The short answer is yes, Google is a very useful research tool. However, like any tool it can’t do everything (you wouldn’t use a hammer on a screw).
Also like any tool, it helps to learn the most effective and safe ways to use it. Here are two core principles on using Google as a research tool:
Understand what Google is doing with your search. Google’s search algorithm finds websites that contain your search words but shows the most popular sites first. This works well for many everyday information needs (That great recipe for lemon bars, the name of that actor in that movie) but it’s not as helpful for your academic or job-related research needs. We don’t need what’s popular, but what’s reliable, accurate, authoritative.
Be specific about what you want. This is one way to push Google past the typical popular and “sponsored” (advertised) sites.
Being specific also helps shift your own mindset from a more passive acceptance of what Google hands you, to taking control of your search and saying what you want.
For example you might want statistics, research, or news. Do you prefer a scholarly source like a journal, a national news site, or a government report? Tell Google what you want.
You can find an in-depth guide to Google searching on the library website, at https://guides.kirkwood.edu/evaluatingweb/searching. But here are some quick tips to try out today:
Use quotation marks to require that a word or phrase appear exactly as you enter them. “Only the lonely” singer searches for the exact phrase in quotes, and also signals the information you’re looking for about the song.
Use a minus sign to exclude a word, phrase, or site from the results. A minus sign can also exclude the AI summary from your results: just add -ai in your search. It’s as simple as that!
Finally, remember to add some library databases to your tool belt! Check out A-Z Databases (guides.kirkwood.edu/az/databases) for a complete list of online resources available to you.
Categories: Feature, Library Update
