Internet Searches
After searching the library catalog and databases, you may want to try the internet. There are good and bad points to this.
- A LOT turns up in the result set unless you have a very carefully structured search phrase.
- Access does not equal quality or accuracy, you will need to evaluate the content as with any other source (see Secondary Sources main page for how to evaluate.)
- A hit does not guarantee you have access to the content (hello, Amazon!)
- Content may only be in pieces due to copyright or author restrictions.
- Wading through unsuitable hits costs you time and effort and impacts your time to analyze your resources and write your paper!
Prepare:
- Strategize your search by using accurate and scholarly terms to describe your topic based on your prior research.
- Set up your Google Scholar Preferences to provide links to material we have at CSUSM.
- Know that you may only find a citation and not the full text but you can request the item through Interlibrary Loan.
- Ask for help!
Here is how to set your Google Scholar Preferences to assist in accessing full text from the CSUSM collections.
