Conducting Simple Searches of the Web

Authors & Contributors

In addition to using Web indexes and directories, researchers can also take advantage of the very nature of the Web to conduct systematic searches. Many sites on the Web are compiled by a specialist or someone interested in a particular subject area. These sites often contain comprehensive lists of related sites. Using one of these sites as a starting point, you can often locate a large number of sites that contain information relevant to your research project. These sites, in turn, often contain their own lists of related Web pages. When you exhaust the possibilities in one area, you can return to your starting point (usually by using the "Back" button) to begin searching another set of related Web pages. In this way, you can take advantage of the work of others who have pursued their interests in a topic that you want to learn more about.

If you are interested in the impact of computers on writing instruction, for instance, you might begin your search on the links page provided by the Alliance for Computers and Writing. By consulting the extensive list of links you can find at that site, you could locate a wealth of information on your research question.