Sociology

1. Use Google Scholar:
Goole Scholar is good for conducting simple searches across a broad number of databases. When you find an article that interests you, check to see if it is available for free. If it is not, copy the title into the PSC Library's Search Bar and see if we have access. If not, contact your librarian.

2. Use words that websites would use:
Websites tend to use more professional language, so alter your search terms to match. For instance, instead of searching for "bad ways to lose weight", consider using "questionable weight loss techniques".

3. Use quotation marks to find exact wording:
For example, if you want to find information on weight loss products in the US, consider typing "weight loss products in the US". This will limit your results to those with the exact wording. It will also rule out results regarding weight loss in other countries, products for things other than weight loss, and so on.

4. Keep it simple:
Do not type an entire question into the search bar. Rather, stick to the most important parts of your question, and proceed as indicated above: professional wording and quotation marks.

5. Use more than one search engine:
We all love Google, but it is not the only search engine out there. If you are struggling to find results, consider using Ask.com, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. They may have many of the same results, but each search engine will have the results ranked differently. This means that a result that might be useful to you may be on page 25 of the Google results, but possibly on page 1 or 2 on another site.

6. Look further than the first page of results:
Many people forget that there is more than just one page of results for each search. It is important that you go further into the results because the first few of every results page are usually paid advertisements.

7. Check out the authors and the website:
This may require a little work on your part, but it is an incredibly important part of the research process. Go to the About section of any website and be sure you are not on an entertainment or satire site. Most online articles have the authors' names hyperlinked within the text. Follow these links to vet the authors and see if they are experts in their field or simply journalists.

8. ASK QUESTIONS:
Finally, if you are stuck, please reach out to your professor, your class librarian, or the Virtual librarian. We are all here to help you and can better do so if you do not wait until you are in trouble. 

American Sociological Association:  Offers additional links, sources, career guidance, forums, meeting etc. All things for furthering sociology and serving the public good.  Has links to information about the

American Anthropological Association:  Website of the official association of anthropologists in the United States.  Has links to many other helpful sites.