Searching Google. Advanced Search format Searching Google Basic Search format

Searching Google

Searching Google

Advanced Search format

Searching Google

Basic Search format

Searching Google: Complex searches

• Avoid Advanced Search option as it only allows one type of command per search [eg domain/filetype]

• Basic Search mode permits greater complexity eg. “citizenship education” site:ac.uk OR site:gov.uk filetype:ppt OR filetype:doc

Google Searching : Domain command

• Use this to find academic research papers, reports, government and non-governmental publications.

• Eg. "citizenship education" "report" site:gov.uk OR site:ac.uk

• Use number range option to limit results: eg "citizenship education" "report" site:gov.uk OR site:ac.uk 2007..2009

Google Searching: Filetype command

• Filetype command allows one to choose format of required documents eg. Enables one to retrieve just Powerpoint presentations or just Word documents etc. Serves as another means of thinning down responses.

• Sometimes suggested that more serious documents more likely to be found in pdf format.

Google Searching: Filetype command (contd.)

• Eg. "citizenship education" site:ac.uk OR site:gov.uk filetype:ppt OR filetype:doc retrieves 929 results comprising either Word or Powerpoint pages

• Adding a number range reduces the number to 264 results:"citizenship education" site:ac.uk OR site:gov.uk filetype:ppt OR filetype:doc 2007..2009