how do your online research skills measure up?

The all-mighty Google is my go-to source when I begin research for an article. I'm not alone. A story in the Guardian (posted on the TFEW listserv), reports on a study that looked at online research behaviour. Of those of us who do use Google, not all use it wisely. The article states:

The report, Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future, found users "power-browsing" or skimming material, using "horizontal" (shallow) research. ...

Many libaries have assumed young students have learned to use the internet for research simply by virtue of their age. But while many are proficient with Facebook and Wikipedia, they may not be information- literate. Many lack lack the skills to differentiate between authoritative information and amateur blogging. ...

Students of all ages need to learn to make independent assessments of the quality of material by looking at the authors' experience, funders, use of sources, and where published. ...

Rowlands suggests in his study that schools are failing to equip students for independent online study. ...

My university never covered how to determine the veracity of online sources, and I know it's not the only one. Many interns I've worked with – as well as, unfortunately, a few editors – are quick to source the first site that pops up in their Google searches, even if it happens to be Joe Schmoe's amateur blog.