Difference between revisions of "Research using the web"
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| − | + | ==Web search tips== | |
| − | + | In some cases, researching affiliations between people, groups and organizations is as simple as typing the names involved into the Google search box. | |
| − | + | You can narrow down your search by enclosing names containing more than one word in inverted commas. For example, if you are researching links between Joe Bloggs and the company Toxic & Lethal Co., you'll find that typing | |
| − | + | :"joe bloggs" "toxic & lethal" | |
| − | + | provides more useful hits than typing | |
| − | + | :joe bloggs toxic & lethal | |
| − | + | because the latter will throw up results relating to all Joes, all Bloggses, and all mentions of the words "toxic" and "lethal". At the same time, it's often useful to omit words like "Co." from your search because the way this is written in your sources may change significantly. So some sources will favour Toxic & Lethal Company, while others will favour Toxic & Lethal Co., while others will omit the "Co." and "Company" part of the name altogether. | |
| − | + | If one of the words, names or terms you are searching has an alternative meaning that you want to exclude from your search, you can do this by typing that meaning into the search box using a "-" sign. For example, you're searching for a politician called James Smith, but he has the same name as the lead singer in the rock band Filth. You can get rid of a huge amount of irrelevant sites if you use the minus sign, thus | |
| − | + | :"james smith" -filth -music -rock | |
| − | + | For more Google search tips, see [http://www.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=searchguides.html&ctx=basics&hl=en Google's Basic search help] | |
| − | + | ==Resources and useful links== | |
| − | + | ===Press and media databases=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/lnexecutive.htm Lexis Nexis] (requires Athens login) | |
| − | + | *[http://www.bugmenot.com BugMeNot] - lets you skip the registration process for many online news sites – although not those requesting paid subscriptions. | |
| − | + | *[http://www.marumushi.com/apps/newsmap/newsmap.cfm NewsMap] - useful little site that tracks graphically what is making the headlines at any given time. | |
| − | + | *[http://www.mailinator.com/mailinator/index.jsp Mailinator] - allows you to generate a free one-time only, incoming-only email address | |
| − | + | ===Archives=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/about/default.html Glasgow University Archives] | |
| + | *[http://www.hbosplc.com/abouthbos/history/group_archives.asp HBoS Archives] | ||
| + | *[http://www.rbs.com/about02.asp?id=ABOUT_US/OUR_HERITAGE/OUR_ARCHIVES RBS Archives] | ||
| + | *[http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/default.asp National Archives of Scotland] | ||
| + | *[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current Scottish Executive Consultations] | ||
| + | *[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent Scottish Executive Publications] | ||
| + | *[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Libraries/Collections/Localhistory/CityCouncilArchives/ Glasgow City Council Archives] | ||
| − | + | ===Resources on lobbying/corporate power=== | |
| − | Corporate Watch US http://www. | + | *[http://www.spinwatch.org Spinwatch] |
| + | *[http://www.sourcewatch.org Sourcewatch] | ||
| + | *[http://www.corporatewatch.org Corporate Watch UK] | ||
| + | *[http://www.corpwatch.org Corporate Watch US] | ||
| + | *[http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] | ||
| + | *[http://www.opensecrets.org/ Open Secrets], guide to money in (US) politics | ||
| + | *[http://www.lobbyinginfo.org/ LobbyingInfo.org] (part of Public Citizen) | ||
| + | *[http://www.cleanupwashington.org/ Clean Up Washington] (part of Public Citizen) | ||
| + | *[http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ White House for Sale] (data on campaign finance in past US Presidential election) | ||
| − | + | ===Freedom of Information=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.statewatch.org/foi.htm Statewatch] – FOI in Europe | |
| + | *[http://www.yrtk.org Your right to know] – Heather Brooke’s FOIA advice site. | ||
| + | *[http://www.cfoi.org.uk/ Campaign for Freedom of Information] | ||
| + | *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/ Open Secrets] – a blog about freedom of information by Martin Rosenbaum | ||
| − | + | ===Government offices, official sources=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.ico.gov.uk/ Information Commissioner’s Office] | |
| + | *[http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/ Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner] | ||
| + | *[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ Office of Public Sector Information] | ||
| − | + | ===Departmental pages=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/FOI Scottish Executive FoI page] | |
| + | *[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FreedomOfInformation/ Ministry of Defence] | ||
| + | *[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1032370383930 Foreign Office] | ||
| + | *[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publicationscheme/ Cabinet Office/Downing Street Publication Scheme] | ||
| + | *[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/foi/foi.asp Cabinet Office FoI Page] | ||
| + | *[http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/fs/en Department of Health] | ||
| + | *[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/opengov/accessinfo.htm Department of Food and Rural Affairs] | ||
| − | + | ===Governmental publications/records=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmpubns.htm House of Commons Publications] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.parliament.uk/publications/archives.cfm House of commons Archives] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm Scottish Parliament Official Report] | |
| + | *[http://www.wales.gov.uk/keypubrecordproceedings/index.htm National Assembly for Wales Record of Proceedings] | ||
