Jennifer Chess Company Librarian - A2, B2, C2 jennifer.chess@westpoint.edu
Finding Info
Why Academic Databases Remain Essential for Scholarly Research
INFORMATION HAS VALUE
SURFACE WEB
9.99%
Google, Bing, Wikipedia
90%
DEEP WEB
Full text not accessible via search engines
DARK WEB
0.01%
only partially searchable ; must use dark web browsers
TLDR: GO WITH DATABASES
Find SCHOLARLY SOURCES through SCOUT
Remember!
As scholars, it is imporant to recognize that research is an iterative and recursive process.
The surface web, also known as the clear web, is the portion of the internet indexed by standard search engines like Google, Bing, and Wikipedia.
As of early 2025, it comprises over 1.16 billion websites across 273 million domains, reflecting its vast and publicly accessible nature It is great for browsing websites and social media. Despite its size, the surface web is just a fraction of the total internet, with the majority of content residing in the less accessible deep web.
❌ Weak question: "What do people think about social media?"
Opinion-based, no clear academic or practical value ✅ Strong question: "How has Instagram's algorithm change in 2023 influenced engagement rates for educational content creators in higher education?"
Addresses current issue, has practical implications, connects to specific field
Examples
"For instance, include events like the Pearl Harbor attack and D-Day"
"Such as 'Step 1: Download app, Step 2: Create profile, Step 3: Set fitness goals'"
"Example table header: Region | Sea Level Rise | Economic Impact | Adaptation Measures"
"Example post: 'Did you know our t-shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles?'"
Databases provide verified content beyond surface searches.
Academic databases and deep web resources offer researchers access to peer-reviewed content that comprises the vast majority of scholarly information online. These resources include specialized collections like, JSTOR, and Scopus, containing full-text articles and research data invisible to standard search engines. With advanced search functionalities, citation tracking, and rigorous fact-checking, academic databases ensure research accuracy and reproducibility while providing current, authoritative sources essential for high-quality academic work.
❌ Weak question: "What are all the effects of climate change on Earth?"
Far too broad: Impossible to study ALL effects on the entire planet ✅ Strong question: "How have rising sea temperatures affected coral reef biodiversity in the Great Barrier Reef between 2020-2023?"
Focused scope: Specific location, measurable impact, defined timeframe
❌ Weak question: "How has technology changed education?"
No time parameters, too broad historically ✅ Strong question: "What impact did the implementation of one-to-one iPad programs have on reading comprehension scores in third-grade classrooms during the 2022-2023 academic year?"
Clear timeframe, specific technology, measurable outcomes within defined period
The deep web encompasses the parts of the internet not indexed by standard search engines like Google or Bing, making its content inaccessible through normal search queries
It is estimated to be much larger than the surface web, constituting over 90-96% of the total internet content. Things you will find on the deep web include: academic databases, legal documents, scientific reports, financial records and organizational repositories.
How you *should* be evaluting websites
Lateral reading is a skill used by professional fact-checkers to jump outside a source and use new browser tabs to seek additional information about a source's credibility, reputation, funding sources and biases.
When you encounter an unfamiliar website:
- Open a new browser tab
- Go to several credible newsources and other references to better understand if the website is credible.
- Reflect and decide
❌ Weak question: "Why do kids like video games?"
Informal language, lacks academic focus, too simplistic ✅ Strong question: "What cognitive benefits do educational gaming platforms provide to middle school students in mathematics education?"
Uses academic terminology, appropriate scholarly focus, specific educational context
Examples
"Provide a bullet-point list of key events…"
"Create a step-by-step guide for user onboarding…"
"Generate a table comparing data from different coastal regions…"
"Develop a social media content calendar with post ideas…"
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..."
"For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..."
"As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
The dark web is a subset of the internet existing on encrypted networks, requiring specific software like Tor for access, ensuring user anonymity
It serves as a hub for illegal activities, including cybercrime marketplaces and stolen data, with malware logs rising by almost 30% in 2023.The dark web is generally unsuitable for academic research due to its unindexed nature, requirement for specialized software, and largely unverified content
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..."
"For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..."
"As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..."
"For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..."
"As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
❌ Weak question: "How does music affect people?"
Too vague: What kind of music? Which people? What type of effects? ✅ Strong question: "How does listening to classical music during study sessions affect memory retention in undergraduate biology students?" Specifies: Type of music, context, effect being measured, exact population
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..."
"For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..."
