Internet Searching - Further Help
The following links will provide you with further help and advice on using search engines and subject gateways. If you require additional help, please ask for help at your campus library.Internet Detective (Intute Virtual Training Suite)
This tutorial offers practical advice on evaluating the quality of web sites and highlights the need for care when selecting online information sources to inform university or college work.
Intute Virtual Training Suite
Online tutorials with exercises and worked examples on using and evaluating Internet resources in specific subject areas, e.g. medicine, law, history and social work.
Search Engine Watch
Up-to-date information on search engines, how search engines find and rank Web pages. Includes reviews, tutorials and a free regular e-mail newsletter.
The Online Netskills Interactive Course (TONIC)
The Online Netskills Interactive Course offers step-by-step, practical guidance on major Internet topics, ranging from basic through to advanced.
If you wish to find out more about future developments in search engine technology, for example the use of artificial intelligence in the form of intelligent angents and bots in searching the Internet etc., look at BotSpot
Search Tips
Always, read the search engine's online help for tips on searching and keep your search as precise as possible! General Search Tips
Evaluating Internet Resources
Search engines can give you access to thousands if not millions of Web pages, but the quality of this information varies considerably. Internet based information can be inaccurate, out-of-date, biased and false etc. Therefore, you need to critically evaluate the quality of the information that you find.
Tips for evaluating Internet resources:
- Remember that anyone can set up their own web site and publish anything without going through the rigorous process of editing or peer review which applies to printed academic books and journals.
- Check the educational or occupational background of the author/creator. Is s/he someone connected with a respected educational/professional association, institution or publisher?
- When was the information/page last updated? If the information has not been updated in the last six months or year, it is more than likely to be out-of-date or inaccurate.
- How objective is the information? Is there a bias? The Internet may be used for propaganda and publishing campaign literature and information may reflect the personal or political bias of the creators or authors. Check the statement of scope, introduction or the about us... section for clues to this.
- The Internet is also a marketplace - it is used for selling products and services and for commercial advertising. Is the information promotional?
- For a good introduction to evaluating Internet resources, visit Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask and/or Virtual Training Suite Internet Instructor