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Cyberlaw Assignment
Technology & Legal News | Finding Reliable Web Sites
Define Terms
|
Research Articles |
Books/Ebooks
Web Sites/Engines
| Evaluation of Web Sites
Research Questions
Locate a recent
technology and law topic.
How can you judge
reliability of web
sites for legal & technology topics?
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Starting
Research
Defining Your
Terms and Finding Keywords.
- First, make sure you understand
your key research terms. For example, if you are not sure what dry goods
means or includes, look it up in online or print dictionaries:
http://www.onelook.com
- Be prepared to find and use
alternate, narrower or broader keywords as you do your
research. For example:
- computers or
software (narrower term)
- PCs or computers (broader term)
- human resources or personnel
(alternate terms)
- legal or law
(alternate terms)
- Suggested Keywords:
online
contracts, computer crime, high technology foreign workers, e-commerce
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Starting
Research
Define Terms
Research Articles
Books/Ebooks
Web Sites/Engines
Web Site Evaluation
Research Questions
Locate a recent
technology and law topic.
How can you judge
reliability of web
sites for legal & technology topics?
|
Starting
Research - Journal Articles
(For industry background,
consumer behavior, product/marketing, competitors, etc.)
Business
Journals – Library Online Databases.
Search numerous reliable business publications via
databases for information about products, industries and companies. View
full texts of articles:
Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete, Custom Newspapers & Regional Business News
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Go to
SPC Library (http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/)
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On top
sidebar, click on
Academic Search Complete (or click here)
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Enter
name: spc and password:
____
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Click
on Link to all EBSCO databases
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Check
box for [x] Academic Search Complete and [x] Business Source Complete and click on Continue (you can also check Regional Business
News)
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Type in keywords
– Make sure to check box [x] for
Full-text
 Custom
Newspapers Database.
(For national and regional news)
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Go to
SPC Library (http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/)
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On top
sidebar, click on
More Articles (or click here)
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Enter
Your Student ID number, without dashes
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Click
on Custom Newspapers & Connect to Databases
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Type in keywords
(example: technology and law)
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Click
on article to view, print, email or download
Business
Publications – Free Databases.
Findarticles.com
(http://www.findarticles.com)
is a free periodical database which includes numerous reliable business
publications in full text of articles:
Note:
for better search, use Search pull down menu (at left ) to choose
“Business/Fin.” Category
Individual
Publication & News -- Web Sites.
Less
comprehensive than databases, you can search individual publications or news
sites:
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Starting
Research
Define Terms
Research Articles
Books/Ebooks
Web Sites/Engines
Web Site Evaluation
Research Questions
Locate a recent
technology and law topic.
How can you judge
reliability of web
sites for legal & technology topics?
|
Starting Research
- Web Sites
The following list of government, business and
industry web sites generally provide reliable information for business
research:
Legal News
Business &
Government Industry Sites
Search Engines
No one search engine indexes all information
available through the Internet. For example, Google does not search
for very large files. Use more than one engine in your search.
Single Search Engines
MetaSearch Engines (don't always
display return results from some engines. For good search, use individual
search engines)
Search Engine Tools:
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Starting
Research
Define Terms
Research Articles
Books/Ebooks
Web Sites/Engines
Web Site Evaluation
Research Questions
Locate a recent
technology and law topic.
How can you judge
reliability of web
sites for legal & technology topics?
|
Web Site Evaluation Criteria
The variety of information on the Internet and the lack of monitoring of
this information make it difficult to evaluate Internet sources for
research. Any individual or organization can put up web site
information, which may or may not be correct. It is up to a researcher
to judge the reliability of web site information. Several criteria need
to be examined to help ascertain this:
Authority and Reliability:
Look for information about organizations or individuals sponsoring the
web site and their purpose. This information is usually listed (or
linked) somewhere on the front-page. Also, look for information about
authors of individual articles or reports and see if the articles were
published elsewhere. It is optimum if authors are considered experts in
their subjects or the articles come from (or are also published) in
respected sources. Web site contact information should also be provided
on the site. It is also helpful to know if the web site is recommended
by trustworthy sources (listed on other reliable sites, recommended by
instructors, etc.).
For further information, look at the URL of the web site address. The
domain (last part of URL) indicates what type of sponsor the web site
has and may help indicate authority:
| Domain |
Type |
Example |
| .com |
Commercial/business
Personal |
http://www.nike.com
http://www.geocities.com
|
| .gov |
Government |
http://www.fedworld.gov |
| .edu |
Education |
http://www.spcollege.edu |
| org |
Organization |
http://www.madd.org |
| .net |
Network
related (business,
education or organization) |
http://www.educationamerica.net/
|
| .mil |
|
http://www.navy.mil |
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Government, education and some professional or organization sponsored
sites are generally considered reliable.
Currency:
Web sites must be updated regularly to reflect currency and accuracy.
To find the latest update, check at bottom of the front page. Also look
for dates on individual articles you are using for
research.
Scope of Coverage:
An informational web site should have thorough and in-depth articles and
information. Additional web links should be relevant to the subject.
Objectivity:
Web site sponsors and purpose should be clearly identified. If an
organization’s purpose is advocacy of specific issues (pro animal
rights, against death penalty, etc) this may affect the information
presented. The web site should present all points of view on an issue.
It should not take sides or show bias on issues. The tone and
presentation of the site should be professional.
As more informational resources become available on the web, it will
become increasingly important to be knowledgeable about the reliability
of web site resources. Becoming familiar with the accepted Internet web
sites and resources in one’s professional field will become essential.
Other Sites for Evaluating Web Sites for Reliability
Finding out about web sites (who
they are, etc.)
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Starting
Research
Define Terms
Research Articles
Books/Ebooks
Web Sites/Engines
Web Site Evaluation
Research Questions
Locate a recent
technology and law topic.
How can you judge
reliability of web
sites for legal & technology topics?
|
Starting
Research -Books (Online and
Library)
Library. SPC Library Research Collection – Industry Background.
The following reference books provide
invaluable information and are available at SPC Library:
Law
Section -- There are numerous legal dictionaries and encyclopedias that
address law, business and technology in Section:
REF KF390.5.C6 H55 2002.
Online Books
(although there are not be the same titles as physically owned by the
library, there are some business online books availabe:
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