Conduct Internet Research

Method 1:

If you’re looking for quick and easy answers to your research questions, it is best to begin with your employer, college, or university’s search engine or directory. Or, if you have access to a library database like EBSCOhost, you can use it to locate peer-reviewed research articles.

if you’re in need of reliable research in the medical or scientific fields.

Step 3

If you have access to a library, make an appointment to consult with a reference librarian for assistance in accessing research and knowledge. These specialists are specially trained to provide you with helpful information and advice.

Be aware that search engines will typically automate the ranking of search results, meaning no human reviews results before displaying them. Furthermore, each search engine can be gamed to ensure that certain websites appear at the top, and they may even tailor results based on your browsing history. For these reasons, it is a good idea to be mindful when using regular search engines.

When using a search engine, it is essential to select your search terms wisely. Keep in mind that there is an almost endless number of possible words and phrases that can be put into a given query. This means it is important to be thoughtful about what you are hoping to discover, as well as experiment with several search combinations. To refine your search results, you may use Boolean Operators, such as AND, OR, and NOT. For example, a search for “feminism AND China NOT Japan” will produce results for feminism in China, but exclude any about Japan. You may also use quotes to look for exact phrases. For example, searching for “academic performance” will return results that match that phrasing exactly. It is also helpful to use very specific keywords and phrasing to ensure that you are locating the most relevant information. Additionally, you may use different words or phrases to try to find more research sources. For example, “welfare” might be better replaced with “safety net” or “public assistance,” to provide a less politically charged set of results.

If you don't have much knowledge about a particular topic, start your research with a general search to gather info, then use what you've found to refine the search for more specific questions. For example, if you want to discover the total yearly amount spent on welfare programs in the U.S., you’ll realize you need to investigate such programs as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Once you decide which program you need to learn more about, focus your search on a more exact inquiry, such as total yearly SNAP expenditures in the U.S.

TimeScale:
Approx. Time Required: 12 Minutes