Research Guides: Biology: Web Sources

Using Internet Sources:

We all know there is a wealth of information on the internet available on most subjects. The problem with this information is that you don't always know where it comes from or how reliable the source is. It is important to be highly critical of sources found on the internet and to take time to evaluate them before deciding to use them in your projects/papers. Try using the CRAAP Test to evaluate sources you find on the web.

You can also improve the quality of your internet search results by controlling the DOMAIN you search. Many colleges and universities offer a wealth of good resources on all sorts of topics, and you can limit your Google search to just sites like these by including "site:.edu" at the end of your search string. the same trick can be used to scour government and non-commercial websites (site:.gov and site:.org, respectively).

If you have any doubts at all - ASK YOUR PROFESSOR before using the source in your paper!

CRAAP Test: For Evaluating Web Resources

The CRAAP Test is an easy way to evaluate sources NOT found in an Academic Database.

C - Currency: Is the material current?

R - Relevance: Is the material relevant to your topic?

A - Authority: Who wrote/created this source?

A - Accuracy: Are there mistakes or omissions? Misspellings or grammatical infelicities?

P - Purpose: What is the purpose of this information (inform, persuade, get you to buy pants, etc.)?

Suggested Websites:

Here is a small sample of websites suggested for Biology Topics. These websites are maintaned by credible sources, but remember, even these may not work if your professor has asked specifically for scholarly/peer reviewed sources!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds!
All About Birds is a website from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that includes information about watching birds, learning their nesting behaviors, attracting birds, indentifying them, recording observations, and getting involved in bird conservation. The site includes guides, images, maps, sounds, videos, and much more. There is also a link to the Macaulay Library, an archive of animal sounds and videos.
American Museum of Natural History: Learn and Teach
The Learn and Teach section of the American Museum of Natural History website is collection of activities, interactive exhibits, programs for children and parents, educator guides, and more developed by the American Museum of Natural History for learners of all ages who are interested in exploring science. Topics include anthropology, astronomy, biology, earth science, and paleontology.
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation is a voice for wildlife, dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring the future generation of conservationists.
National Institute of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services External Web Site Policy , is the nation’s medical research agency—making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service is a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is an Operating Unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Google Scholar:

If you're going to search Google - and you likely will - you should try Google Scholar. This may help cut down on some of the questionable resources found. If there is a resource in Google Scholar that you cannot access, Ask a Librarian! We'll be happy to help you find it in full text somewhere.