Simkin Center Faculty: Websites

Internet searching for hard-to-find and cutting edge information

If you are having trouble locating information on your topic, you can always try searching the Web. Be sure to evaluate the quality of the websites you choose. For example, look for a statement of who is responsible for the content, when it was last updated, and who the information is targeted to.

Three efficient ways to search the Web:

• Search websites that are recommended and/or evaluated by experts and professionals, such as faculty or library staff recommendations.

• Use advanced search features that are available in major search engines such as Google. (Run a search, then, click Advanced Search and set limits such as domain (for example, .edu), and date to narrow your results. A good way to retrieve research studies is to select PDF from the format menu.)

• Use a specialized search engine such as google scholar to focus your search: http://scholar.google.com/