| ing research is something that every student will | | | | students have instant access to reference materials |
| eventually have to do. Research projects are done in | | | | 24 hours a day seven days a week. Students also do |
| English class, in foreign language class, in social studies | | | | not have to travel to get to the reference materials |
| class and in science class. The sooner students are | | | | that are found online. This means that they can find |
| able to master the skills required for conducting | | | | references for their research project any time and it |
| research the better off they are going to be. The two | | | | also means that they can access these references |
| most common places to find resources for research | | | | from anywhere that has a computer an Internet |
| projects are in the library and online. | | | | access. Finally, the Internet provides students access |
| Pros and Cons of Conducting Research in a Library | | | | to multiple databases and sources of information, |
| The library is the traditional place to conduct research | | | | many of which are not going to be found in a library. |
| for a school research project. Libraries contain a large | | | | Just like a physical library the Internet has research |
| collection of books, periodicals and multimedia | | | | limitations. The first limitation is based on the |
| resources. They also have live people there called | | | | student’s ability to access a computer, electricity |
| librarians who are available to help you find the | | | | and Internet access. The second problem is that not all |
| information that you need. Libraries also give you the | | | | information found online is good information. There are |
| opportunity to read hardcopies of the reference | | | | a lot of websites that have inaccurate and incomplete |
| materials that you use and they have photocopying | | | | information. These problems can be overcome by |
| machines available to students so that they can take | | | | focusing research efforts solely on websites that are |
| home a copy of the information that they need. | | | | run by government or other authoritative organizations |
| While libraries are wonderful resources for a variety of | | | | or by using databases that hold peer reviewed |
| reference materials, they do have a few limitations. | | | | journals. |
| First of all libraries are not usually open 24 hours a day | | | | Conclusion |
| seven days a week. This means that your access to | | | | The debate over which method of research is better |
| the research materials is limited to the hours of | | | | library or Internet is a difficult one to decide. Some |
| operation of the library. Secondly, the books in a library | | | | people find it easier to conduct their research in a |
| can be somewhat out-of-date, particularly in smaller | | | | library because they can physically search through a |
| libraries. Finally, libraries can be crowded and access to | | | | reference source instead of having to search it digitally |
| reference materials, computers and other pieces of | | | | and because they have access to a live person when |
| equipment can be limited by the number of people | | | | they need help. Other people are more comfortable |
| who also need to use those items. | | | | working online when they are conducting research |
| Pros and Cons of Conducting Research Online | | | | because it is more convenient and because it |
| The Internet solves many of the problems associated | | | | produces results quickly. There is one more set of |
| with conducting research in a physical library. First of all | | | | people who like both methods of research. |