PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Almost anything that you could ever need to know is available on the World Wide Web. The trick is knowing how to find it. By learning to use search engines effectively, utilizing web resources (like databases, review sites, and RSS feeds), and practicing new research techniques you will quickly become adept at locating the information you need!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Search Engines Effectively

PDF download Download Article
  1. For the most part, everybody knows Google, but there are several other great search engines to work with. These include Bing, Yahoo, Lycos, and Ask.com. Rather than always relying on Google, experiment with a variety of search engines. Each one may return different results.
  2. When you use search engines, it is best to limit your query to a few concise words. Try to think of the simplest way to describe what you're looking for. You don't need to use complete sentences, rather simply type a few important terms.
    • For example, if you were trying to find information on the actor John Wayne, but you couldn't recall his name, you might try searching "cowboy actor."
    Advertisement
  3. Anytime you are looking for a specific phrase, type the phrase inside the quotes ("the phrase") and search it. The quotation marks tell your search engine to look for any place those specific words appear. This will help streamline your search, and weed out things that are not relevant to you.
  4. Whenever you search for something, try searching a few different ways. Use synonyms and/or put your query in a different form. This will cause your search engine to return different results, helping you locate what you need.
  5. Whenever you conduct research online, it is easy to move quickly and lose track of places you’ve visited. Use the bookmark function on your web browser to record useful websites as you go.
  6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Utilizing Web Resources

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you are looking for peer-reviewed academic articles, the best place to start is an academic database. If you attend (or work for) a university, you can probably access exclusive databases through your library’s online catalog. If this is not the case for you, try Jstor, ARTstor, Ebsco, or Google Scholar. Be aware, however, that not every article you find will be available for free.[1]
  2. The internet contains specialized online libraries for many, many different subjects. Seeking these collections can help to speed up your search, as well as provide reliable places to return to for all sorts of information.[2]
    • For information on the Arts, check out the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), Art Cyclopedia, or UBUWeb.
    • For information on history, try the Perseus Digital Library, Project Gutenberg, or Digital History.
    • For medical and scientific articles, visit BioMed Central.
  3. When individuals search for information online, they tend to think in terms of text, but many useful educational videos exist online as well! In fact, sometimes a video is the best way to learn what you seek. [3]
    • Many informative user-generated videos exists on Youtube.
    • For more reputable information provided by professionals, search for videos on TED (otherwise known as TED talks).
  4. If you are looking on the internet for something to buy, you can use review sites and/or price-comparison sites to locate the best version of what you need for a competitive price.
    • Review sites like Amazon, Reevoo, and Trustpilot can help you decide if a particular product is worthwhile.
    • Price-comparison sites like Money Supermarket and Comparethemarket.com can help you find the best price.
  5. Many websites operate newsfeeds (otherwise known as RSS feeds). You can use an RSS reader to compile information from various RSS feeds. This allows you to see when new information appears on your favorite sites, without having to visit them one at a time.
    • Some good RSS readers include Feedly, Newsblur, and Flipboard (tablet only).
    EXPERT TIP
    Tyrone Showers

    Tyrone Showers

    Technologist
    Tyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.
    Tyrone Showers
    Tyrone Showers
    Technologist

    Follow your favorite websites' updates by subscribing to RSS feeds. An RSS feed is a web feed that enables easy distribution of website content to other applications. Look for an RSS feed icon or link on the website and click it to subscribe. You will be able to receive updates directly in your preferred RSS reader.

  6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Learning Research Techniques

PDF download Download Article
  1. Before you begin any kind of search, it is best to think carefully about what kind of information you need. For instance, what subject field does this information fit into? (Is it art, science, how-to, etc?) Then (now that you are aware of some different types of online resources) consider where information like this could be found.
  2. Think about what you need to know. Identify three or more key terms that are central to your search before you begin. These terms are going to guide your search. Searching for these terms through search engines, databases, or online libraries will lead in the direction of the information you need.
  3. Whenever you find information online, read through it and figure it out whether it is a primary source, or if it is referencing something else. Most of the time, this information can be found on a web page, however, if you find information with no author data or citations at all, it may be suspect.
  4. Most strong online articles with contain citations or footnotes. These are places where you can learn more about the subject you are studying! Follow these footnotes to the primary sources your author is citing. This is the best way to gain a deeper knowledge of a subject.
  5. Whenever you conduct research (online or otherwise) it is essential for you to take notes. Keep a log of the websites you visit. Next to each one, jot down anything useful you learned, and any other important notes to remember. This way, when you go back and try to use the information you have obtained, you have a handy guide showing you where you find what.
  6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

  • Do not give up too quickly. Sometimes content is out there and is just waiting for right word to be typed in.


Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Do not rely on translation sites for perfect translations. They are approximate and frequently make very odd errors that do not accurately reflect the language.


Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Turn Off Google Safesearch Disable Google Safe Search
Use Google Scholar Use Google Scholar for Academic Research
Make Bing Your Default Search EngineSwitch Your Default Search Engine to Bing: Easy Steps
Search by Image on GoogleReverse Image Search in Google Lens: Android, iPhone, & Desktop
Search GoogleSearch Google
Check Google History View Your Google Search Activity & Browsing History
Use Bing Search EngineUse Bing Search Engine
Get Bing Off Your Computer7 Easy Ways to Get Bing Off Your Computer
Find The Most Searched Keywords Find the Most Searched Keywords: 5 Free Tools for SEO
Remove Bing from Chrome2 Fast Ways to Remove Bing from Chrome: PC, Mac, & Mobile
Use Google to Search Within a Specific WebsiteUse Google to Search Within a Specific Website
Find Pictures of SomeoneFind Pictures of Someone
Search the Internet Search the Internet & Find Exactly What You Want
Search the Deep WebSearch the Deep Web
Advertisement

About This Article

Anar Kazimov
Co-authored by:
Digital Marketing Expert
This article was co-authored by Anar Kazimov. Anar Kazimov is a Digital Marketing Expert based in Vancouver, Canada. He is the Owner and Marketing Director of Pixel Prodigies, a company created to help business owners achieve more sales by revamping their digital portfolio. He has helped the NIH, IBM, Canadian film studios, Rolex dealerships, and many other firms in their marketing campaigns. He previously had a career in the IT industry and worked at Freelancer.com. He received a BS in Computer Science from the University of Victoria. This article has been viewed 123,444 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 15
Updated: October 20, 2024
Views: 123,444
Categories: Search Engines
Article SummaryX

To find information online, start by typing in few simple search terms using the search engine of your choice. If you need very precise results, put quotations marks around your search terms to get results that contain those exact words or phrases. It's also a good idea to try synonyms and rephrasing your queries to complete a thorough search. If you're looking for a specific kind of information, you can use specialized online libraries such as academic databases, IMDb, medical archives, and video databases. For more tips on search techniques, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 123,444 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Joyce Williams

    Joyce Williams

    May 25, 2017

    "It very informative for starters like me. "
Share your story

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement