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Using the Internet
While searching the internet, especially doing a Google search seems to be the easiest and most natural thing to do, in reality doing effective internet searching on a scholarly level requires a thorough knowledge of both searching techniques and of your field. The following sources may help you do a more effective search and get more out of the internet.
- Evaluating InformationList of criteria to apply to determine if a web site is credible and scholarly.
- Evaluating Information Found on the InternetA detailed list of criteria for evaluating web sites produced by Johns Hopkins University.
Deep Web: What It Is
The "deep web" is all the pages and sites untouched by the more familiar "surface web". Examples of deep web material include directories, virtual libraries search engine results, text of datasets, web pages listed below the top ranked pages, and material in digital repsitories. Much scientific research resides in the deep web.
For more information on the deep web, please see the link below.
- The Ultimate Guide to the Invisible WebWritten by Open Education Database, describes the invisible web, how to access it and the pros and cons of using it.
Deep Web Resources
The sources listed below are able to do deep web searches.
- Science.gov This link opens in a new window
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- What’s included? This gateway links to all government scientific and technical web sites. "Searches over 60 databases and over 2,200 scientific websites to provide users with access to more than 200 million pages of authoritative federal science information including research and development results."
- OSTI.gov (Office of Scientific and Technical Information)
- This link opens in a new window
Searches across databases, R&D project summaries, conference proceedings, and much more. Emphasis is on energy and energy related material.