This book will be vital reading for anyone doing research, since using the web to find high quality information is a key research skill. It introduces beginners and experts alike to the most effective techniques for searching the web, assessing and organising information and using it in a range of scenarios from undergraduate essays and projects to PhD research. Nigel Ford shows how using the web poses opportunities and challenges that impact on student research at every level, and he explains the skills needed to navigate the web and use it effectively to produce high quality work. Ford connects online skills to the research process. He helps readers to understand research questions and how to answer them by constructing arguments and presenting evidence in ways that will enhance their impact and credibility. The book includes clear and helpful coverage of beginner and advanced search tools and techniques, as well as the processes of: @!critically evaluating online information @!creating and presenting evidence-based arguments @!organizing, storing and sharing information @!referencing, copyright and plagiarism. As well as providing all the basic techniques students need to find high quality information on the web, this book will help readers use this information effectively in their own research. Nigel Ford is Professor in the University of Sheffield′s Information School.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Why Read This Book? The Book′s Underlying Rationale Search Tools Covered in this Book Learning and Critical Thinking: The Essentials Learning and Assessment Basics Essential Learning Components Summary Clarifying What Is Required of You Clarifying the Nature of your Assignment Planning your Assignment Summary Finding High-Quality Information Defining ′Authoritative′ Information Information Seeking Summary How to Do a Literature Review Initial Explorations Strategies for Finding High-Quality Academic Sources Summary Information Sources and Search Tools Types of information source Types of search tool Summary Mapping Search Approaches and Techniques to Information Needs Directory-Based Browsing and Searching Topic Similarity Searching Document Similarity Searching Filtering Citation Searching Boolean and Other Advanced Search Engine Operators Summary Scholarly Search Tools in Detail When to Use Which Search Tools Google Scholar SciVerse Scopus Web of Knowledge Incorporating Web of Science Summary Transforming Information into Evidence-Based Arguments Making Information ′Your Own′ Critically Evaluating Information Validity, Reliability, Objectivity and Generalisability as Critical Tools Developing Your Own Evidence-Based Arguments Summary Presenting Your Evidence Effectively Plagiarism Citing Your Sources Summary Keeping up to Date A New Document is Published on your Topic Documents in Which You Are Interested Are Cited in a Newly Published Document An Author is Cited by a New Document or Publishes a New Document A New Issue of a Journal in which you are Interested is Published A website in Which You Are Interested is Updated Summary Organizing and Sharing Your Information Mendeley Basics Importing Data from Google Scholar and Other Search Tools Adding PDF Files to Your Library Inserting References into Your Work Summary