AP Economics Advertising Project: Home

To search in these databases

Do you know the difference between a website and a database? Content found on the web is not all the same! 

• WEBSITES can be created by almost anyone with access to the internet. While many websites provide factual and attributable information it can be hard to verify authorship. They may contain outdated information and they may have a bias.It is important to become familiar with web site evaluation. 
• DATABASES are available through subscriptions. They may have a broad range of topics or be focused on a more specific one. They have been created for research purposes and the content is curated.

Using Google Advanced Search can help you get better results. See box below.

BASIC SEARCH STRATEGIES

Whether you are Googling, using a database, or looking for a book in a library catalog these few tips will improve your results:

• Use quotations marks around a phrase or a name. Examples: "F.Scott Fitzgerald" or "Civic Engagement"
• Use the * to find variants of a search term. Example: Teen* will search for teen, teens, teenager and teenagers
• To expand a search use OR between search terms. Example: Teenagers or Adolescents
• To narrow a search use AND between terms (the AND is assumed between words when you don't use it though). Example: Teenagers and "Social Media"
• Bookmark or add to your desktop Google Advanced Search.
  • limit a search to a particular domain such as .edu, .gov., or .org
  • Search in a particular region if looking for information from outside the U.S.
  • Look for most recent information using the "last update" option
• Look for "full text" option in database advance searches
• Use Advanced Searching whenever possible