Websites - GEOL 330/GEOG 308 - Professor Jaecks (Spring 2025) - ARC Research Guides at American River College

Tips for Using Google

Google Search Tips

Use a site-specific search when looking for websites from government or educational institutions.

Type your keywords followed by site:.gov for government websites or site:.edu for educational websites.

Example

Search: oceanography site:.gov

Google will return results only from government websites with the .gov extension.
You can perform this site-specific search in Google's basic search box.

Find it for free from the library

If you run into restrictions while searching on the web -- STOP! Public and academic libraries subscribe to restricted resources so that you can access and use the materials for free. Always ask your librarian for assistance before giving up, or worse, paying for access.

Selected Websites

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO): a scientific society established in 1936 with the goal of advancing the sciences of limnology and oceanography. ASLO is the largest scientific society, worldwide, devoted to either limnology or oceanography or both.
Coastal and Marine Geology Program-USGS: Scientists and staff study coastal and ocean processes, from shorelines to the deep sea, to identify hazards and provide critical information on our nation's resources.
CenCOOS: Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System: a US Government-accredited, regional source for high-quality data, integrated information, and diverse expertise to inform wise and sustainable use of the ocean off Central and Northern California.
MBARI-Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management: Diverse national, state and local partners provide data about US coasts.
NOAA National Center for Environmental Information - Marine Geology and Geophysics: From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Geophysical Data Center, descriptions, and, in many cases, on-line access to bathymetry, geophysics and geological data.
NOAA National Ocean Service: Data, publications, and on-line tutorials related to oceans, coasts. and navigation.
NOAA Ocean Exploration: Another NOAA website for public access to current information on NOAA scientific and educational explorations and activities in the oceans of the world.
Physical Oceanography DAAC: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's site linking users to data on the physical state of the ocean such as surface temperature, ocean surface topography, and a variety of satellite products, some of which are browsable on the site, others must be ordered.
SIMoN: Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network

CRAAP Test Plus

Currency: The timeliness of the information.

clock

When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
Are the links functional?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

puzzle piece

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you will use?
Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

Authority: The source of the information.

People

Who is the author / publisher / source / sponsor?
What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source (examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net)?

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.

target

Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

Money

What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
Do the authors / sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

+Plus: How is the information impacted by the dominant culture?

infinity

Who benefits from the story that is being told?
Whose voices, concerns, and experiences are included? Whose are excluded?
What assumptions are made? What unexamined beliefs does the author appear to have? What is the author unconscious/unaware of?
What power dynamics are at work?

Original CRAAP Test created by Chico State Librarians. Plus questions inspired by the work of Angela Pashia.

Library Research Guides

GEOL 330/GEOG 308 - Professor Jaecks (Spring 2025): Websites