How to Search on the Internet

 

How to Search Generally

  • Define what you seek
  • Now think about what sorts of resource might help
      • -Websites
      • -search engines
      • -gateways (NELH)

       

 

Smart Searching – finding the needle in the haystack

  • Search engines are not mind readers. 
  • Increase your chances of getting relevant results by being precise and thinking carefully about the specific words or terms you enter in the search box. 

 

  Example

Use + to insist words are retrieved

Yes +music

Use – to exclude a word

Boxer -shorts

Use “ ” to search a specific phrase

“malcolm in the middle”

 

Simple Search Engine Guidelines

The key to finding information on the Internet, or anywhere else, is to take a moment to make a plan of action.

 

 

  Example

Write your topic in sentence form

What are the lyrics to the song “walk like an Egyptian” by the Bangles?

Highlight main ideas to search
Limit terms to the most important

What are the lyrics to the song ‘walk like an egyptian’ by the Bangles?

Use "  " around words that are likely to appear next to each other

“walk like an egyptian”

Use + (AND) to limit search & add precision

Lyrics +bangles +”walk like an egyptian”

Use OR to expand search

 

Use - (AND NOT) to limit search by excluding words

Lyrics +bangles +”walk like an egyptian” –jewellery. 
revise your search strategy until you get what you want

 

 

Remember:

  • - Don’t believe everything you read
  • - Use information wisely – is the website a reliable organisation, try and place the information you find in some sort of hierarchy eg if you were looking for evidence, RCTs and systematic analysis sites are of a higher pecking order than say a website furnishing consultant opinions.
  • -The internet is only one of many resources

  • Some Good Online Tutorials