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Prof. Zwick - CJ111 Intro to Crim. Justice FALL 2021: Searching Google

Searching Google

When you search the Internet, it is easy to find thousands, if not millions, of websites geared to your topic.

The challenge is to find RELEVANT, CREDIBLE websites. Consider the following:

  • Who is responsible for the content information on the site?
  • If you cannot find a name or agency responsible, don't use the site.
  • Check for dates. 

When searching Google, you can limit your online search to credible sources by using this formula:

Your topic, "site", followed by a colon (:), followed by .edu .gov or .org

You can also try putting your topic in quotes.  

       For example:       

                                   "theories of crime" site:.edu

                                         criminology theories site:.org

This searching technique will limit your results to college and university websites or government publications, which are authoritative, credible sources.

You can also use Google without limiting your results to .edu .gov or .org sites, but choose your sources carefully!

                                      Ex. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

You can also limit your search to a specific publication.

                                      Ex. New York Times AND Julius Rosenberg

Searching Online: What to Look For

Read the "About Us" section of the website

Check the author's credentials

Google the author:

  • Have they published other papers or articles?
  • In what journals have these articles appeared?
  • What are their affiliations? (university? research institution? employment history)
  • Read their biography
  • Do they have an obvious bias on a subject?

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