• It’s
a good idea to get familiar with one or two search engines, and to use them
whenever you need to search for information. Read the online help files,
practice
• Some of the suggested search techniques, and
perhaps print out the list of available search options so that you have them
with you when you are searching. This will help you feel more in control of
your chosen search engine, and will enable you to carry out much more targeted
searches.
• Also,
consider whether or not a search engine is the best tool for the job. There
might be an internet subject gateway specializing in your subject area that
could provide you with exactly the information you are looking for.
• Before
you begin to search, think carefully about the words you are going to use to
search (your ‘keywords’).
• Note
them down, and then try to think of any alternative words that might be used to
mean the same thing. For example, for ‘insomnia’, you could also use ‘sleep
disorders’. If you are searching for something specific, try adding more
keywords to limit your search.
• Different
search engines will return different results for the same keyword
searches. Use the search options that
are available with your chosen search engine to limit your results to the most
relevant resources. Look at the online help files to find out which options
your search engine allows, and how you should use them e.g. you might be able
to enter them directly into the search
box, or the search engine might offer the option for you to select. Some common
search options are listed below.
• Use
double quotation marks to enclose a phrase, e.g. “alternative medicine”. This will instruct a search engine to find
web pages where your keywords occur together in exactly the order you have
specified. This will limit your results, because you will only retrieve items
where the words are next to each other. Otherwise, you will retrieve items
where the words occur, but not necessarily together, so the sites may not be
that relevant
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