2. Internet Searching

Introduction

There are occasions in academic research where it also may be useful to search the world wide web for information. While we recommend that you go to your CIT Library or its website and use its print materials, online databases or e-books to access peer reviewed literature as a first step, many other sources of academic and other information are now also available through the web.

But if you do choose this option, why is it important to learn how to search the internet properly? Which Browser is best? What search engine will ensure good academic results? Can you improve your settings?

The internet is huge and your time is limited. So it is important to be able to search the internet effectively and efficiently. Otherwise you could be 'browsing' until the cows come home, or your deadline has passed. Is that a problem?

If you search Google with the term 'Management' you will get about 740,000,000 hits. That's about 739,999,990 more than you need and almost all of them will be worthless to you. But how do you know which 10 hits are the ones you need? Or should you use a better search term?

Also you won't want to miss out on any potentially useful information. You cannot browse through 740,000,000 items so you need to be more specific with your search term(s). But how?

In some subject areas, there may be bogus or incorrect information posted on the net. How will you know this? What are the 'giveaways' to point you to useless sources of information?

Some sites may be vital to you. How will you recognise them? Do you have to go into them first?

All these questions should be answered before you begin to utilise or spend your valuable time reading or downloading from the internet.


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