SRA, I have a hard time finding quality research material using the google search engine. Do you have any suggestions about any tutorials I can take that will teach me how to properly search the internet for my papers?
Thank you,
I'm not Sra, but here are some ideas for you --
In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often much more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including a huge one for academic research.
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.
Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html
http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html
http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T
... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html
Absolutely! There are several tutorials and resources available online that can help you improve your internet research skills. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Google Search Education: Google offers an online course called "Power Searching with Google" that teaches advanced search techniques. It covers various search operators, advanced search features, and effective strategies to find high-quality resources.
2. Library Tutorials: Many academic libraries provide online tutorials on research skills. These tutorials often cover topics such as using library databases, evaluating sources, and keyword searching.
3. YouTube Videos: YouTube has a vast collection of video tutorials on internet research techniques. Searching for keywords like "advanced search techniques" or "internet research skills" will yield a variety of helpful videos created by experts.
4. Research Guides: Many universities and libraries publish research guides on their websites. These guides often include step-by-step instructions on effective research methods, recommended databases, and tips for evaluating sources.
5. Online Courses: Websites like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer online courses on information literacy and research skills. These courses are usually self-paced and cover a wide range of topics related to conducting effective research.
Remember, practice is key when it comes to improving your research skills. Continuously exploring different resources and refining your search techniques will help you find high-quality research material more efficiently.