Google Citation: Search Result Native to Google Itself

By c0r8g30 on Sun, 01/27/2019 - 13:09

Forums

Dear EE,

I am using Google as a primary source to convert a regular date into a Jewish date. I want to do this because the family Bible record had the wrong Jewish date for one of the children's birthdates. The conversion is a feature Google itself offers, not a particular website. Do I cite just the search criteria used, or do I also cite the result (which is not in Hebrew characters, but transliterated to English characters)? I am using part of what I see in the EE p661 QuickCheck model.

What do you think of this (note, I use the <i> tag to indicate italics):

Google (http://www.google.com : accessed 27 January 2019), using search terms: jewish+date+for+July+22%2C+1964.

versus:

Google (http://www.google.com : accessed 27 January 2019), using search terms: jewish+date+for+July+22%2C+1944; results of search: July 22, 1944 / Gregorian calendar, Av 2, 5704, Hebrew calendar.

Submitted byEEon Sun, 01/27/2019 - 13:44

c0r8g30, your second example adds explanation needed by those who read your citation. Otherwise, your intent is not clear.

That said, when we replicate your search, using the URL you give, Google doesn't just convert the date. Google points us to other calendar sites which offer a converter, such as chabad.com and hebcal.com.

Also, your identification of Google's algorithm as a "primary source" has caused a bit more brow furrowing on this end.

Submitted byc0r8g30on Sun, 01/27/2019 - 21:48

You are correct. I am not sure how to cite it, but instead of Google-ing

jewish+date+for+July+22%2C+1944

Google this:

jewish date for July 22, 1944

Submitted byEEon Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:24

c0r8g30

"Jewish date for July 22, 1944" worked. It brought up Google's own conversion. I don't see any hint of a special page or tool name that should be cited. Your second proposed format should work, with "Jewish date for July 22, 1944" in quotes for the search term in lieu of the +entries.

But EE still would not identify Google as a "primary source."  

Submitted byc0r8g30on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 20:13

Dear EE,

Would a "real website" be a more suitable alternative, like the ones the prior searched retrieved? Or is are you saying a date conversion is not source-able? In the United State, where Jewish dates are not part of any document related to a birth, what would you recommend as a way to "establish" the corresponding date in the Jewish calendar? 

Submitted byEEon Tue, 01/29/2019 - 09:07

c0r8g30, EE sees no problem with your citing Google's search. If Chabad, Hebcal, or a similar site offers something more that's useful for your research—or that of others—then it would be appropriate to cite them. For your purpose of clarifying the date, Google's algorithm works; and the basic principle of citation applies: cite what you use.

The question about "primary source" wasn't meant to question the validity of citing Google. EE was just having problems fitting Google into all the traditional (but highly contradictory) definitions of "primary source."