Search engines like Google are powerful tools to find information online. But, they are only as good as the search terms that you type into them! This guide will explain how to use a search engine to get the results you want.
Try again, and again (and again.)
You’ll learn quickly that the first time you search something online, you are unlikely to get the result you need or want. This means going back and re-thinking the search terms you have used. Think: how can you rephrase what you have searched, and what other questions can you ask to find out the information you want.
Don’t search whole sentences
Search engines are not designed to spit out answers to questions. Think carefully about the keywords you need to search in order to get the right result.
For example:
Are prisons effective at punishment?
effectiveness prisons punishment
What are you really searching for?
If your research question is to find out about the effectiveness of prisons, it’s unlikely you’ll find out much information about this topic by simply searching “effectiveness of prisons.” In reality, you need to consider what you really want to find out about:
- Effectiveness of meeting their aims: punishment, protecting the public, rehabilitation and deterrence
- Protecting prisoner and staff safety
- Reoffending rates
All of the above will lead you to answers relating to the effectiveness of prisons. So, you should search for information specifically on these topics, which will help answer your overall research question.
