This document provides a strategy for effectively using the internet for research. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Thinking - Formulate a clear research question or problem; 2) Framing - Develop key search terms; 3) Finding - Search appropriate databases and search engines; 4) Selecting - Evaluate search results and select relevant sources; 5) Using - Properly cite and reference sources to avoid plagiarism. The document emphasizes developing a focused research question, selecting scholarly sources, and properly citing information found online.

1. Using the Internet in Research
Rowan E Wagner
Westminster International
University in Tashkent

2. Strategy
• Thinking
• Framing
• Finding
• Selecting
• Using

3. Thinking – What do you want or
need to know?

4. Think with purpose
• I would spend 55
minutes to
understand and
formulate the
problem, and 5
minutes to come up
with ideas/execute
the solution.

5. Framing
Make a key
question about
what you looking to
find before you
actually are on the
Internet with
several key words
written down on a
piece of paper.

6. Finding
• Using either your whole question or key words:
Search using appropriate search engines or data
bases such as:
- Goggle Scholar
- www.webcrawler.com
- EBScoHost
- Emerald
- J-Stor
- or Yahoo and Goggle as a last resort

7. Selecting 1
• Read briefly the description line and only if
it has elements of your question or key
words open it.
• Once opened read the abstract or if a
wikipedia the overview section.
• The if you believe it fits your research
query; download if you can as a pdf and
save to either to the computer or flash

8. Selecting 2
• If you are using a public computer
download to the computer if is in pdf and
email to yourself or put in Dropbox
• Remember Wikipedi is a start not a final
point of research – so review it only to get
a clear idea of the concept but remember
to continue to look for academic or peer-
reviewed research material

9. Selecting 3
• If you find an article that only has an
abstract but the full article requires
payment; write down the author’s email or
name – and send them a request for a re-
print of that work.

10. Using
• Remember plagiarism kills 
• Use the right referencing system required
by your university or by the publication you
want to publish in.
• There are many good sites available with
free material on referencing - just Google
it 