53 Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Databases or Websites?
Sometimes instructors will say: “Don’t use online sources—use library sources only!”
“But library databases are online,” you say to yourself. But, of course, you also understand that when your instructor says “online sources,” they are actually referring to public websites or sources you can easily find using Google.
So, without your instructor’s requirements, how would you decide when to use a library database versus a public website? What are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of each?
definition
A resource accessed electronically through an internet connection. Examples include databases accessed through a library website, Wikipedia, and webpages.
