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SOC 311: Social Use of Space

A guide to resources for SOC 311

Focus Your Search

Anytime you are doing research through Google or another Internet search engine, it is helpful to focus your search in order to make sure your results are relevant. Ask yourself: who else would be interested in this question?

For your assignment in particular, you will be choosing a specific place and trying to determine what makes a space creativity enhancing. Think about:

  • Who owns or operates this space?
    • Is there a website? What information does that have - is there an About Us page or a page about visiting?
    • Is there information about its history or who designed it?
    • Can you get in contact with someone to learn more?
  • Who uses this space?
    • Is there a place where they might talk about their experiences? For example, if it's a building on a university campus, would students talk about this to a campus newspaper? On Reddit or Twitter?
    • Could you talk to those users in some way, maybe on social media?
  • How can you see parts of the space to judge it yourself?
    • Can you find photos of it on Instagram? Can you use Google Maps?
    • Can you visit it in-person?

Advanced Google Search Tips

Like a database, Google has ways for you to refine your search.

  • Quotations: Placing quotations around a phrase will tell Google you are looking for that exact phrase, and that those words must be in your search results.
  • Searching a specific site: Sometimes you want to search a website, but the site doesn't have a search function. Use site: before part of a URL to search specific to that site
    • For example: searching "site:twitter.com" will only show results from Twitter.
  • Use Google's Advanced Search: Google's advanced search allows you to narrow your results and refine your search.