Advanced Guide to Searching the Internet

Think about the best way to find legal information Three ways of locating information on the internet Three ways of locating information on the internet Use a search engine Use a search engine Use a subject directory eg Emalus library’s ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page Use a subject directory eg Emalus library’s ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page Search specialized databases (the “invisible” web) Search specialized databases (the “invisible” web)

Recommended Search Strategy 1.Analyse your topic to decide where to begin 1.Analyse your topic to decide where to begin 2.Select key words and phrases that are relevant to your topic 2.Select key words and phrases that are relevant to your topic 3.Pick the right starting place to begin your research (search engine, directory, or invisible web) 3.Pick the right starting place to begin your research (search engine, directory, or invisible web) 4. Use the “advanced search” screen and “search tips” advice available on most good websites 4. Use the “advanced search” screen and “search tips” advice available on most good websites 4.Learn as you go and vary your approach with what you learn. Don’t persist with any strategy that doesn’t work 4.Learn as you go and vary your approach with what you learn. Don’t persist with any strategy that doesn’t work

The Emalus Library internet directory ‘Recommended Internet Links’

Cont..

Example: international law and treaties on the ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page

Why use the ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page All websites have been selected for their quality and authority from reliable sources All websites have been selected for their quality and authority from reliable sources The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance to the Pacific Islands and Vanuatu The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance to the Pacific Islands and Vanuatu The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance to the USP teaching programme. The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance to the USP teaching programme.

It is internationally recognised as an excellent subject directory

More recommended internet subject directories Pacific Legal Gateway Pacific Legal Gateway PacLII’s gateway to Pacific legal information Law links on Librarians' Index to the Internet – Well organised and well maintained subject guide. Law links on Librarians' Index to the Internet – Well organised and well maintained subject guide.Librarians' Index to the Internet Index to the Internet Sosig Law Gateway – Web based database of legal information sources on the internet. Sosig Law Gateway – Web based database of legal information sources on the internet. Sosig Law Gatewayhttp:// Sosig Law Gatewayhttp:// Weblaw – A co-operative indexing project from Australian Law Librarians. An excellent annotated directory of internet sites by topic. Weblaw – A co-operative indexing project from Australian Law Librarians. An excellent annotated directory of internet sites by topic. Weblawhttp://weblaw.edu.au Weblawhttp://weblaw.edu.au WORLDLII - The World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII) is a free, independent and non-profit global legal research facility WORLDLII - The World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII) is a free, independent and non-profit global legal research facility WORLDLIIhttp:// WORLDLIIhttp://

Recommended general search engines Google / Google scholar Google / Google scholar Ask.com Ask.com Yahoo!Search Yahoo!Search *Google alone is not sufficient. Even though probably the biggest search engine, studies show that less than half the searchable web is fully searchable in google. *Google alone is not sufficient. Even though probably the biggest search engine, studies show that less than half the searchable web is fully searchable in google. Tip 1: Use the ‘advanced search’ option with ALL search engines to refine your search Tip 1: Use the ‘advanced search’ option with ALL search engines to refine your search Tip 2: Become familiar with your search engine by looking at the ‘Advanced Search Tips’ page Tip 2: Become familiar with your search engine by looking at the ‘Advanced Search Tips’ page

Ask (Advanced) - Example

Results

Yahoo!Search (Advanced) - Example

Results

Google (advanced) - Example

Results

Always read the Search Tips

… and Help information

Googling to the max Google is the biggest search engine database in the world Google is the biggest search engine database in the world Google ranks pages on three criteria: Google ranks pages on three criteria: Popularity – based on the number of links to a page and the importance of the pages that link Popularity – based on the number of links to a page and the importance of the pages that link Importance – traffic, quality of links Importance – traffic, quality of links Word proximity and occurrence in results Word proximity and occurrence in results

Google tips Use the advanced search screen Use the advanced search screen Use quotations when searching a phrase Use quotations when searching a phrase Type your search terms as a statement not as a question. (Google will try to match the words that you have entered.) Type your search terms as a statement not as a question. (Google will try to match the words that you have entered.) Google can search more than just documents. Explore the Google site to search for maps, news, images and photographs, books, music, videos, blogs etc. Google can search more than just documents. Explore the Google site to search for maps, news, images and photographs, books, music, videos, blogs etc.

