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Web searching

Web searching tips

Google and Google Scholar search tips

  • Unlike databases, basic search boxes usually work better than advanced search options
  • Try starting with broad, simple searches and building on this to focus further as needed
  • Try multiple individual searches with variations of your terms rather than creating one complex search
  • An algorithm underpins the search and usual database search syntax (e.g. OR)  may behave unexpectedly
  • Case and punctuation are generally ignored by Google
  • There is no option to specify truncation. Some alternatives (plurals, alternative spellings, synonyms) are found automatically; others need to be entered in full
  • Often it will not be possible to screen all results from search engines due to large numbers of results being returned. Predetermine the number of results you are going to screen for each line of search and report this e.g. Screened first 100 results
Tips Examples
Use double quotes to find exactly what you enter. This can be used for phrases, to find two or more terms in that order. "staff ratio"
You can use OR to find alternative terms (must be in capitals) but performance may be unpredictable. Google Scholar has a character limit (256) - you can use a vertical bar instead of OR to save space

"staff ratio" OR "staff to patient ratio"

Alternative option for Google Scholar
"staff ratio"|"staff to patient ratio"
You can use AND to connect different concepts (must be in capitals) but performance may be unpredictable ("staff ratio" OR "staff to patient ratio") AND "aged care"
Group sets of synonyms together. You can use parentheses but Google and Google Scholar will ignore them ("staff ratio" OR "staff to patient ratio") AND ("aged care" OR "nursing homes")
Use AROUND when you are interested in the relationship between two query terms - as a 'proximity' operator. The AROUND(n) operator must be in capitals. staff AROUND(2) ratio finds staffing ratio, staff-to-resident ratio and more
Use the wildcard * as a placeholder for any unknown or wildcard terms. Replaces 1-4 words or numbers.

staff * ratio

staffing * levels
How to start your search (opens in a new tab)

Google and other search engines personalise results depending on your search history, preferences, and websites visited. This is the default setting in Google.

According to the documentation Google released at the time of launch, Verbatim mode disables personalised search and uses your exact words, but will not auto correct spelling or find synonyms. It does not disable localised search which recognises your physical location. Based on this release information, you could use use Verbatim mode when you do not want your search to be invisibly altered. Now, Google help simply states 'Verbatim: Search for exact words or phrases'.

Run your search then select:  Search tools > All results > Verbatim

Image source: Google

Is Google Scholar grey? Google Scholar refers to grey literature in the broad sense of information found outside the recognised databases. It primarily searches academic papers so results are not necessarily grey literature. Results can include:

  • journal and conference papers
  • theses and dissertations
  • academic books
  • preprints
  • abstracts
  • technical reports
  • patents; and
  • court opinions

Works are from academic publishers, professional societies and university repositories, as well as scholarly articles available anywhere across the web. Many government documents are indexed from the publisher site not the government site.

How to start your search (opens in a new tab)

In Google Scholar, you may export references one by one by selecting Google Scholar 'Cite' con  and choosing your reference management software (e.g. EndNote).

However, if you wish to export multiple references, there is a more efficient way:

  • log in to your Google account
  • in Google Scholar settings, change Results per page to 20 results per page (maximum allowed)Google Scholar example search with hamburger menu highlighted
     
  • select Save, or the star icon to add references to My library one at a time Example of selecting the Google Scholar 'Save' icon (a star)
  • choose to add a Label to the reference or select Done, close the pop-up, or click outside the pop-up to save the reference - Labels can be added later, within My library
    Google Scholar pop-up window to add Labels to saved references
  • go to My library
  • select the Export all button 
  • you can export a page or all articles from My library
    Example of pop-up window to export a page or all articles from My library
  • choose your reference management software
    Export menu available from 'My Library'

Searching beyond Google: multi-site search, portals, catalogues, 'deep web' searching and more

 

Search engines such as Google only search a small percentage of the web. Further information is hidden in the 'deep' ('invisible') web and not discoverable by search engine web crawlers. This includes password-protected sites and those not configured for inclusion by Google.

'Federated' (multi-site) search tools are designed to search multiple sources of information simultaneously in real-time, locating material regular search engines don't include. However it may be best to search sources individually to take full advantage of search functionality. 

When searching for grey literature, find more by exploring specialised databases, catalogues, directories, portals and 'federated' search tools. A few of these are listed below:

Guidelines and standards

'If websites, search engines, or other online sources were browsed or searched, specify the name and URL (uniform resource locator) of each source.' - PRISMA 2020 Explanation and Elaboration, p. 5

'Present the full search strategies for all databases, registers, and websites, including any filters and limits used... Provide...the sequence of terms that were used to search simpler interfaces, such as search engines or websites.' - PRISMA 2020 Explanation and Elaboration, p. 7

LibKey Nomad

LibKey Nomad Logo

Use LibKey Nomad™ to easily find full text articles on the internet. Download the free browser extension to enable direct links to UniSA licensed PDFs on any webpage.

Record

Advice from the Cochrane Handbook:

'It is particularly important to save locally or file print copies of any information found on the internet, such as information about ongoing and/or unpublished trials, as this information may no longer be accessible at the time the review is written. Local copies should be stored in a structured way to allow retrieval when needed...document the search process to ensure that the methods used can be transparently reported..." -- 4.5 Documenting and reporting the search process