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Social Sci LibreTexts

7.8: Online-Only Sources

  • Page ID
    246434
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    Print, visual, and audio sources may be available online or in digital formats, as well as being available through library databases. Other sources exist only online. Below are two examples.

    Wikis

    Icon for wiki shows a web page with a pencil adding writing to it

    Wikis are a type of website that typically allow a community of users to create pages about different topics. The most popular one, and one that you are probably familiar with, is Wikipedia. These websites are usually very simple in appearance and they are unique because they tend to support the idea of a community contributing to sharing information. With this idea, though, is the possibility for information to be shared without review or checked for reliability. Review the Fact-Checking chapter for further information about how to use Wikipedia effectively.

    Blogs

    Blog icon shows a web page with writing and speech bubble

    Blogs can house primary source material as they are often like online diaries for individuals. In contrast to wikis, blogs are typically written by a single person, and that individual is typically sharing their perspectives or experiences about a specific topic. These can be insightful, but they are usually very opinion driven. And just because someone has a blog about a topic does not make them an expert about that topic.


    Sources

    Image: “Blog” by Freepik, adapted by Aloha Sargent, from Flaticon.com

    Image: “Wikipedia” by xnimrodx, adapted by Aloha Sargent, from Flaticon.com


    7.8: Online-Only Sources is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ellen Carey.