Webinar Study Notes on Research Techniques

Webinar Overview

• Webinar presented by Erica Goetz, librarian at Penn Foster, and instructor for the Information Literacy course.

• The session focuses on key points from Lesson Two, the largest lesson in the course, in preparation for the Lesson Two exam.

Section 1: Browsers and Search Engines

• Definitions:

  • Browser: A software application that connects users to the internet via devices such as phones, tablets, and computers.

  • Example: Google Chrome is a widely used browser.

  • Search Engine: A tool that assists in locating information on the internet while operating within a browser.

  • Example: Google is the most popular search engine.

• Functionality and Compatibility:

  • Browsers and search engines function together (e.g., Google Chrome and Google).

  • Different search engines may work more efficiently with specific browsers.

• Variety of Search Engines:

  • All search engines have basic functions but differ in specifics and functionalities.

  • Some search engines are tailored for academic use, beneficial for assignments.

  • Familiarize yourself with the unique features of each search engine.

• Metasearch Engines:

  • Metasearch engines aggregate results from multiple search engines.

  • Important: Explore metasearch engine options in the course for extensive search results.

• Core Tasks of Search Engines:

  • Crawl: Access the internet to discover content.

  • Index: Organize the content collected during the crawling process.

  • Match: Correlate user queries with indexed content.

  • Locate: Identify the content meeting the search criteria.

  • Display: Present results to the user.

  • Definition Access: Get definitions for each task in the course.

• Library Resources:

  • The Penn Foster Library provides access to various resources beyond the internet.

  • Local public libraries offer additional resources, including interlibrary loan requests for fiction books.

  • Key Websites:

  • Library of Congress: Houses extensive digital collections.

  • WorldCat: Connects users to library catalogs worldwide for material availability.

• Databases vs. Search Engines:

  • Databases: Specialized platforms containing focused, limited content.

  • Example: PubMed, which provides scholarly articles on sciences and biomedical topics.

  • Results are more reliable compared to general search engines.

• PowerSearch Tool:

  • Enables simultaneous searching across all Gale subscription databases.

  • Returns a variety of results, including eBooks, scholarly journal articles, newspaper articles, and videos.

Section 2: Effective Search Strategies

• Keyword Usage in Databases:

  • Use keywords instead of complete questions for database searches.

  • Example: For the query "how does the flu spread," use keywords "flu" and "spread."

  • Boolean Operators:

  • AND: Connects different concepts.

  • OR: Connects synonyms or similar topics.

  • NOT: Excludes certain terms from the search.

  • Boolean operators enhance specificity in search results.

• Search Tricks:

  • Truncation: Symbol (usually an asterisk) replaces letters at the end of a word to include variations.

  • Example: "educat*" searches for educate, education, educator.

  • Wildcards: Symbol replaces a single letter within a word.

  • Example: "wom*n" retrieves woman, women, etc.

  • Plus and Minus Symbols:

  • Plus (+): Functions similarly to AND.

    • Example: "flu + spread" means both terms must be present.

  • Minus (-): Functions similarly to NOT.

    • Example: "flu - cold" excludes "cold" from results.

Section 3: Assessing Source Reliability

• Evaluation of search results is crucial. Consider the following:

  • Coverage: Does the source adequately cover the topic?

  • Author Credentials: Is the author reputable?

  • Recency: Is the source published recently?

  • Domain evaluation: Preference for sources from .edu or .gov over .com for reliability.

  • Click on course links for detailed evaluation methods and sources.