Notes on the Internet Based Research Skills

0. OPENING REMARKS

• This seminar provides a general-purpose methodology.
• It is based on ideas and materials first developed in: Ciolek (2009).
• For additional notes on the art of online research please see: Ciolek (2005).
• Participants are stronly urged to further develop and hone their skills through extensive reading and through focused, deliberate "hunts" for specific items of online information.

1. THE TWELVE STAGES OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH & THE REQUIRED SKILLS

Scholarly research is a craft which, from a normative point of view, comprises at least twelve consecutive stages:

1. Orientation (see also Meyer 2007).
2. Focussed preparation.
3. Information-seeking: identifying, locating, and accessing relevant information.
4. Accessed-information screening.
5. The first corrective feedback loop.
6. Data tidying.
7. Data evaluation.
8. The second feedback loop.
9. Storage.
10. Analysis and ordering.
11. Judgment and conclusions.
12. Writing.

Table 1.
Online Research Skills and Stages of Work.

SKILLS & STAGES	Conceptual skills *	Detective skills #	Navigational skills	Record keeping skills	Social skills
1. ORIENTATION	yes
2. FOCUSSED PREPARATION	yes
3. INFORMATION-SEEKING	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
4. ACCESSED-INFORMATION SCREENING	yes	yes		yes
5. THE FIRST CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK LOOP	yes	yes	yes
6. DATA TIDYING				yes
7. DATA EVALUATION	yes			yes
8. THE SECOND FEEDBACK LOOP	yes	yes	yes
9. STORAGE				yes
10. ANALYSIS	yes			yes
11. JUDGMENT	yes			yes
12. WRITING	yes			yes

* Conceptual skills - maintaining good focus on the relationship between Questions and Answers.
# Detective skills - maintaining good focus on the relationship between Questions and Sources & Sources and Answers.

2. THE NINE TYPES OF SOURCES OF ONLINE INFORMATION

1. Data Bases.
2. Search Engines.
3. Directories.
4. Repositories.
5. "Flowing" websites.
6. "Frozen" websites.
7. Collaborations.
8. Gatherings.
9. Feeds

Src: Ciolek (2009).

For a list of examples of those type of sources see: Ciolek (2009).

3. THE TEN TYPES OF DATA-GATHERING TECHNIQUES

1. Ask
2. Query
3. Search
4. Browse
5. Track
6. Comb
7. Monitor
8. Collect input
9. Trigger input
10. Invite input

Src: Ciolek (2009).

4. SOME EFFECTIVE SEARCH TECHNIQUES

There are many proven methods of extracting extra information from recalcitrant search engines.

A. Judicious choice of search terms

1. Use the "FOREST LOG" approach
• First of all, according to Harris, use the FO or the range of key Forms and Formulas. (when searching for "validity of testing" try also words "test", "testing", and "tests.")
• Next, try using RE or Related terms, such as: "measurement, assessment, performance, criteria, judgment, evaluation, and so forth." (Harris 2000).
• Thirdly, use ST or Synonymous Terms.
• Use different LOGs or the Ladders of Generalization (Harris 2000).
2. Take advantage of deliberate spelling mistakes to retrieve hitherto untapped target information (Ravia 2008b).
3. Use "phrase search" in addition to the "word search".


B. The use of the inbuilt search features of a search engine

4. Use Boolean searches.
5. Use the special technical features of search engines;


C. The use of many different search engines

6. Use several different general purpose search engines
7. Use regional/country specific search engines.
8. Use foreign language search engines.
9. Use topical, specialist search engines.
10. Finally, use meta search engines.

Src: Ciolek (2009).

5. ONLINE RESOURCES vs. DATA-GATHERING TECHNIQUES

Table 2.
Online Research: Effective Combinations of Online Resources and Data-Gathering Techniques
and Their Relative Usefulness.

RESOURCES & TECHNIQUES	1. Data Bases	2. Search Engines	3. Direct.	4. Reposit.	5. "Flowing" websites	6. "Frozen" websites	7. Collab.	8. Gather.	9. Feeds	Usefulness Score of the Techniques
1. Ask							yes	yes		2
2. Query	yes									1
3. Search		yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes		7
4. Browse			yes	yes	yes	yes	yes		yes	6
5. Track		yes		yes		yes	yes	yes		5
6. Comb		yes		yes		yes	yes	yes		5
7. Monitor						yes	yes	yes	yes	4
8. Collect input					yes		yes	yes		3
9. Trigger input							yes	yes		2
10. Invite input					yes			yes		2
Usefulness Score of the Resources	1	3	2	4	4	5	8	8	2	[not  applicable]

Src: Ciolek (2009).

