Research+Tips+and+Tricks


 * Research Tips and Tricks**

**Effective GOOGLE Searching**

 * **1. Put phrases in quotation marks i.e ** **. "multiple intelligences"** **.**


 * 2. Words are like beads on a string, the addition of each word**
 * or phrase is like adding one more bead to a string that will**
 * narrow down your search i.e. "Mark Twain" biography .**


 * 3. Use a minus sign to exclude a word from your search i.e.**
 * vikings -Minnesota .**


 * 4. To find reliable research quality information use the site**
 * operator- site:edu or site:gov or site:org -wikipedia ( wikipedia**
 * is ok to get an idea about your topic but should not be a cited**
 * source) i.e.**
 * "skin cancer" symptoms site:org -wikipedia **
 * "skin cancer" symptoms site:gov **
 * "skin cancer" symptoms site:edu **


 * 5. To find a particular type of file use the file operator- file:wav**
 * or file:pdf . Some examples:**
 * country name "national anthem" file:midi **
 * Holocaust Germany file:pdf **


 * 6. The least effective way to search Google is to type a question**
 * into the search box.** || media type="custom" key="20632893" align="center" ||

**Effective Database Searching**

 * **1. Boolean operators are "and", "or", "not" and using one of**
 * them is to do a "simple" search i.e.**
 * jazz AND blues -this search finds articles that compare jazz and **
 * blues. And always narrows a search. **
 * jazz OR blues -this search finds articles that discuss either jazz or **
 * blues. OR always broadens a search. **
 * jazz NOT blues -this search finds articles that are only about jazz. **
 * NOT always excludes records with the specified term. **


 * 2. Some databases assume boolean "AND" between adjacent **
 * words in a keyword search i.e. **
 * colon cancer - the implied AND means that a search for colon **
 * cancer will retrieve colon AND cancer not the phrase colon cancer. **


 * 3. Use NOT very carefully. NOT is appropriate when a word is used **
 * in different contexts i.e. **
 * vikings NOT minnesota -this search retrieves records about Vikings **
 * but not Minnesota Vikings. **


 * 4. Do subject searching versus keyword searching. ** ||
 * media type="custom" key="10675180" ||