Panning for Information

A COMTECH98 seminar presented by J. Pennelope Goforth of CybrrCat Productions!
Panning for Information: Using Internet Discussion Groups

MAILING LISTS
NEWSGROUPS
NETIQUETTE
RESEARCH RESOURCES
   Search Engines
   Evaluating Sources
   Citing Electronic Sources

The Tao of Good Research

There are no secrets to doing research.
There are many secrets to misguided research.
Research is simple; cultivating it is difficult.
hard work develps discipline,
Discipline developes intent,
Intent develops patience,
Patience develops faith.
Therefore,
Trying to research without hard work, you lack skill.
Trying to research without discipline, you lack consistency.
Trying to research without intent, you lack focus.
Trying to research without patience, youlack timing.
Trying to research withoutfaith, you lack energy.
Likewise,
Skill develops consistency
Consistency develops focus,
Focus develops timing,
Timing develops energy.
This is the esence of good research.
~ by Dean Tudor

Why Research Discussion Groups on the Internet?

You can identify the experts in the field

You are alerted to what’s new in the field

You can find breaking news and the latest updates

It can help you broaden a limited topic or narrow down a broad one

You’ll be exposed to a wide range of voices in the field

You’ll be able to use email to verify sources and information

You’ll be able to set up interviews or do follow-ups with your sources

You will be able to find links to analog sources in libraries & archives

You will be able to find graphics, sounds, and perhaps even quicktime

movies to illustrate your research with.

You will not be limited to US sources

What Is a Mailing List?

Electronic mailing lists provide special interest forums for Internet users to participate in discussions or receive information on thousands of topics. The software responsible for the management and distribution of these mailing lists to thousands of subscribers are commonly called "list servers". A list server automatically distributes an e-mail message from one member of a list to all other members on that list. Listservs have been likened to an ongoing international conference.

How Do I Use a Mailing List?
Where Do I Find a Mailing List?
What Is Mailing List Netiquette ?

What is a Newsgroup?

Short for User Network. One of the busiest parts of the Internet, Usenet newsgroups are electronic discussion groups in which you can share information and opinions with people all over the world. You can access them with a desktop news reader such as Netscape Navigator. There are about 10,000 newsgroups world-wide. USENET was founded in 1979 by grad students at Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

How Do I Use a Newsgroup?
Where Do I Find a Newsgroup?
What Is Newsgroup Netiquette ?

Citing Electronic Sources

Citing your sources from the Internet is basically the same as citing your sources from print media: both MLA and APA as well as The Chicago Manual of Style support style sheets for FTP, WWW, TELNET, GOPHER and other sites. While this doesn't address the problem of the disappearing site, it at least does offer the reader/writer a place to begin.

Where Do I Find Citation Sources?

Evaluating Resources Found on the Internet

A topic for a seminar all by itself! But, not to worry! Paul Hensel advises: The Internet offers near-instant access to a variety of information that you might find helpful in your research. Yet because anybody can post information on the Net, and because most on-line information does not have to pass any standards of peer review (unlike conventional published resources), there is a very real risk that on-line resources can lead you astray.

Where Do I Find Evaluation Reources?

Hey, it's been a pleasure sharing this information with you! Happy hunting on the Internet. And, throughout your adventures in cyberspace: May the Force Be with You! J.P. Goforth

Mailing Lists | Newsgroups | Research Resources | Netiquette

Thanks to Robin Towland and Dave Kinnaman who wrote the text I use in this course, Researching on the Internet.
Last Modified: February 2, 1998.
©1998 J. Pennelope Goforth