Searching The Web

There are many ways to find information on the Internet. It will save you time if you know the following information:

1. What Internet search tools will help you: Types of Search Tools: Which search tool to use. Difference between subject directory & search engine	1.Web sites with list of search tools: Chart of Search tools Subject directory vs. Search engine Best search engine for your information need BEST Search Engines UC Berkeley Best Subject Directories: UC Berkeley
2. Search techniques & tips	2. Performing Precise Searches Boolean Logic-Creighton University Boolean Explanation from University of Calagry
3. Evaluation of Search Engines	Search Engine Showdown Search Engine Watch Article on Web Search Engines Articles from Proquest on Search Engines

 

 

Search Tools: Top

• There are a variety of search tools to use to find information on the web:

subject directories	are human-selected Internet resources that are arranged by topics.
search engines	are computer programs (robots) that scan the contents of the web for web sites.
meta search engines	are search tools that simultaneously search other search engines to find information.
invisible web	are databases, pdf files or other information that usually can not be accessed by using a search engine or subject directory.
evaluative search sites	are short cuts to finding better web sites. Only web sites that have been evaluated by a librarian or experts in their field are listed.

• List of search tools are on the library web site under Search the Internet
• Chart of Search Tools by Carole Leita on the Library Infopeople Project.

 

 

Which search tool to use: Top

Looking for :	Use:	Best Search Tool
Broad subject topics or to browse the subject list	Subject Directories	Librarian's Index to the Internet Infomine Yahoo
Specific information or web site	Search Engine	Google AltaVista
Better web site on a subject	Evaluative search sites	BULB Librarian's Index to the Internet Argus Clearinghouse
Quick search to see what's out there	Meta Search Engine	Vivismo Ixquick Ask Jeeves

 

Subject Directories & Search Engines Top

There are differences between subject directories and search engines.

Subject Directory	Search Engines
organized by subject	collected by spiders(automated computer programs
compiled by humans	not collected by humans
may be evaluated	no evaluation of web sites
locate web sites by: clicking on a subject and progressively narrow your search	locate web site by: typing in a specific terms in the search box
use when you only have a general idea	use when you have a focused topic
advantages: good for beginners - can browse and find resources on general topics find more relevant web sites	advantages: good for finding exact web site with specific information. find more web sites connected to your topic
disadvantages: limited number of web sites indexed	disadvantages: not all web sites will be relevant

 

Search Techniques and Tips: Top

• Subject search- entire search is on that main concept or topic
  • results by using a subject search will be more relevant but broad
    
• Keyword search - search by using one or more words that appear anywhere in text or article
  • results might be less relevant unless you narrow your search
• Narrow search with:
  • Boolean Connectors- include and, or, or and not that connect search terms and narrow or broaden the search
    • Boolean Explanation from University of Calagry
  • Phrase Searching- put entire search terms in quotes(") and it will only find those search terms that are exactly next to each other.