Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Spring, 2000

Instructions: Answer the following questions. Your comments need not be long or complex, but they should reflect some careful thought on your part.  Grading will be on the basis of how well you demonstrate understanding of the assigned material, and the your clarity and rigor of your answers. When you are satisfied with your answers, click the SEND button below, and then CLEAR your responses. After the assignment is complete, everyone's comments will be posted, so be aware that you will be identified with your work. Also, note that your answers should be own work and represent your own analyses.   You may want to look at the questions and compose your answers offline before returning here to enter them.

Name (first, last):

Class Password:

Searching the Web:

1.  Perform a search for social psychological information using one of the search engines described in the web page "How to Search the Web." or another commonly used engine ("Social Psychological" is interpreted broadly here  -- the target of your search could be any topic of relevance to our course).

(a) What was the search engine you used and the term you used in the search?

(b) How many documents were returned? 

(c) Use one of the techniques described to narrow the search and enter the revised search term here:

(d) How many are returned this time?

(e) Comment on the differences in the search results.

(f) Use the same phrase as in (a) and enter it in a second search engine.  What is the name of the second search engine? 

(g) In what ways are the results using the two engines similar and in what ways are they different?  For example, are the same documents top in the returned list?  Comment on the relative usefulness of the two engines.   Record your analysis in the space below.

2.  Using the criteria and tips for evaluating quality of information contained in Evaluating Internet Information and in Evaluatiing Web Resources, locate a psychological web page that illustrates high quality information.  The site can be one you found in your searches for #1, or perhaps one that is listed in the R.E.A.L. Sites section of our Perspectives text.

(a) Copy its exact URL here:

(b) Briefly explain why it should be considered a high quality site -- exactly what criteria are you applying (name them) and in what ways does the site fit the criteria?

Explanation for High Quality:

(c) Now locate a site dealing with the same topic that represents low (or at least questionable) quality.  Again, use the criteria and tips in the readings in making your selection.  Copy its exact URL here:

(d) Briefly explain why it should be considered a low (or questionable) quality site -- what criteria are you applying (identify them) and in what ways does the site fail to measure up?

Explanation for Low Quality: