HIS: History Research Guide: Finding Web Sources

Some important things to remember.

• Web sites may not be the best sources of information for your assignment.
• Not all Web sites can be accessed through search engines.
• Web sites must be scrutinized closely for accuracy, currency, bias, and authority.

Try this guide from the State University of New York at Albany for help Evaluating Web Content.

Think beyond Google and look for the search tool that best meets your needs.  Options include:

• Single search engines
• Meta search engines
• Specialized search engines
• Directories
• Deep Web directories

Basic Google searching is pretty simple.  You type in some search terms andclick the Search button. 

Here are some things that can make your searches more effective:

• Word order matters.
• Word choice also affects your search results.
• Use quotation marks to search for phrases that have a distinct meaning.  For example: "body image" or "racial identity." 
• Punctuation is generally ignored. 
• Keep your searches simple.
  • Omit unnecessary terms
  • Avoid stop words

Use advanced search features to improve your search results. Read the Advanced Search Tips to learn more.  Click here for the advanced search page. 

Select the Primary Sources tab for tips on finding primary sources on the Web.