Web-Based Conflict Research Tutorials

Now that you have swum through the vast ocean of information about the September 11 terrorist attacks, the various commentaries on and responses to the acts, as well as the various perspectives on the individuals, groups, and regions represented by those involved in the attacks, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Your next task is to discover which information is best suited and of adequate quality for your current needs and objectives.

Firsthand information is likely the most reliable and useful. However, because you cannot travel all over the country or world to seek out the information you need, you will need to locate the best sources available, given time, money, and geographic constraints. Although there are no hard and fast rules about finding the best or most reputable information for your search, there are some general factors to consider before you spend too much time looking in the wrong or inappropriate places. Because of the sheer bulk of information accessible through the Internet, you may need to think about the types of information that would be most valuable, as well as their costs and benefits. (See Table 2.)

The first question you must ask yourself is: What exactly am I looking for? By not asking this question, you may spend a considerable amount of time sifting through information that is irrelevant or peripheral to the conflict.

Assignment: Finding the Right Sources

• Read Table 2.
• Find three books pertaining to global terrorism by using a library or online bookstore search engine.
• Search CRInfo.org for three articles or essays, three websites, and three organizations that are directly addressing the September 11 terrorist attacks and the resulting conflict.
• Search BeyondIntractability.org for one or more articles/essays on topics relevant to the September 11 terrorist attacks and the resulting conflict.
• Supersites (also called libraries, databases, information sources, or resource pages) are large, comprehensive websites with a variety of detailed resources on a particular issue, topic, or conflict. Try to locate two or three of these Internet supersites pertaining to your conflict (i.e. if you are looking for supersites with information on terrorism or reaction to the September 11 attacks, search for general terrorism supersites first, by searching for "Terrorism Resources" or "Global Terrorism supersites.").
• Next, search for supersites pertaining to more specific dimensions of your conflict — searching, for example, for "War on Terrorism Supersites" or "September 11 Resources" (assuming more specific sites exist). Note: it is possible that supersites for your particular topic may not yet be available via the Internet.
• Which of the resources provided the best information for your search? Why?

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