6. ONLINE RESEARCH SKILLS vs. DATA-GATHERING TECHNIQUES

Table 3.
Online Research Skills and Data-Gathering Techniques.

SKILLS & DATA-GATHERING TECHNIQUES	Conceptual skills *	Detective skills #	Navigational skills	Record keeping skills	Social skills
1. ASK	yes			yes	yes
2. QUERY	yes	yes		yes
3. SEARCH	yes	yes	yes	yes
4. BROWSE	yes	yes	yes	yes
5. TRACK	yes	yes	yes	yes
6. COMB	yes	yes	yes	yes
7. MONITOR	yes	yes		yes
8. COLLECT INPUT	yes			yes	yes
9. TRIGGER INPUT	yes	yes		yes	yes
10. INVITE INPUT	yes			yes	yes

* Conceptual skills - maintaining good focus on the relationship between Questions and Answers.
# Detective skills - maintaining good focus on the relationship between Questions and Sources & Sources and Answers.

7. CONCLUDING REMARKS

• The task of information gathering goes far beyond the rushed, non-reflective use of any of the well-marketed search engines, or copying off the screen materials published by the Wikipedia.
• Information-seeking is a complex and highly skilled enterprise - It involves patient and systematic thinking, long attention spans, heightened attention to detail, and the ability to make quick inspired guesses with regard to logical connections between seemingly unrelated bundles of pointers and contents.
• It is best performed as a result of deliberate, focusssed, and meticulous preparation.

8. WORKS DEALING WITH ONLINE RESEARCH

Sources of online information

Beck 2008,
Blackhurst 2008,
C. Harris 2006,
R. Harris 2008,
NIASLINC n.d.,
Ravia 2000b,
Zillman 2008.

Information-seeking tools

Bergman 2001,
Cohen 2008d, 2008e
Google 2008,
Ravia 2008d.

Information-finding techniques

Cohen 2008a, 2008b, 2008c, 2008d
Harris 2000,
Monash University Library 2004,
Overture Services 2007,
Ravia 2000a, 2002a, 2002b, 2004b, 2008a, 2008b, 2008c.

Pitfalls faced by novices or careless online researchers

Cohen 2008d,
Harris 1997,
Mississauga Librarians 2008,
NIASLINC n.d.,
Ravia 2008a.

Information quality and evaluation

Alexander & Tate 1999,
Blackhurst 2008,
Harris 2007,
Jacobson 2008,
Kirk 1996,
Ravia 2004a,
Sebek 2007,
Smith 2008.

Citation formats for electronic sources of information

Greenhill & Fletcher 2003,
Warlick 2006,
Xia Li & Crane 1995.

9. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alexander, Jan. E., Tate, Marsha Ann. 1999. Web Wisdom: How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web, London: Lawrence: Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Beck, Susan. E. 2008. Using the Internet for Academic Research, Las Cruces, NM: New Mexico State University Library.
http://lib.nmsu.edu/ital/research.html

Blackhurst, Hector. 2008. Internet Anthropologist, Manchester: Intute Virtual Training Suite.
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/he/tutorial/anthropologist

Ciolek, T. Matthew. 2005. Notes on the Internet Based Research Techniques. Indonesian Studies Graduate Summer School 2005, ANU, Canberra, January 31, 2005.
http://www.ciolek.com/PAPERS/online-research-techniques.html

Ciolek, T. Matthew. 2009. The logistics of effective online information seeking.
http://www.ciolek.com/PAPERS/logistics-of-online-information-seeking.html

Cohen, Laura. 2008a. Boolean Searching on the Internet, Albany, NY: Internet Tutorials.
http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html

Cohen, Laura. 2008b. Checklist of Internet Research Tips, Albany, NY: Internet Tutorials.
http://www.internettutorials.net/checklist.html

Cohen, Laura. 2008c. Conducting Research on the Internet, Albany, NY: Internet Tutorials.
http://www.internettutorials.net/research.html

Cohen, Laura. 2008d. Getting Started: Selecting a Tool for Your Search, Albany, NY: Internet Tutorials.
http://www.internettutorials.net/started.html

Cohen, Laura. 2008e. How to Choose a Search Engine or Directory, Albany, NY: Internet Tutorials.
http://www.internettutorials.net/choose.html

Google Inc. 2008. Google Web Search Help, Mountain View, CA: Google Inc.
http://www.google.com/support/?ctx=web

Gorman, Michael. 1995. The Corruption of Cataloging, "Library Journal", 120(15), s. 32-34.

