Internet vs. Hard Copy for Research

My experience with writing academic papers largely comes from using both Internet sources and my nursing textbooks. I use the database system EBSCO to find evidence based research articles for my nursing papers. Subjects like best practice home health nursing and best practice tracheostomy care are examples. I also have many nursing textbooks that I use several times a week. The experience helped me realize some things about research using internet versus hard copies that I had not of before.

If I could only get my information for a research topic from the internet, I think I would be able to find many great sources. The only problem is there is still a lack of depth in the research. Many instructors like a variety of information that comes from sources other than the Internet. These include hard copy sources, video or audiotapes, and even interviews with a professional. Also, not every Internet source out there is reliable. Someone who chooses only to use Internet based information may find himself or herself reading contraindicating information. For example, Google can accumulate hundreds of thousands of “hits” regarding a subject, although the information may vary. In college, I have learned that the most accurate information on the web will come from resource that does not have a web address ending in “.com.” I like using EBSCO because the information is reliable, and I like using my textbooks because of the same reason.

Although I am taking this online OSU class, I go to Umpqua Community College, where I am a second year nursing student and I do spend at least a few hours each week in the library to study. However, this week I was studying in other locations for my midterm, so I went to the library this morning and finished my research by finding the hard copy book I found using my library’s catalog system online. This was something I was not very familiar with, however I did find a four page list of hard copy cultural resources just by typing in “culture.” I decided that I would choose the topic “culture” and relate it to the generation gap. This subject has always been kind of interesting to me and I can see the relation between cyberspace communications. Older generations, especially in certain cultures, tend to not be as familiar with cyberspace communication (Internet). This definitely seems to be a stigma for those in the US. I wanted to see what kind of information I could gather by using UCC’s library, which by the way, if pretty limited. Infact, I could not even find three book sources that discussed generation gaps. So, I had to think outside the book and mustered up some resources that dealt with communicating and culture.

From my library’s catalog, there was only one hard copy resource that discussed culture and generation gap. I looked through other cultural sources, and found that some books were listed, but were not even available at UCC. I then realized that the catalog was a search engine that was connected to all library systems in Douglas County. I could see how this could get frustrating for those trying to look up hard copy resources for research topics. I think this is one of the main reasons why many people resort to the Internet for the majority of their research information. Yet again, the Internet has convenience. Students type their papers on the computer, and the Internet is at the same location, so Internet resources seem most logical.

Something else I discovered at my library was the limited information regarding nursing. Other than the textbooks I own, the selection is very limited. I tried researching culture and nursing, and found absolutely nothing on the catalog. Overall, I prefer to continue doing research how I am used to. I use my textbooks and internet sources from EBSCO about equally. I do get off the couch and into the library; I just don’t browse through the library’s shelves knowing my options are far more limited than elsewhere.

As for my sources regarding my example research paper:

Evensen, D. (2007). “The Generation Gap.” Quill. Retrieved February 12, 2008 at http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=24502587&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live

“A Global Generation Gap.” (2004). The Pew Research Center. Retrieved February 10, 2008 at http://people-press.org/commentary/display.php3?AnalysisID=86

Bergfield, S. (2007). “Bridging the Generation Gap” Buisness Weekly. Retrieved February 10, 2008 at http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=26518950&loginpage=login.asp&site=ehost-live

Mead, Margaret. (1970). Culture and commitment: A study of the generation gap. New York: American Museum of Natural History.

Gabor, Ivor, and Aldridge, Jane. (1994). In the best interest of the child: culture, identity, and transracial adaptation. London: Free Association Books.

Gudykurst, William (1998). Culture and Interpersonal communication. Beverly Hills, Ca: Sage Publications.