How to Find Information Online

Using Search Engines Effectively

Experiment with different search engines. For the most part, everybody knows Google, but there are several other great search engines to work with. These include Bing, Yahoo, Lycos, and Ask.com. Rather than always relying on Google, experiment with a variety of search engines. Each one may return different results.

Begin with simple search queries. When you use search engines, it is best to limit your query to a few concise words. Try to think of the simplest way to describe what you're looking for. You don't need to use complete sentences, rather simply type a few important terms. For example, if you were trying to find information on the actor John Wayne, but you couldn't recall his name, you might try searching "cowboy actor."

Search with quotation marks. Anytime you are looking for a specific phrase, type the phrase inside the quotes ("the phrase") and search it. The quotation marks tell your search engine to look for any place those specific words appear. This will help streamline your search, and weed out things that are not relevant to you.

Try alternative words. Whenever you search for something, try searching a few different ways. Use synonyms and/or put your query in a different form. This will cause your search engine to return different results, helping you locate what you need.

Bookmark useful results. Whenever you conduct research online, it is easy to move quickly and lose track of places you’ve visited. Use the bookmark function on your web browser to record useful websites as you go.

Utilizing Web Resources

Search academic databases. If you are looking for peer-reviewed academic articles, the best place to start is an academic database. If you attend (or work for) a university, you can probably access exclusive databases through your library’s online catalog. If this is not the case for you, try Jstor, ARTstor, Ebsco, or Google Scholar. Be aware, however, that not every article you find will be available for free.

Look into specialized online libraries. The internet contains specialized online libraries for many, many different subjects. Seeking these collections can help to speed up your search, as well as provide reliable places to return to for all sorts of information. For information on the Arts, check out the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), Art Cyclopedia, or UBUWeb. For information on history, try the Perseus Digital Library, Project Gutenberg, or Digital History. For medical and scientific articles, visit BioMed Central.

Look for videos. When individuals search for information online, they tend to think in terms of text, but many useful educational videos exist online as well! In fact, sometimes a video is the best way to learn what you seek. Many informative user-generated videos exists on Youtube. For more reputable information provided by professionals, search for videos on TED (otherwise known as TED talks).

Utilize review sites and price-comparison sites. If you are looking on the internet for something to buy, you can use review sites and/or price-comparison sites to locate the best version of what you need for a competitive price. Review sites like Amazon, Reevoo, and Trustpilot can help you decide if a particular product is worthwhile. Price-comparison sites like Money Supermarket and Comparethemarket.com can help you find the best price.

Check out RSS feeds. Many websites operate newsfeeds (otherwise known as RSS feeds). You can use an RSS reader to compile information from various RSS feeds. This allows you to see when new information appears on your favorite sites, without having to visit them one at a time. Some good RSS readers include Feedly, Newsblur, and Flipboard (tablet only). EXPERT TIP Tyrone Showers Tyrone Showers Technologist Tyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology. Tyrone Showers Tyrone Showers Technologist Follow your favorite websites' updates by subscribing to RSS feeds. An RSS feed is a web feed that enables easy distribution of website content to other applications. Look for an RSS feed icon or link on the website and click it to subscribe. You will be able to receive updates directly in your preferred RSS reader.

Learning Research Techniques

Determine what kind of information you need, and where you are most likely to find it. Before you begin any kind of search, it is best to think carefully about what kind of information you need. For instance, what subject field does this information fit into? (Is it art, science, how-to, etc?) Then (now that you are aware of some different types of online resources) consider where information like this could be found.

Identify your “keywords.” Think about what you need to know. Identify three or more key terms that are central to your search before you begin. These terms are going to guide your search. Searching for these terms through search engines, databases, or online libraries will lead in the direction of the information you need.

Verify whether or not a source is primary. Whenever you find information online, read through it and figure it out whether it is a primary source, or if it is referencing something else. Most of the time, this information can be found on a web page, however, if you find information with no author data or citations at all, it may be suspect.

Chase footnotes. Most strong online articles with contain citations or footnotes. These are places where you can learn more about the subject you are studying! Follow these footnotes to the primary sources your author is citing. This is the best way to gain a deeper knowledge of a subject.

Maintain a log of where you have been. Whenever you conduct research (online or otherwise) it is essential for you to take notes. Keep a log of the websites you visit. Next to each one, jot down anything useful you learned, and any other important notes to remember. This way, when you go back and try to use the information you have obtained, you have a handy guide showing you where you find what.