Greenhill, Anita, Fletcher, Gordon. 2003. Electronic References & Scholarly Citations of Internet Sources, Manchester: spaceless.com
http://www.spaceless.com/WWWVL/

Harris, Charlie. 2006. Welcome to the Internet Search FAQ How to Find Information, People, Data, Text, Pictures, Sounds and Almost Anything Else on the Net, London: Charles Harris.
http://www.search-faq.com

Harris, Robert. 1997. Biases Affecting Information Processing, Tustin, CA: VirtualSalt.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/infobias.htm

Harris, Robert. 2000. Internet Search Tips and Strategies, Tustin, CA: VirtualSalt.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/howlook.htm

Harris, Robert. 2007. Evaluating Internet Research Sources, Tustin, CA: VirtualSalt.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Harris, Robert. 2008. World Wide Web Research Tools, Tustin, CA: VirtualSalt.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/search.htm

Jacobson, Trudi. E. 2008. Evaluating Web Content, Albany NY: University Libraries, University at Albany.
http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/evalweb/

Kirk, Elizabeth. E. 1996. Evaluating Information Found on the Internet, Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University.
http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/

Meyer, Herbert. E. 2007. How to Analyse Information: A Step-by-Step Guide to Life's Most Vital Skill, Friday Harbor, WA: Storm King Press.
http://www.howtoanalyzeinformation.com/

Mississauga Librarians. 2008. Research Using the Internet, Toronto: University of Toronto Mississauga Library.
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/library/instruction/researchinternet.html

Monash University Library. 2004. Library Online Tutorials: Internet research with Google Advanced Search, Melbourne: Monash University.
http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/google/googlcont.htm

NIASLINC. n.d. . Internet searching: Find reliable information on the web, including full electronic texts using the Library Catalogue, Search Engines, Directories and Gateways etc., Copenhagen: NIAS Library & Information Centre.
http://www.niaslinc.dk/niaslinc/searchguide/searching_internet.asp

Overture Services, Inc. 2007. Altavista Advanced Web Search, Sunnyvale, CA: Overture Services, Inc.
http://www.altavista.com/web/adv

Ravia, Fjalar. 2000a. Searching, combing, klebing, luring, hacking, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/milano/milan3.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2000b. Where else to look: usenet / local / regional, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/milano/milan5.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2002a. The yo-yo technique and a discussion about search engines' depth, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/yoyo1.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2002b. The synecdochical searching method, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/synecdoc.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2004a. Evaluating results, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/evaluate.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2004b. Basic must know, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/basimk.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2008a. How to access and exploit the shallow deep web, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/deepweb_searching.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2008b. Short term searching: tips, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/tips.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2008c. Long term searching: rules and advice, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/longtermsearching.htm

Ravia, Fjalar. 2008d. Main search engines at searchlores, Brussels: Web Searchlores.
http://www.fravia.com/main.htm

Rinaldi, Arlene H. 1998. The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette, Boca Raton, FL: Florida Atlantic University.
http://web.archive.org/web//http://www.fau.edu/rinaldi/netiquette.html

Sebek, Robert. 2007. Bibliography on evaluating web information, Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Tech University Libraries.
http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/instruct/evaluate/evalbiblio.html

Sheehan, Kim B., Grubbs Hoy, Mariea. 1999. Using E-mail To Survey Internet Users In The United States: Methodology And Assessment, "Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication", 4(3), s. 0-0.
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol4/issue3/sheehan.html

Smith, Alastair. 2008. Evaluation of information sources, Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/staff/alastair_smith/evaln/evaln.htm

Stewart, Sarah. 2003. Casting the net: using the internet for survey research, "British Journal of Midwifery",
11(9), s. 543-546.

Warlick, David. 2006. Son of Citation Machine: Serving Students & Teachers K-12, College, & University, Raleigh, NC: The Landmark Project.
http://citationmachine.net/

Xia Li, Crane, Nancy. 1995. Bibliographic Formats for Citing Electronic Information, Burlington, VT: The University of Vermont.
http://web.archive.org/web//http://www.uvm.edu/~ncrane/estyles

Zhang, Yin. 2000. Using the Internet for survey research: A case study, "Journal of the American Society for Information Science", 51(1), s. 57-68.

Zillman, Marcus P. 2008. Searching the Internet: A Primer, Coral Gables, FL: Virtual Private Library.
http://WhitePapers.VirtualPrivateLibrary.net/Searching the Internet.pdf

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