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Sociology 1001 Library Research Guide: Locating web sites

This section of the Sociology 1001 Library Research Guide will assist you to locate and evaluate Internet resources

Internet Resources | Subject Guides | Search Engines | Evaluation | Selected websites

Internet Resources

References for essay or research topics should be located using the Library catalogue, Electronic databases or Newspapers databases. However, there are resources available on the World Wide Web that are both authorative and of academic credibility. These sources may also be relevant to an area of sociological research.

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Evaluation

Internet sources should always be checked for authority.The following points may assist you to check the authenticity or academic credibility of a website.

Is the publisher/creator of the website:

• Established and acknowledged in the area of research covered by the website
• Is the publisher, creator or institutional or organisational affiliation clearly indicated or included somewhere on the website.
• Does the author/creator of the site have the authority to present or comment on the information included in the website?
• What is the source of the site information? For example if it is statistical information is the source acknowledged?
• Is the purpose of the website apparent. This may give some indication of nature and scope of the content.

Is the subject matter covered by the website

• Comprehensive and current (if required).
• Accurate
• Is the source of the subject matter acknowledged or clearly referenced

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Selected Websites

Examples of authoritative and comprehensive websites include:

National Coalition Against Poverty
http://www.bsl.org.au/
This website includes documents providing statistical information. The source of this information is clearly documented. The purpose of the website and its' creators are clearly indicated.

NATSEM:National Centre for Social and Economic Modellinghttp://www.canberra.edu.au/centres/natsem/
Australian government website use the search option to locate papers on poverty in Australia.

Australian Institute of Family Studies
http://www.aifs.gov.au/
Comprehensive source of information for sociological research on Australian families. This website has a clear statement of purpose. It is searcable by keyword and includes many authoritative and referenced articles relating to the Australian family.

Bringing them Home
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/
Official home page for the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families. This document is available from the Reconciliation and Social Justice Library part of the Austlii website a comprehensive Australian legal resource.

Schaffer Kay, Manne's Generation: White Nation Responses to the Stolen Generation Report Australian Humanities review
http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/archive/Issue-June-2001/schaffer.html
This is an article from an electronic journal that is published by LaTrobe University. There are links to other articles. The publisher is clearly identified.

New South Wales Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment.
http://www.eeo.nsw.gov.au/whatseeo/univrsty.htm
This is a New South Wales government website with documentation relating to equal employment. This website includes links to many other official sources of information including legislation.

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency
http://www.eowa.gov.au/
This Australian government website includes legal information and the full text of reports relating to equal opportunity for women in the workplace.

Parliament of Australia.Dept. of the Parliamentary Library. E-brief. Social Policy Group - Mutual Obligation/Work for the Dole
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/sp/dole.htm
Resource guide compiled by the Parliamentary Library for members of Parliament. The website includes a chronology of the development of work for the dole and mutual obligation.

ACOSS Does "Work for the Dole" lead to work for wages? ACOSS Analysis
http://www.acoss.org.au/upload/publications/papers/info%20223.pdf
This document can clearly be identified as part of the Australian Council of Social Service website. The material presented in the document is clearly referenced.

Australian National University. Demography Program. Population Futures
http://demography.anu.edu.au/Publications/popfutures.php

Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales
http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/

Princeton University. Population Studies Index
http://popindex.princeton.edu/

If you are unsure of the authority or credibility of a web site don't use it. Check with your lecturer or tutor.

Search Engines

Search engines use computerised programs to collect and index the full text of web pages. These pages are stored in huge searchable databases. You can use keywords and advanced search options to retrieve information. Advanced options include the ability to limit a search by geographical area, language or type of institution or organisation within which a document is located. Search engines do not always comprehensively index the Internet. You may have to use to use other Internet search services to locate information. Further information about Search Engines is available from:

The Library Search engine directory

http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/skills/isearch/searching.html

Note: Sometimes a website may not appear to have the information you require. Many websites are complex, consisting of numerous pages and documents. Most large websites have their own search engines. Use this search engine to locate relevant information within the website. In the above examples it may not be apparent that the Australian Institue of Family Studies,NATSEM or the Social Policy Research Centre would have information on your topic. Use the site search option to keyword search for your topic or browse the publications or research sections for papers or reports.

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Subject Directories

Subject directories provide access to collections of websites within a specific subject area. Websites are often selected and organised by librarians or subject specialists. They provide a useful starting point for locating websites.

Useful Subject directories include:

University of Sydney Subject Guides for:

Sociology
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/sociology/

Aboriginal Studies Guide
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/aboriginal/

University of Sydney Social Work guide
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/socialwork/

University of Sydney Social Policy Guide
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/subjects/socialwork/

University of Sydney Law Library. Law Guide
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/libraries/law/

Other Subject Directories

Parliament of Australia. Dept of the Parliamentary Library. Internet Resource Guides

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/index.htm

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