Grade 5 links to Homepage: Research Basics

Be Search Smart: helpful tips to to get the most out of your search

1. Use the tabs

On the top of every search are a number of tabs. Usually you’ll see Web, Image, News, and More. Using these tabs, you can help define what kind of search you need to do. If you need images, use the Image tab. If you are looking for a recent news article, use the News tab.

2. Use quotes

When searching for something specific, try using quotes to minimize the guesswork for Google search. When you put your search parameters in quotes, it tells the search engine to search for the whole phrase, instead of any content that contains those three words in any order.

3. Use a hyphen to exclude words

Sometimes you may find yourself searching for a word with an unclear or multiple meanings. An example is Mustang. When you Google search for Mustang, you may get results for both the car made by Ford or the horse. If you want to cut one out, use the hyphen to tell the engine to ignore content with one or the other. See the example below.

• Mustang -cars

This tells the search engine to search for mustangs but to remove any results that have the word “car” in it. 

4. Use a colon to search specific sites

There may be an instance where you need to Google search for articles or content on a certain type of website. The syntax is very simple and we’ll show you below.​

• by site:.edu
• or site:.gov

These results will be prioritized with this type of website at the top.

5. Search for multiple words at once

Google search is flexible. It knows you may not find what you want by searching only a single word or phrase. You can search for one word or phrase along with a second word or phrase. This can help narrow down your search to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

• chocolate OR white chocolate

This will search for pages that have either chocolate or white chocolate!

6. Keep it simple

Google search knows how to search for a lot of things. What this means is you don’t need to be too specific. There will come a time when Google search doesn’t shovel out the results you expect, but Google itself suggests, the best method is to start with something simple then gradually get more complicated. See the example below.

• First try: job interviews
• Second try: prepare for job interviews
• Third try: how to prepare for a job interview

This will gradually refine the search to bring you fewer, more targeted terms. 

7. Use words that websites would use

When people use Google search to hunt the web, they generally search for things using the same language that they would use for speaking. Unfortunately, websites don’t say things the way people do; instead, they try to use language that sounds professional. 

• “I have a flat tire” could be replaced by “repair a flat tire.”
• “My head hurts” could be replaced by “headache relief.”

 When searching, try to use terminology you would find on a professional website. This will help you get more reliable results.

8. Use important words only

The way Google search works is to take what you search for and match it with keywords in online content. When you search for too many words, it may limit your results. So, it is important to use only the important words when searching for something. 

• Don’t use: Where can I find a Chinese restaurant that delivers.
• Instead try: Chinese restaurants nearby.
• Or: Chinese restaurants near me.

Doing this can help Google find what you need without all the clutter. So remember, keep it simple and use important words only.

9. Spelling doesn’t necessarily matter

Google search has gotten a lot smarter over the years. These days, you don’t even need to spell words correctly. As long as it’s pretty close, Google can usually figure out what it means. Here are some examples.

• If you search “Nver Gna Gve Yo Up” Google will automatically assume you mean to search for “Never Gonna Give You Up.” If by chance your misspelling was intentional, Google gives you the option to search for the misspelled term instead.

This trick is great if you happen to forget how to spell something or are not altogether sure how something is spelled. It can also be helpful when searching for obscure words. This applies to capitalization and grammar as well.

Information from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html

Please remember some resources can only be accessed from school.

Detectives need to figure out why the author wrote the site - what was their purpose: to sell something, to teach you something, to be entertaining, or to convince you to help support their cause. Is the information biased or incomplete?

These are some questions to ask when determining if you have found a good Website:

Currency

• How recent is the information?
• How recently has the website been updated?
• Is it current enough for your topic?

Reliability 

• What kind of information is included in the resource?
• Is content of the resource primarily opinion?  Is it balanced?
• Does the creator provide references or sources for data or quotations?

Authority 

•  Who is the creator or author?
• What are the credentials? Can you find any information about the author's background?
• Who is the published or sponsor?
• Are they reputable?
• What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this information?

Purpose/Point of View 

• Is this fact or opinion? Does the author list sources or cite references?
• Is it biased? Does the author seem to be trying to push an agenda or particular side?
• Is the creator/author trying to sell you something? If so, is it clearly stated?

Extremely good websites are good in all these things. Remember, even adults can get tricked.

Adapted  from Molly Beestrum.