipedia is useful for background reading and finding additional keywords that can help you find more reliable and cite-able resources in our library search tool.
As a wiki produced by the masses it contains some great information, but can also contain serious, or as in the video here, humorous, errors.
Never cite Wikipedia in your references. Instead find the original article/source in the reference list, read the context check the source is trustworthy and then reference that in your assignment instead.