Last week we brought you a set of tips to power up your Google searches. This week we bring you Part II, other hints & tips from research librarian Ann Cullen. These tricks are more focused on strategies to keep in mind when you are having difficulty finding the information you want or when the results you are getting are questionable in quality.
Here are a few of her search strategies:
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Consider language, what additional terms could be used to describe it?
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What’s included and what’s missing (phrases, exclude words, synonyms)?
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Where does this information potentially live (insite, inurl)?
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What other source might help me get closer to what I’m looking for (trade associations, conferences)?
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What type of content might it be (filetype, image, diagram)?
- What’s the credibility of content (source, date range)?
If you are really stuck Ann’s recommendation is to combine several options to create a much more powerful search. Consider the following examples that combine last week’s Google tips with this week’s helpful hints.
Looking for information on trends in vision correction~vision ~treatment opthamolog* ~trends filetype:pdf 2012..2013Looking for reports on graphene from top consulting firms~graphene inurl:mckinsey | “boston consulting” | bain | booz | deloitte | pricewaterhousecoopers | ernstLooking for current treatments for breast cancer~”breast cancer” treatment 2011…2013 related:”www.cancer.org”Looking for the world’s top suppliers of urinary catheters~world “urinary catheters” ~suppliers
What is your favorite Google search tip or trick?