Tips for Searching

Updated Feb 18, 2005

1. Questions. Start by asking questions you want to answer for your topic.
2. Reference. Try to get quick answers to these questions using encyclopedias, reference materials, and dictionaries. These resources will provide you with the background necessary to pick appropriate sources and search terms. As you read from these sources, write down some potential search terms, synonyms, important companies or people involved in your topic.
3. Library Catalog. Use the online catalog to search the school’s books and videos. Peruse the books for content related to your topic. When searching for books, you may need to enter broad search terms. For example, “cold war” rather than “Russia race to the moon”. Use the advanced features of the online catalog for more success. The advanced features can be found at www.turnerfenton.com > library > research help > library catalog advanced search.
4. Licensed Databases. Use the online subscription databases to search for information on your topic. These sources will provide you with full text articles from Canadian and International Newspapers. These resources count as print resources. While you accessed them online, they were first published in print format. Access these resources through www.turnerfenton.com > library > licensed databases.
5. Public Library. Using your Brampton Library Card, you can search and place holds on books in the Brampton Library. Also, you have access to dozens of subscription databases. Access these resources through www.bramlib.on.ca.
6. Internet Search engines. Use at least three different search engines to broaden the range of hits. When entering search terms be specific and use the advanced searching techniques. (Go to www.turnerfenton.com > library > Research Help > Google Advanced Search for advanced Google searching techniques.) Don’t forget to use some of the search terms, synonyms, people, and companies that you learned about from the reference research. When you find sites that seem suitable, place them in your favourites in a directory that you have created for this research assignment. To see a list of reputable search engines or meta engines go to www.turnerfenton.com > library > Internet Search Tools.
7. Internet Directories. Librarians and scholars who are dedicated to evaluating websites have set up links to sites they deem to be valuable. Why waste hours searching when someone has already done the leg work? To see a list of reputable directories, go to www.turnerfenton.com > library > Internet Search Tools.
8. Evaluate the Source for Relevance. As you research, you must constantly make decisions about the bias and reliability of information. Generally books are considered reliable because they have been through rigorous publishing standards. Likewise with magazines and newspapers. However, even among books, magazines, and newspapers, there are biases and cases where information has been erroneous or falsified. Where web based information is concerned, you have to be more rigorous in your evaluation. You can never be sure who is writing material. Also, many sites are posted by students, like you, who may not have properly researched the information they posted. Pages that are well designed, give information about the authors, include dates and sources of information are more likely to be reliable. Also, webpages published by well known businesses, organizations, institutions, and government can be considered to be reliable. In the end, you must always make your own judgment. Verify information, by checking various sources before considering the information valid.