How to Research on the Internet

The Internet can be a useful tool, but sometimes you can run into dead ends or retrieve unreliable information. It’s important to know how to properly search topics on the Internet as well as how to tell what information is credible. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet
• Library membership

How to Research on the Internet

1. Make a list of subtopics related to the topic you are researching. Combining keywords can help you find things faster. For example, if you want to know if a cat with leukemia can be treated, enter the following terms in a search engine: cats and leukemia and treatment.

2. Search for a specific term or phrase. For example, if you can only remember parts of a phrase, put what you remember in quotations as shown: “a bird in the hand”. Your search results will show the complete saying, which is “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Use quotation marks when you know the exact phrasing.

3. Use a dash to narrow down your searches. For example, if you are looking for a store’s address in your town, type in the following: name of store/restaurant, city and state.

4. Databases like EBSCOhost can help narrow your searches and provide you with credible material.

5. Visit your local library or a university library and consult books, journals and other forms of media.

6. Evaluate the source. Who wrote the information? Is it a respectable company or someone with a degree related to the topic? If the website does not have an author listed, do not consider it a reliable source.

Tips & Warnings

• Use search engine’s advanced search options and preferences to narrow your searches.

Resources

• EBSCOhost