Explore the different search options

More..Google…

Including Google Scholar – academic materials

Example from Google scholar

Google “special” searches and shortcuts “ “ : always use quotations to search a phrase “ “ : always use quotations to search a phrase - hyphen: always hyphenate a word that is sometimes hyphenated eg. same-sex searches same-sex, samesex and same sex - hyphen: always hyphenate a word that is sometimes hyphenated eg. same-sex searches same-sex, samesex and same sex ~ synonyms: let google “think” of synonyms eg. ~youth finds youth, juvenile, adolescent ~ synonyms: let google “think” of synonyms eg. ~youth finds youth, juvenile, adolescent Intitle: Requires terms to appear in the title of the document eg.intitle:”global warming” Intitle: Requires terms to appear in the title of the document eg.intitle:”global warming” Allintitle: Requires all terms to appear in the title of the document eg. Allintitle: traditional knowledge intellectual property pacific Allintitle: Requires all terms to appear in the title of the document eg. Allintitle: traditional knowledge intellectual property pacific

Exampe: allintitle

More google shortcuts.. Site: used to search within a particular site eg. Site:un.org “discrimination against women” Site: used to search within a particular site eg. Site:un.org “discrimination against women” Inurl: requires terms to be in the url eg. Inurl:usp forsyth will find all references to Forsyth on websites with usp in the url. Inurl: requires terms to be in the url eg. Inurl:usp forsyth will find all references to Forsyth on websites with usp in the url. Filetype: only searches particular types of documents eg. Filetype:ppt “legal research” will locate power point presentations on legal research. Filetype: only searches particular types of documents eg. Filetype:ppt “legal research” will locate power point presentations on legal research. Movie: only searches movie reviews! Movie: only searches movie reviews!

Example – filetype:ppt

And more google shortcuts! Use google as a calculator eg. 6*2 Use google as a calculator eg. 6*2 Use google to find maps eg. Map:”port vila” Use google to find maps eg. Map:”port vila” Use google as a dictionary eg. Define:”mens rea” Use google as a dictionary eg. Define:”mens rea”

Example: dictionary search

Searching the “invisible” web The “invisible” web is estimated to be two to three times bigger than the “visible” web The “invisible” web is estimated to be two to three times bigger than the “visible” web The invisible web consists of a vast amount of documents that are contained within searchable specialised databases that are not themselves linked web pages The invisible web consists of a vast amount of documents that are contained within searchable specialised databases that are not themselves linked web pages You need to identify these databases and search on them rather than via google. These databases include subscription only databases (eg. Lexis) but also freely available databases (eg. The Emalus Library’s ‘Pacific Law Journal Index’) You need to identify these databases and search on them rather than via google. These databases include subscription only databases (eg. Lexis) but also freely available databases (eg. The Emalus Library’s ‘Pacific Law Journal Index’) Identify ‘databases’ on the invisible web by using specialist subject directories (such as the Emalus ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page, Sosig, Weblaw etc), studying major internet sites in your area of interest or by including the word ‘database’ or ‘index’ in your search. Eg. “human rights” database Identify ‘databases’ on the invisible web by using specialist subject directories (such as the Emalus ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page, Sosig, Weblaw etc), studying major internet sites in your area of interest or by including the word ‘database’ or ‘index’ in your search. Eg. “human rights” database

Example: “human rights” databases on the invisible web

Evaluating web pages What can the URL tell you? – is this a personal website? What can the URL tell you? – is this a personal website? What type of domain does it come from? eg..com indicates it is a commercial site whilst.edu indicates it is an educational site What type of domain does it come from? eg..com indicates it is a commercial site whilst.edu indicates it is an educational site Is there any information on the webpage on who published the materials or information about the authors of the website itself? – can you trust the information on the website? Is there any information on the webpage on who published the materials or information about the authors of the website itself? – can you trust the information on the website? Is the page dated? Is it up-to-date? Is the page dated? Is it up-to-date? What are the authors credentials on the subject? – are they an expert? What are the authors credentials on the subject? – are they an expert? Are sources documented with footnotes and verifiable references? Are sources documented with footnotes and verifiable references? Are there well annotated links to other sources on the topic? Are there well annotated links to other sources on the topic? Do other reputable sites link to this webpage? Do other reputable sites link to this webpage?

Final comments “garbage in garbage out” – computers do not think so how you structure your search will determine the effectiveness of your search results “garbage in garbage out” – computers do not think so how you structure your search will determine the effectiveness of your search results Be critical of what you find on the internet and verify the authority, reliability and currency of all materials Be critical of what you find on the internet and verify the authority, reliability and currency of all materials Do not rely solely on one search tool such as Google. Make use of 2 or more search engines, relevant internet subject directories and explore the invisible web Do not rely solely on one search tool such as Google. Make use of 2 or more search engines, relevant internet subject directories and explore the invisible web Search the databases in the invisible web that you have access to via your USP library ‘Law Resources’ website (Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Reference Library, Westlaw, Lexis, Pacific Law Journal Index etc.) Search the databases in the invisible web that you have access to via your USP library ‘Law Resources’ website (Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Reference Library, Westlaw, Lexis, Pacific Law Journal Index etc.)