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Building a Library Research Strategy: Search the Internet

This guide will help students develop a research strategy for finding information for papers or projects.

What is this page for?

This page provides tips and techniques for searching the Internet

Search tips for Google

  • Limit searches to domains 
  • Search exact phrases
  • Search for terms only in a part of a document, like the title
  • To search specific languages or in certain regions
  • Maintain better control over the types of results you get
  • To see a demonstration of what it looks like, WATCH THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL
  • Search academic articles

Use Google Basic Search Help

Use Google Search Operators

Awesome Websites

Sometimes websites can provide excellent resources to support your ideas. Make sure you are checking the credibility of the internet source by checking with your instructor, a librarian, or by using tools for evaluating sources.

The following are a few reliable internet sources to try:

  • Allsides - Balanced news/ media bias 
  • Brookings Institution - Non-profit Public Policy. Researches societal issues.
  • Data.gov - Open data from the U.S. Government
  • Futurity - Research news from top universities
  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) - Provides evidence-based international data on a range of global issues 
  • Pew Research - Nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.
  • Snopes.com - Fact checking site
  • World Factbook from the CIA - Provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
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