Many people use Google or another Internet search engine to find information. However, an Internet search can find both good and questionable information. When using a search engine, the information retrieved needs to be evaluated using the CRAAP test to determine whether it is current, relevant or reliable, the authority of the source, the accuracy of the information and the purpose or point of view of the organization providing the information.
Indexes, especially subject indexes such as Biological Abstracts, Biological & Agricultural Index or Science Citation Index, provide information about articles on a particular topic published in journals, and can sometimes be used to find other publications, such as books or government publications. Indexes can be used to find information that has been evaluated for accuracy (peer reviewed) and often provide better results than an Internet search.