Electronic Search Strategies: Search Engines
Electronic Search Strategies: Search Engines
Skillful use of the Web requires knowledge of the different types of search tools, knowledge of good search techniques, and the ability to evaluate what you find.
The Web is a very interesting medium for research:
- Anyone can publish any kind of "information."
- A complete list of Web sites does not exist.
- There are no official organizers, catalogers, or evaluators.
- Sites constantly change; new sites are created and old sites disappear.
- There are no standards for Web search tools.
When you use the Web for research, don't assume:
- "You can find it faster."
- "The information is more current."
- "The information is just as reliable."
Searching is not evaluating.
Given the nature of Web information, it's vital to evaluate the Web pages you dig up. See Evaluating Web Pages for things to consider when evaluating a Web page.
On this page, "Web pages" means the "free Web " or Web sites anyone can access, not the Web-based research tools like the databases that your school library subscribes to for students and faculty.
