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Research Methods For Degree Study: Performing Effective Internet Search

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81 views25 pages

Research Methods For Degree Study: Performing Effective Internet Search

internet

Uploaded by

Ashi Sharma
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methods for Degree Study

Performing Effective Internet Search

Prepared by: xxx First Prepared on: xx-xx-xx Last Modified on: xx-xx-xx Quality checked by: xxx Copyright 2004 Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology

Topic & Structure of the lesson


Introduction to Research

The Search Engine


What is a Search Engine? Types of Search Engine Importance of Search Engines to Academic Research

Using Search Engines


Using Phrases and Keywords Effective Search Engine tactics

Risks of Online Sources


Academic strength of online resources

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Learning Outcomes
Introduction to Research

Understand the importance of search engine in Secondary Research Using search engines effectively with appropriate keywords and phrases Understand the risk of using online resources for academic research

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Main Teaching Points


Introduction to Research

The Search Engine


What is a Search Engine? Types of Search Engine Importance of Search Engines to Academic Research

Using Search Engines


Using Phrases and Keywords Effective Search Engine tactics

Risks of Online Sources


Academic strength of online resources

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

What is a Search Engine?


Introduction to Research

A search engine is a program designed to help find information stored on a computer system such as the World Wide Web, or a personal computer. The search engine allows one to ask for content meeting specific criteria (typically those containing a given word or phrase) and retrieves a list of references that match those criteria.
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

What is a Search Engine?


Introduction to Research

The search engine allows one to ask for content meeting specific criteria (typically those containing a given word or phrase)
Retrieves a list of references that match those criteria. In most cases, search engine usually refers to a Web search engine, which searches for information on the public Web

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Types of Search Engines


Introduction to Research

Web Search Engines:


Google MSN Search Yahoo! Search Northern Lights Ask Jeeves

Academic Journal Search Engines (Subscription)


Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

Types of Search Engines


Introduction to Research

Academic Journal Search Engines (Subscription)


Emerald Journal Proquest EBSCO Business/IT Search IEEE Journal Databases

Library Search Engines (OPAC)


APIIT/UCTI Library Search engine National Library Search engine
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

How do Search Engines Work?


Introduction to Research

They use software programs known as robots, spiders or crawlers.


A robot is a piece of software that automatically follows hyperlinks from one document to the next around the Web. When a robot discovers a new site, it sends information back to its main site to be indexed.

Ref: http://www.monash.com/spidap2.html
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

Importance of Search Engines


Introduction to Research

For the same reason you need a card catalogue or book in a library.
There is lots of great and useful information in a library, but it's physically impossible to examine all the books personally.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Importance of Search Engines


Introduction to Research

Not even the most indefatigable websurfer could hyperlink to all the documents in the aptly named World Wide Web. Search engines gives you the ability to look for more information from one source (Search engine)

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Using Search Engines


Introduction to Research

Know what youre looking for:


Are you looking for information about a person? A company? A software product? A health-related problem? Do you want to find a job? Do you need to research a term paper? Document a news story? Size up your company's competition?

Using keywords and phrases:


Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

Using Search Engines


Introduction to Research

Using keywords and phrases:


Searching on a noun (the name of a person, place or thing), remember that most nouns are subsets of other nouns. Enter the smallest possible subset that describes what you want. Be specific.

Example: If you want to buy a car, don't enter the keyword "car" if you can enter the keyword "Toyota." Better still, enter the phrase "Toyota showrooms" AND the name of the city where you live.
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

Using Search Engines:


Introduction to Research

Using special functions:


Read the search engine help files and take advantage of the available search refining options. Use phrases, if possible. Use the Boolean AND (or the character +) to include other keywords that you would expect to find in relevant documents.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Using Search Engines:


Introduction to Research

Using special functions:


Example: If you want to find out how medical details about your grandmother's diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease, try entering "Alzheimer's" AND "symptoms" AND "prognosis." If you want to find out about Alzheimer's care and community resources, query on "Alzheimer's" AND "support groups" AND "resources" AND NOT "symptoms."

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Risks of Online Sources


Finding the information you want on the Internet is only the first step. There is a lot of material available, but not all of it is equally reliable and useful. As a researcher a large part of your job is not simply to find information, but to make judgements about its merit.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Risks of Online Sources


Before you use any material you have found, you need to spend some time evaluating it for accuracy and importance. Use the following questions as a guide, but also use your own experience and skills to make a decision.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Evaluating Online Resources:


The source of the material might give you a clue to it's reliability. A site maintained by a university or government organisation might be more reliable than one maintained by a private citizen.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Age of Online Information


Sometimes the age of information matters. If you need current statistics then check the age of the material you have found. As a rule of thumb, in most fields anything more than five years old is probably outdated.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Accredited Source:
The status of the writer is often of considerable importance in deciding the reliability of information. You can probably assume that material written or otherwise provided by a known expert in the field is likely to be reliable. i.e. A PhD or Professor related to the topic

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

But just because you have never heard of the author of the page doesn't mean that the information is inaccurate or unreliable, but it does mean that you can't take it at face value. You might have to do some crosschecking, either elsewhere on the net, or with books or articles.
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

Risk of Online Sources


Introduction to Research

Internet Design and integrity:


How an Internet resource is designed may have a lot of influence on how you use it. A site which is always too busy to access, too slow to download or too difficult to navigate may not be worth your valuable time, no matter how useful and relevant the information is.

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Conclusion
Introduction to Research

Results from a web search engine is useful if used effectively Unless the source is accredited (i.e. web journals), take the information at face value. Use together with primary research and physical resources (i.e. core text books, reference books)

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Take Home Activity


Introduction to Research

Use the various search engines and play around with various search engine functions Use various keywords and key phrases to search for valid information

Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study

Title of Slides

Question and Answer Session


Introduction to Research

Q&A
Module Code and Module Title Research Methods for Degree Study Title of Slides

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