Internet Searching Jane Ellen Innes Cleary University Library

Internet Searching Jane Ellen Innes Cleary University Library jeinnes@cleary. edu 3/4/08 1

What we are covering n What is research? n Critical thinking n Internet searching (search engines, strategies, tips) n Cleary’s proprietary databases n Proquest, Lexis/Nexis/Mel n Others n Evaluating information 3/4/08 2

What is Research? n Primary versus secondary research n Writing process stage 2: collecting n How does research benefit your papers? n Credibility n Professionalism n Where to begin 3/4/08 3

Critical Thinking n What is critical thinking and why is it important? n Critical Thinking n Taking what you know, combining with what you learn to reach new conclusion n Start with broad concepts and narrow 3/4/08 4

Better searching with critical thinking n Who is interested in what you are looking for? n Learn about your topic as you search n Get information from search summaries n Increase your topic specific vocabulary as you search 3/4/08 5

Topic Worksheet n Created by Joe Barker, Teaching Library, UC Berkeley n Use search engines to increase your vocabulary on your topic. Take the information you learn from general Internet searches and search the Cleary Online Library. 3/4/08 6

Searching Internet Searching Search Engines 3/4/08 7

What are Search Engines? n Large databases n Full text of web pages n Use keywords matching words in pages you want n Built by computer robot programs n No selectivity, no evaluation for reliability n Each is different - Minimal standardization 3/4/08 n All accept “quotes” to search as phrase n Good ones assume AND between words 8

How do you measure a search engine’s value? 1. Size, freshness & unique pages n 2. Ranking of results n 3. n Can you perform complex searches Can you limit by date, type of site, etc? Overall convenience and usefulness n 3/4/08 Intuitive and easy to use? Advanced search options n 5. What order are results displayed in? Default search mode effectiveness n 4. How comprehensive are they? Do you get junk or good stuff? 9

How to get the best results from search engines n Match words in pages - FULL TEXT n Be as specific as you can n search on distinctive words - fallujah put “phrases in quotes” “collateral damage” scan your question for good search terms n Start with one or two words or phrases n add as needed to focus results 3/4/08 10

BOOLEAN SEARCHING Search Engine Commands Means What? AND (+) Must include all terms 3/4/08 NOT (-) Must exclude term/s “[topic phrase]” OR In quotes - must include exact phrase Match any terms 11

Compare Search Engines n http: //Compare. Search. Engines. dogpile. com n Jux 2: Compare Google, Yahoo, and MSN with One Search www. jux 2. com n Thumb Shots. com ~ http: //ranking. thumbshots. com/ n Twin. Gine ~ http: //Twin. Gine. com 3/4/08 12

Get a second opinion n Statistics say no search engine has it all n n Only about 60% of pages in Google are also in other search engines Only 50% of pages in any search engine database are also found in all others n Use another large search engine n 3/4/08 Comparison site: Search Engine Showdown 13

Alternative beyond Google n Ask. X (http: //www. askx. com) n Search the Web 2. 0 (www. searchtheweb 2. com) n Exalead (http: //www. exalead. com) 3/4/08 14

Q and A Services n http: //answers. com n http: //qna. live. com n http: //askville. ask. com n Use with caution n Some are more reliable than others 3/4/08 15

Nation. Master. com State. Master. com n Source for state, national and international statistics n Cool tool for presenting graphical information n Data from WHO, World Ban, CIA World Factbook, World Resources Institute, etc. n http: //www. nationmaster. com n http: //www. statemaster. com 3/4/08 16

Yahoo’s Mindset Feature n http: //Mindset. research. yahoo. com n 3/4/08 Are you researching or shopping? 17

Scholarly Sources n Some resources require fees – good for reviewing reference lists of similar topics n Google Scholar n http: //scholar. google. com/ n Live Academic Search n http: //academic. live. com 3/4/08 18

Cleary Online Libraries n Login information n Databases and focus areas n Proquest n Basic search, topic search, publication search Lexis Nexis n Me. L n Other, topic specific databases n 3/4/08 19

Off Campus Information Gateway 1 st Initial 1 st Name 1 st Initial 2 nd Name Last 5 Digits Student ID # CANNOT BE CHANGED 3/4/08 cleary 1883 (cannot be changed) 20

Cleary Online Library databases 3/4/08 21

Additional Resources n Cleary Research Wiki n http: //cleary. wetpaint. com n Cleary Library Blog n http: //clearylibrarian. wordpress. com n Noodle. Tools n http: //www. noodletools. com 3/4/08 22

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Lexis Nexis 3/4/08 24

Me. L 3/4/08 25

Market Research 3/4/08 26

Hoovers 3/4/08 27

Country. Watch 3/4/08 28

Biz. Miner 3/4/08 29

Net. Library 3/4/08 30

Remember n Check the Cleary Research Wiki for information on conducting research n The more you research, the better you get at it n Be patient and don’t always assume that the FIRST article you find is the best. 3/4/08 31

EVALUATING INFORMATION If you are using material that you’ve found via the Cleary Library, there is no need for further evaluation. If you’ve found some great information on the Internet. . . You need to investigate a little further. . . 3/4/08 32

Evaluating Information n Why Evaluate What You Find on the Web? n Anyone can put up a Web page about anything for pennies in minutes 3/4/08 n Many pages not kept up-to-date n No quality control 33

Evaluating Information n Wikipedia: Good place to start but NOT a definitive source. n DO NOT cite in your reference list n Citizendium (signed Wiki) n 3/4/08 http: //en. citizendium. org/wiki/Main_Page 34

Ask yourself n Credentials for the subject matter ? n “About us” “Philosophy” “Background” “Biography” n Is it recent or current enough ? n Look for “last updated” date - usually at bottom n Why it the page put on the Web? n Inform, explain, persuade, sell, entice, share, disclose? n Parody or satire? n Is it appropriate for your purpose? 3/4/08 35

5 CRITERIA For Evaluating Websites 3/4/08 36

What are they? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 3/4/08 Accuracy of Site Authority of Site Objectivity of Site Currency of Site Coverage of Site 37

ACCURACY n Who wrote it? n Why did s/he write it? n Was the person actually qualified to write it? 3/4/08 ü Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number. ü Know the distinction between author and Webmaster. 38

AUTHORITY n Who published the document? Different from "Webmaster? " n Check the domain of the document, Does the publisher list qualifications? 3/4/08 ü What credentials are listed for the authors? ü Where is the document published? Check URL domain. 39

OBJECTIVITY n What are the goals/objectives of the site? n How detailed is the information? n What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? 3/4/08 ü Determine if page is a mask for advertising ü View any Web page as you would a TV infommercial. Purpose and audience. 40

CURRENCY n When was it created? n When was it updated? n Are the links up-to-date? 3/4/08 ü How many dead links are on the page? ü Are the links current or updated regularly? ü Is the information on the page outdated? 41

COVERAGE n Are the links evaluated and are they relevant? n All images or a balance of text and images? n Is the information presented cited correctly? 3/4/08 ü If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software? ü Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain the information? ü Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing? 42

Does is all add up? n Does the web page meet your needs? n Remember to determine audience and purpose Evaluate sample sites 3/4/08 43

Remember § You will rarely find an article that is exactly on your topic. § Learn to use the information you have to make your point. 3/4/08 44

Finally § Use the information you have at hand to find more information – look at URLs, references to additional articles, statistics. § Research will take more time than you think. Plan ahead! ** 3/4/08 45