"As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
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Transcript
Jennifer Chess Company Librarian - A2, B2, C2 jennifer.chess@westpoint.edu
Finding Info
Why Academic Databases Remain Essential for Scholarly Research
INFORMATION HAS VALUE
SURFACE WEB
9.99%
Google, Bing, Wikipedia
90%
DEEP WEB
Full text not accessible via search engines
DARK WEB
0.01%
only partially searchable ; must use dark web browsers
TLDR: GO WITH DATABASES
Find SCHOLARLY SOURCES through SCOUT
Remember!
As scholars, it is imporant to recognize that research is an iterative and recursive process.
The surface web, also known as the clear web, is the portion of the internet indexed by standard search engines like Google, Bing, and Wikipedia.
As of early 2025, it comprises over 1.16 billion websites across 273 million domains, reflecting its vast and publicly accessible nature It is great for browsing websites and social media. Despite its size, the surface web is just a fraction of the total internet, with the majority of content residing in the less accessible deep web.
❌ Weak question: "What do people think about social media?" Opinion-based, no clear academic or practical value ✅ Strong question: "How has Instagram's algorithm change in 2023 influenced engagement rates for educational content creators in higher education?" Addresses current issue, has practical implications, connects to specific field
Examples
"For instance, include events like the Pearl Harbor attack and D-Day" "Such as 'Step 1: Download app, Step 2: Create profile, Step 3: Set fitness goals'" "Example table header: Region | Sea Level Rise | Economic Impact | Adaptation Measures" "Example post: 'Did you know our t-shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles?'"
Databases provide verified content beyond surface searches.
Academic databases and deep web resources offer researchers access to peer-reviewed content that comprises the vast majority of scholarly information online. These resources include specialized collections like, JSTOR, and Scopus, containing full-text articles and research data invisible to standard search engines. With advanced search functionalities, citation tracking, and rigorous fact-checking, academic databases ensure research accuracy and reproducibility while providing current, authoritative sources essential for high-quality academic work.
❌ Weak question: "What are all the effects of climate change on Earth?" Far too broad: Impossible to study ALL effects on the entire planet ✅ Strong question: "How have rising sea temperatures affected coral reef biodiversity in the Great Barrier Reef between 2020-2023?" Focused scope: Specific location, measurable impact, defined timeframe
❌ Weak question: "How has technology changed education?" No time parameters, too broad historically ✅ Strong question: "What impact did the implementation of one-to-one iPad programs have on reading comprehension scores in third-grade classrooms during the 2022-2023 academic year?" Clear timeframe, specific technology, measurable outcomes within defined period
The deep web encompasses the parts of the internet not indexed by standard search engines like Google or Bing, making its content inaccessible through normal search queries
It is estimated to be much larger than the surface web, constituting over 90-96% of the total internet content. Things you will find on the deep web include: academic databases, legal documents, scientific reports, financial records and organizational repositories.
How you *should* be evaluting websites
Lateral reading is a skill used by professional fact-checkers to jump outside a source and use new browser tabs to seek additional information about a source's credibility, reputation, funding sources and biases.
When you encounter an unfamiliar website:
❌ Weak question: "Why do kids like video games?" Informal language, lacks academic focus, too simplistic ✅ Strong question: "What cognitive benefits do educational gaming platforms provide to middle school students in mathematics education?" Uses academic terminology, appropriate scholarly focus, specific educational context
Examples
"Provide a bullet-point list of key events…" "Create a step-by-step guide for user onboarding…" "Generate a table comparing data from different coastal regions…" "Develop a social media content calendar with post ideas…"
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..." "For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..." "As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
The dark web is a subset of the internet existing on encrypted networks, requiring specific software like Tor for access, ensuring user anonymity
It serves as a hub for illegal activities, including cybercrime marketplaces and stolen data, with malware logs rising by almost 30% in 2023.The dark web is generally unsuitable for academic research due to its unindexed nature, requirement for specialized software, and largely unverified content
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..." "For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..." "As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..." "For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..." "As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."
❌ Weak question: "How does music affect people?" Too vague: What kind of music? Which people? What type of effects? ✅ Strong question: "How does listening to classical music during study sessions affect memory retention in undergraduate biology students?" Specifies: Type of music, context, effect being measured, exact population
Examples
"As a high school history teacher preparing a lesson on World War II..." "In the context of a startup developing a new fitness app..." "For a research project on climate change impacts in coastal cities..." "As part of a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand..."