Research+-+Internet+Research

==Research on the internet is simple...or **//that's what most of us think//** ! Just type in a few words in the search bar of your favorite search engine and 'voilà', you have thousands of hits. But where do you start and how many of them are of any use to you!==

=== 2. Search Engines: Google and more! ===

=== 3. Wikipedia and other online encyclopedias ===

= 1. Effective Searching on the Internet: Tips =

= **i. Key Words**=

=== "A word used by a search engine in its search for relevant Web pages." ( [| http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/keyword.html] )=== === "Whenever you search for something using a [| search engine], you type keywords that tell the search engine what to search for. For example, if you are searching for used cars, you may enter "used cars" as your keywords. The search engine will then return Web pages with content relevant to your search terms. The more specific keywords you use, the more specific (and useful) the results will be. Therefore, if you are searching for a specific used car, you may enter something like "black Honda Accord used car" to get more accurate results." Furthermore, you should aim for between two and six keywords in each search. If you just put in one word, you'll end up with far too many searches. If you put in too many you may not find any results at all. ===

=== ( [| http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?keywords] )===
 * ======

= ii. The Best Bet Tips for Internet Searches=


 * === Most search engines default to **Boolean AND logic** . To create a search that will retrieve Web pages containing all of your search terms, type the words with a space in between them. **Example** : bears hibernation ===


 * === **Use a (+) to further focus a Boolean AND** . On Google, for example, the use of the plus sign will turn off the feature that may include a search for synonyms of your search terms. On other search engines, the plus sign is a kind of insurance that AND logic will be applied. **Example:** +desert +horticulture ===


 * < === These Search Statements=== ||< === Will Retrieve...=== ||
 * < === World War I AND World War II=== || === pages containing both of these terms=== ||
 * < === World War I OR World War II=== ||< === pages containing at least one of these terms=== ||
 * < === World War I NOT World War II=== ||< === pages containing the term World War I but not also the term===

World War II
||


 * === **Surround a phrase with quotation marks** . Example: "freedom of the press" ===


 * === Use **the advanced search page** when you want to do a **focused search** . The advanced search page is a good way to limit your results in various ways, including words in the title, date, language, file type, site, etc. The advanced search page is great to try out because it shows you the types of searches the search engine can do for you.===


 * === Aim for between **two and six keywords** in each search. If you just put in one word, you'll end up with far too many searches. If you put in too many you may not find any results at all. ===

 ===  ===
 * === Try to put //__**the most important word or words**__// first. For example, if you are looking for information on **paintballing** near **Ascot,** type: **paintball Ascot** . Many search engines expect the first word you write to be the most important.===

=== ===

===   ===

.