If someone asks a question, don't tell them something along the lines of "just Google it...it only takes (insert stupidly low amount of time) to research the answer." That is the worst advice ever.*
(*Note: I am an educator with plenty of privilege. This post was written out of frustration toward other privileged educators who seem to think that this response is appropriate when someone asks them a genuine question. I honestly never thought anyone would pay any attention to it. I plan to better preface this post when I get a chance to sit at a computer, but right now I have to parent!
Thank you to all for your responses!)
1. Googling something is not research. It's a starting point.
2. Most people will just read whatever little piece of information that Google's algorithms pull up for them. This information is not always correct and can be skewed based on previous data harvested. Very few people will not actually click on any of the links for further reading to see if what was presented was correct, the full story, or completely accurate. This is a bad habit to get into and not how anyone should go about collecting information.
3. If you really think it only takes whatever arbitrary amount of time to find the answers to everything, using Google, then you are very misinformed on how research works and should not be giving research advice. Real research can take a painstakingly large amount of time and effort. You need to use multiple resources. Many of those resources should be primary resources if you want to get the most accurate or robust picture of the topic about which you are inquiring.
4. If you are at a site that professes to be a news site, please make sure that they have links to their resources embedded in the article or source citations listed somewhere else. This can be within that article or page, or it may be at the end. If the article's author does not do this, then you should be questioning the integrity of what you are reading. If they give sources, go and check them out. Sometimes what is reported is not the full story.
5. If you don't understand the terminology or vocabulary used in what you are reading or hearing, then you should also be researching that as well.
6. If you can, personally contact the person or organization from whom you are getting information from. Sometimes they can give you much more than just what is presented online or in other media.
7. Recognize that information and data is always changing, particularly in science or technology. Look at the dates for when the article or study was published. Seek out the newest information. See if there are any studies that lie in contradiction to the ones that you are reading, and gather background information on the individuals that did those studies.
8. History is not a bunch disconnected events. Everything in the world is connected, despite place and time. If you are not looking into the events that preceded or followed, you could be missing a lot of the context.
9. Recognize that your own personal background and cultural norms can impact the way you perceive and interpret any information you come across. Make sure to recognize and dissect that as well. If everything you come across in your research sits in support of your beliefs, does not make you feel uncomfortable, does not make you question your opinions, or you are not compelled to do further research, then you are likely missing something.
10. Research on any topic really never ends. It is an on going exercise in growth of knowledge and self. Everything you learn should lead to new questions and new avenues of inquiry. It's a rabbit hole into a wonderland of knowledge and curiosity.
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