| + | *[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ National Statistics] (formerly ONS) | ||
| + | *[http://publications.europa.eu/general/oj_en.html Official Journal of the European Union] | ||
| + | *[http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/about_us/office_in_scotland/index_en.htm European Commission Representations - Office in Scotland] | ||
| + | *[http://www.europe.org.uk/info/ Europe in the UK: Information Network] | ||
| + | *[http://europa.eu/documents/index_en.htm European Union Documents] | ||
| − | + | ===Web research=== | |
| − | + | [http://www.archive.org/index.php Web archive/Way back machine] | |
| + | This search facility is useful if you have a dead weblink to an article or website, as it keeps an archive of old web addresses with their associated web pages or articles. | ||
| − | + | The [http://tech.nytimes.com/top/news/technology/cybertimesnavigator/index.html/ New York Times Newsroom Navigator]. This is the home page of all journalists on the NY Times | |
| − | + | *[http://www.ukphoneinfo.com/locator.php UK Telephone Code Locator] - Discover which area a dialling code is in | |
| − | + | *[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/bsy/www/area.html Reverse List of US telephone area codes] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.royalmail.com/postcode-finder/ Royal Mail postcode/address finder] | |
| − | + | ===Powerbase guides and resources for research=== | |
| − | + | *[[Resources for studying propaganda]] | |
| − | + | *[[How to research front groups]] | |
| − | + | ===How to find the owners of domain names=== | |
| + | *[[How to find owners of domain names]] | ||
| − | + | ===Corporate information=== | |
| − | + | *[http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ Companies House] | |
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | [[Category:Powerbase Help]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:12, 10 March 2013
Contents
- 1 Web search tips
- 2 Resources and useful links
- 2.1 Press and media databases
- 2.2 Archives
- 2.3 Resources on lobbying/corporate power
- 2.4 Freedom of Information
- 2.5 Government offices, official sources
- 2.6 Departmental pages
- 2.7 Governmental publications/records
- 2.8 Web research
- 2.9 Powerbase guides and resources for research
- 2.10 How to find the owners of domain names
- 2.11 Corporate information
- 3 Notes
Web search tips
In some cases, researching affiliations between people, groups and organizations is as simple as typing the names involved into the Google search box.
You can narrow down your search by enclosing names containing more than one word in inverted commas. For example, if you are researching links between Joe Bloggs and the company Toxic & Lethal Co., you'll find that typing
- "joe bloggs" "toxic & lethal"
provides more useful hits than typing
- joe bloggs toxic & lethal
because the latter will throw up results relating to all Joes, all Bloggses, and all mentions of the words "toxic" and "lethal". At the same time, it's often useful to omit words like "Co." from your search because the way this is written in your sources may change significantly. So some sources will favour Toxic & Lethal Company, while others will favour Toxic & Lethal Co., while others will omit the "Co." and "Company" part of the name altogether.
If one of the words, names or terms you are searching has an alternative meaning that you want to exclude from your search, you can do this by typing that meaning into the search box using a "-" sign. For example, you're searching for a politician called James Smith, but he has the same name as the lead singer in the rock band Filth. You can get rid of a huge amount of irrelevant sites if you use the minus sign, thus
- "james smith" -filth -music -rock
For more Google search tips, see Google's Basic search help
Resources and useful links
Press and media databases
- Lexis Nexis (requires Athens login)
- BugMeNot - lets you skip the registration process for many online news sites – although not those requesting paid subscriptions.
- NewsMap - useful little site that tracks graphically what is making the headlines at any given time.
- Mailinator - allows you to generate a free one-time only, incoming-only email address
Archives
- Glasgow University Archives
- HBoS Archives
- RBS Archives
- National Archives of Scotland
- Scottish Executive Consultations
- Scottish Executive Publications
- Glasgow City Council Archives
Resources on lobbying/corporate power
- Spinwatch
- Sourcewatch
- Corporate Watch UK
- Corporate Watch US
- Wikipedia
- Open Secrets, guide to money in (US) politics
- LobbyingInfo.org (part of Public Citizen)
- Clean Up Washington (part of Public Citizen)
- White House for Sale (data on campaign finance in past US Presidential election)
Freedom of Information
- Statewatch – FOI in Europe
- Your right to know – Heather Brooke’s FOIA advice site.
- Campaign for Freedom of Information
- Open Secrets – a blog about freedom of information by Martin Rosenbaum
Government offices, official sources
- Information Commissioner’s Office
- Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Office of Public Sector Information
Departmental pages
- Scottish Executive FoI page
- Ministry of Defence
- Foreign Office
- Cabinet Office/Downing Street Publication Scheme
- Cabinet Office FoI Page
- Department of Health
- Department of Food and Rural Affairs
Governmental publications/records
- House of Commons Publications
- House of commons Archives
- Scottish Parliament Official Report
- National Assembly for Wales Record of Proceedings
- National Statistics (formerly ONS)
- Official Journal of the European Union
- European Commission Representations - Office in Scotland
- Europe in the UK: Information Network
- European Union Documents
Web research
Web archive/Way back machine This search facility is useful if you have a dead weblink to an article or website, as it keeps an archive of old web addresses with their associated web pages or articles.
The New York Times Newsroom Navigator. This is the home page of all journalists on the NY Times
- UK Telephone Code Locator - Discover which area a dialling code is in
- Reverse List of US telephone area codes
- Royal Mail postcode/address finder
