Online Search Strategies

The Internet makes it easier than ever to get ahold of information. But, this is also a challenge. When your search returns several thousand hits, or more, how do you deal with this information overload?

Here are some tips from Koechlin and Zwaan about "Working With Digital Text"

AVOID AIMLESS SURFING AND SITE-HOPPING

Develop an inquiry question/statement of purpose
Having done some background research:
- break down your topic into chunks/sub-topics
- develop a list of keywords and key phrases that you can search
Use search filters to narrow your search
- filters in Google
- filters in databases
Skim the list or sites your search returns by reading the description
Select the sites you think are best and bookmark the URLs into a folder called "Research"
Validate your selected Website: see the CRAAP test.

AVOID GETTING LOST IN A SEA OF INFORMATION

- Apply your active reading, viewing and listening skills
- Investigate the visuals related to your topic like charts and graphs
- Don't get sidetracked by the animation tricks and glitz
- Skim and scan for your identified keywords and sub-topics OR use the browser's "find" function to locate and highlight them
- Use the browser's tools to help you stay organized:
  - use the browser's bookmarking feature to organize your websites into topical folders
  - if you have a list of linked resources on a web-page use a right-click and open each resource in a separate window or tab; when you return to the list, the links you've explored should look different, indicating that you have already visited the link
  - select only links that seem clearly linked to your inquiry question
  - use the Table of Contents or site menus to get to the information you want
  - use the site's own search feature: some of these offer the option to limit the search to just that website; others are less useful because they search the web

AVOID THE PIT OF PLAGIARISM

- record your findings In an organizer or in NoodleTools as you go along
- record and cite all direct quotations and summaries or paraphrases you think you might use
  - put quotation marks around quotations and make sure the source is clearly indicated
  - DANGER: summaries and paraphrases often get students in trouble, because they seem like the student's own words: be sure to indicate the source of the information contained in the summary or paraphrase. Also, be sure it's clear to the reader where the borrowed ideas and or information begins and ends. For example:
    - According to Crosby, many employers do not spend enough time providing postive feedback to employees (39).
  - In this example the introductory phrase and the page number in brackets at the end make it clear that the ideas (here in bold and italics) are borrowed.
  - record all Works Cited or References information as you go; again, NoodleTools is an excellent resource to help keep track of your sources.
  - for books: photocopy or take a clear picture of the from and back of the title page
  - for websites: bookmark the page and gather the bookmarks for your research into one folder in the browser. Use the "Cite Me" Chrome extension or "Citation Machine" to help you create a citation for the page: this will include the URL.
  - record the Works Cited or References information even for information sources you're not sure you'll use: better safe than sorry

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