General Tips for Basic Internet-Based Research

The following guideline and tips are aimed to help you develop a research protocol that is both productive and efficient:

• Identify the Goals of Your Research 
• start with an initial node or interest as you will make several cycles through your research protocol as you narrow your focus
• Get Organized
• create folders and organization scheme for research project
• use Google Drive, Dropbox or SkyDrive for cloud storage
• create Word or Excel (or Google Doc) file to track searches, sources, authors and ideas
• Determine key words and phrases
• find common synonyms and terms of arts
• always look at found sources' key words and bibliographies for potential research nodes
• Start with WikiPedia
• Use WikiPedia to help familiarize yourself with major concepts and use the additional resources and citations (at bottom of entry) as potential additional sources or nodes
• Don't cite WikiPedia, rather use it as learning tool, both regarding your research content and own information literacy
• Move to Google
• take advantage of suggested and related searches, as Google automatically combines natural and Boolean searches
• always look beyond the first page of results (90% of people do not)
• use advanced search tips and tricks
• adapt, combine and vary search terms and phrases
• if you are looking for a specific type of file, search by file extension (e.g. .pdf, .jpeg, etc.)
• Go To GoogleScholar next (or paid databases if you have access--LexisNexis, ProQuest, WorldCat, etc.)
• use advanced search functions such as date, type of source, citations in other articles, etc.
•  Find Relevant Specialized Search Engines:
• Specialized Search Engines and Directories
• InfoMine Scholarly Internet Research Collections
• Choose the Best Search for Your Information Need
•  Rinse and Repeat