Web Research
Searching the Web
Doing research on the web is not
as simple as it seems. Different search engines use different approaches
to accomplish their goals. Most engines now accept boolean and proximity
terminology, and many offer other
parameter-defining features. If you don't understand boolean operators,
proximity searching, rankings,
phrasing, etc., I strongly suggest you take a look at
Pandia.com's Search Engine Tutorial. The tutorial takes
about thirty minutes, and explains how to use all the major search
engines. Also check out Pandia's unique
"Q-Cards",
which list the Advanced search query syntax and rules for many of the most
popular engines.
Also of interest:
Terry Gray's "How
to Search the Web - A Guide To Search Tools".
Click
here to search the web using 4 engines at once!
An Annotated list of
Internet Search Tools
About.Com
Ask.com
Both of these links lead to the Ask.com website. I do NOT recommend
this search engine to any
serious researcher, because the search result sites open in a sub-window. (you
can not see the URL)
Alta Vista
An excellent search engine with powerful
features.
Dogpile
A meta-search engine that uses 15 search engines at once (including its
own).
Dogpile often turns up items that no other engines can find.
Excite
Excite has been around a long time. It lends itself more to the average
web-surfer than to scholarly searches.
Fedstats
If you need statistical information that
is kept by the U.S. Government, this is the engine to use.
Google
A fairly powerful search engine, with a decent "advanced search"
interface.
Govbot
Govbot searches all .gov and .mil sites for the information you're seeking.
Hotbot
Hotbot's advanced search allows you to set unusual parameters like date,
location, and word-stemming.
Infomine
"Scholarly Internet Resource Collections" ...can be helpful if you
take the time to read their "search tips".
Internet Oracle
Now freeality.com - Multiple search engines, metasearching.
A Journalist's Guide to the
Internet
Written by Christopher Callahan at the University of MD- An excellent
resource if you're looking for hard
data / journalistic information.
Librarians' Index to
the Internet
A wealth of information. "By Librarians for Everyone"
Tile.net
Trying to find a listserv, FTP site, or newsgroup? You'll probably find it
here.
Magellan
Internet Guide
A powerful engine that allows the user to employ boolean operators,
switches, phrasing, etc.
Reading their "Search Tips and Help" section can provide excellent
results.
Megasources
An extensive listing of Internet resources compiled by DEAN TUDOR
Professor, School of Journalism, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Canada
Metacrawler
Another meta-search engine. This one is very customizable, and
accesses up to 13 engines.
Online English Phrase Checker
The newest addition to this section... fast and
efficient!
Pandia Plus
An invaluable resource. Search engines, tutorials and tools.
Yahoo
A hierarchical commercial search engine/gateway.
Access your links from anywhere
Linkshelf.com
Using Linkshelf.com, you
can store your links online, and acces them from any Internet connection.
Evaluation
Evaluating
Internet Research Sources
Evaluation
of Information Sources
As a researcher, your information is
only as good as its source.
Use the above sites to help evaluate your information.