Workshops, seminars and presentations

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Advanced Google Searching
How to get the best out of Google and improve search results

Essential non-Google search tools for researchers
General search and specialist alternatives to Google

Free search tools for scientific information
Options for searching and viewing scientific papers and information free of charge

Navigating the Deep Web
Advanced search strategies for researchers

Social Search
When and how to use social media and professional networks as part of your search strategy

Business information resources
Key internet resources for business information concentrating on free and PAYG

Market research and statistics
Resources and search techniques for tracking down quality market research and statistics

Free government, official and legal resources
How to track down current and past papers, policy documents, legislation and official research

Finding and using open data
Tools and techniques for finding and using open data sets

Assessing the quality of information
How to separate the good from the bad and exceedingly ugly

Advanced Google Searching

Coronavirus - please note that all face to face training sessions and workshops have been suspended

Google has radically changed the way in which it analyses, sorts and presents search results and more changes are on the way. To complicate matters changes in legislation now dictate what Google is allowed to show us for certain types of searches. Understanding how Google works and the effect of legislation on search is essential to developing strategies that find the information that best fits our needs.

Much of the time Google comes up with information that is "good enough": Sometimes, though, we need to be sure that we are seeing all points of view and really are finding the key resources, especially if we are conducting in depth research on a topic.

This workshop will look at the way Google gathers and processes information, the regulatory environment and how we can ensure Google runs the search we want so that we get the best possible results.

Topics include:

  • recent developments and changes in the way Google works and their impact on search results
  • the effect of regulatory changes and legal challenges on the content that can be displayed
  • how Google customises your results
  • how to focus your research with search options and advanced techniques
  • Google's specialist tools and databases
  • what Google is good at and when you should consider alternatives

This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience. The techniques and approaches covered can be applied to all subject areas.

This workshop is usually run as a full day, hands on event with opportunities for participants to experiment and try out the techniques for themselves. It can be condensed into a half day session or a seminar concentrating on key elements. Sections of this workshop can be presented as a webinar. Please contact Karen Blakeman for further information.

 

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