Internet Search Strategies

Before You Search the Internet, Do You Understand Your Question? Do You Need to Create Sub-Questions to Break it Down?

Have you been given a research question? First, make sure you understand the question and how to respond to it.

In order to best respond to the question, you need to make sure you understand the question. 

1. Highlight the keywords. 

2. Write out definitions for these keywords. Think critically by checking your assumptions and seeing if you fully understand these keywords.

3. Circle any instruction verbs from your task, e.g. investigate, compare. These words tell you what sort of thinking and writing you need to do in your task. For tips on what these key instruction verbs are asking you to do, have a look at the document “HSC Key Words – ALARM Scaffold”. 

4. If you need to, create a set of sub-questions that breaks down the large question into manageable research tasks. There is a skill to this to do it well. If your original question calls for higher-order thinking skills, eg. creating new ideas, evaluating or analysing, then you are going to need a list of appropriate sub-questions that builds your knowledge and thinking up towards higher-order thinking. If you want to learn how to create helpful questions and sub-questions, click here for tips on Questioning.

Better Internet Search Strategies

Before you start your internet search: 

Predict Great Information Sources

Before you begin searching, predict where you are likely to find good sources of information? For "causes of urbanisation in Australia", I'd expect The Australian Bureau of Statistics, The United Nations and the World Bank would be good information sources. By making predictions it will help you identify good sources in your search results. Where do you think you might find quality information for your task? Make a list. 

Keep a Record of Your Search Activity

Making a few notes as you search is good practice.

• What keywords or combinations of keywords get the best results?

• Did you use any search tools (see “Google Search Tools” below)?

• If you are using multiple search engines, or databases, try to be systematic in replicating your searches. They will typically return slightly different results to the same search phrase.

• If you are searching for information for an assessment task, download the Research Process Journal template and keep a record of websites, journal articles and whatever you think you are likely to use in your assessment task. The journal helps you keep track of where the good information is and how you found it. 

Composing Internet Searches

By now you have a superb list of questions that breaks down your research task into manageable chunks. Obviously, you will use your questions to guide your research; but when you search the internet, choose your words carefully: think about what words are likely to appear on the website, eg. don't search for "my head hurts", rather search for "headache" because that will appear on a medical site that may offer helpful information.

Tips:

• searches are not case-sensitive, you do not need to use any capitals.

• use fewer words where possible, e.g. use australian federation not when was australia federated as a nation

• Try different synonyms for your keywords (a synonym is a word that has a similar meaning).

• Try and list alternative terms such as common names, scientific names, and technical terms; eg. beekeepers, honey farmers, apiarists, and apiculturists. Tip: common names will likely find information sources like blogs, magazine style articles and more technical or scientific terms will find more technical or scientific sources of information. Reflect on what type of information and author you need, and experiment. 

Google Search Tools: (these typically work in most search engines and databases) 

• Exact Match. Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase, eg: “causes of urbanisation in Australia” 

• Narrow your search to authoritative information sources such as universities, governments:  site:edu   site:org   site:gov  site:gov.au

Eg:  causes of urbanisation in Australia site:org

Note: Students in Years 7 & 8 can scroll down to "Learn How to Evaluate Media Sources for Bias and Credibility"

Learn How to Evaluate Media Sources for Bias and Credibility 

The following six strategies are a brief summary from the SHHS Evaluating Media Bias Page:

When trying to spot bias, ask yourself these questions:

1. What kind of information is it? News? Opinion? Ad? Does it appeal to your emotions or does it make you think?

2. Who and what are the sources cited and why should you believe them? Is the source given? Is the source associated with a political party or special interest group?

3. What’s the evidence and how was it vetted? What’s the evidence and how was it vetted? Is the source a document? Witness? Or is it hearsay/speculation?

4: Is the main point of the piece proven by the evidence? Did the sources provided justify the conclusion or main point of the story?

5. What’s missing? Was there an aspect or point that was not covered or unclear that you are left wondering about?

To learn more in-depth information about evaluating information and learning to identify bias in the media click here. 

(Source: https://leeuniversity.libguides.com/c.php?g=1178892&p=8619066 / via https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/six-critical-questions-can-use-evaluate-media-content/)