Finding Credible Sources
Throughout this course, you will be learning decision-making tools and science-based strategies to help you become more knowledgeable about Wisconsin horticulture. These tools and strategies are based on unbiased credible scientific resources. So what does that mean?!?
The internet provides us instant access to information. While this is extremely useful, there are no regulations for quality and accuracy. Almost anyone can publish what they wish on the internet and could potentially be misrepresenting themselves, or representing opinions as fact. It is our responsibility as individual internet users to evaluate the resource or information. As you go through this course, we want you to be skilled at knowing where to go for trusted and accurate information.
We often refer to the resources that we use in FIH as “university research-based information.” These sources have gone through a scientific process to be researched, validated and published. Because of that process, we can be confident that the information is reliable and accurate. We often look to the University of Wisconsin System first for these sources, but it is also appropriate to look to other university sources in neighboring states that have the same climate as Wisconsin. Throughout FIH, many resources will be shared with you, including ones found in your manual, the supplemental materials in the modules, and the Q&As with the Experts webinars.
When searching for answers to your plant and gardening questions, try these tips!
- Search the UW-Madison, Division of Extension Horticulture website and Extension Horticulture Resources page to find links to the labs and services we offer.
- The next time you are searching the internet, try adding “University of Wisconsin” after your search or keywords. You will find that there a fewer results for your search item and the top results will be from University of Wisconsin publications and websites. Or you can try adding “.edu” after your search or keywords. You will find the top results narrowed down to university-based sources.
- Your local county Extension office can also help answer your questions and provide resources. Fast access to your County Extension Office
- Here is a helpful article from Georgetown University Library about Evaluating Internet Resources. It gives you a list of questions to ask yourself when evaluating a particular article or webpage from the internet.
Keeping these things in mind, you will be able to find and use credible resources more efficiently and effectively!