VIRTUAL RESOURCES - INTERNATIONAL-RELATIONS RESEARCH RESOURCES ON THEWEB

The explosive growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web in recent years has produced not only the trivial and bizarre, but also informat ion useful for social science research and teaching. Yet most of this information is difficult to locate, particularly for those unfamiliar with the Web, primarily because of its nonlinear architecture-called ' 'hypertext.'' The purpose of this research note is to give scholars a sense of what is unique about research resources on the Web and an ind ication in general terms of what types of information and materials ca n be accessed through it. First, I describe primary and secondary mate rials, teaching resources, reference material, and news sources. I the n suggest several guidelines for Web site development that I believe w ill improve the potential for social science research on the Web. Fina lly, I conclude by outlining some directions for further analysis rais ed by the widespread use of the Web for academic research and teaching . A companion guide to research resources on the Web will be posted on the International Organization Web site through which the material he re (and much more) can then be accessed.