Introduction to Search ToolsSearch Tools:

There are many type of search tools that you can use to locate information on the World Wide Web.

Various search tools are developed by different companies and have different search features and techniques.

They search different and overlapping parts of the WWW.

Introduction to Search ToolsNO single search tool searches ALL of the

web sites (there are millions of web sites and more are added each and every day).

The 4 types of search tools are:

1.Search engines 2.Web subject directories 3.Metasearch engines 4.Invisible Web Tools

(the “Invisible Web” is also known as the "Deep Web")

Search Engines

Definition: a computer program that retrieves documents or files or data from a databases on the WWWAutomated software ("robots" or "spiders")

scan the Internet and collect information. The search engine interface allows you to

search for certain words or phrases found on Web pages.

Search EnginesAdvantages:

Search engines contain millions of web pages. You retrieve results that match the word(s)

that you are looking for. Can be useful for searching for unique or

specific topics.

Search EnginesDisadvantages:

Depending on the search engine, you may get thousands or millions of results.

Many of the results may not be exactly what you are looking for, especially if you are using broad or common terms.

Search Engine ExamplesExamples: Google (http://www.google.com) Yahoo!Bing

Exercise: For each of the search engines above1. search for “Vasco da Gama”2. record the # of hits3. record the first two web sites listed in the results.

Subject (web) DirectoriesDefinition: a WWW search tool

organizes Internet resources by subject headings and subheadings. Subject directories are usually compiled by human beings who apply some selection criteria to resources included in the database

There may be short summaries that describe the web sites in the directory.

Subject (Web) DirectoriesAdvantages: There may be a higher degree of accuracy using web directories for researching broad subjects or topics.

Subject or Web DirectoriesDisadvantages:

Usually fewer web sites than a search engine.

Web directories may not be as useful as search engines for researching specific or obscure topics.

Subject Directory Examplesipl2 www.ipl.org

Over 40,000 . Highest quality sites only. Useful, reliable annotations. Formed by a merger of the Librarians' Internet Index and the Internet Public Library.

Infomine infomine.ucr.edu 1. Over 125,000.

Useful, reliable annotations. Compiled by academic librarians from the University of California and elsewhere.

About.com www.about.com1. Over 2 million.

Generally good annotations done by "Guides" with various levels of expertise.

•In ipl2 or Infomine, look for your subject as you would for any other purpose, and keep your eyes open for sites that look like directories. Read through the descriptions. Sometimes these resources are identified as "Directories, "Virtual Libraries," or "Gateway Pages." •In Yahoo! and Google directories, try adding the terms web directories to your subject keyword term:   EXAMPLES:

civil war  web directoriesweddings  web directories

•In About.com, search by topic and look for pages that are described as "101" or "guides" or a "directory." About.com is written by "Guides" who, themselves, often are experts in the sections they manage. Sometimes they write excellent overviews of a topic. "Recommended Subject Directories." Internet and Web Search Guides. UCAL Berkley, 10 Feb 2010. Web. 29 Sep 2010. <http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SubjDirectories.html>.

Metasearch EnginesDefinition: Similar to search engines but

are used to search more than one search engine at a time. Some Metasearch engines will also show you a

small number of the "best" web sites from each search engine based on criteria established by the metasearch engine.

Metasearch EnginesAdvantages:

You can search several search engines at one time.

Disadvantages:You may retrieve inappropriate Web sites

depending on how each individual search engine interprets the search.

Metasearch Engines

Examples:

Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com) Metacrawlerwww.metacrawler.com

The Invisible Web or DEEP WEBDefinition: Web sites that are hidden from

use by the general public. Also known as the Deep Web. Includes specialized databases and directories.

Comparison of Different Search Tools: Invisible Web

Advantages:Can be useful for specific topics or unique terms.

Disadvantages:The Invisible Web will not be located by the use of conventional search engines and directories. You must know the URL or search using a search tool specifically created for searching parts of the Invisible Web.

Comparison of Different Search Tools: Invisible WebExamples:

Complete Planet (http://www.completeplanet.com)

•Dogpile.com •Live.com•Lycos.com •About.com•MetaCrawler .com•Open Directory Project http://www.dmoz.org/

Classify the following sites as either a Search Engine, Subject Directory or Metasearch engine.

Effective Search StrategiesBefore beginning a search, think about what

you are looking for. There are strategies that you can use to find

information more efficiently , saving valuable time.

There are strategies that can also help you increase the effectiveness of your searches.

Using Internet for research is to find the BEST and most RELEVANT resources as quickly as possible.

Effective Search Strategiesdouble quotations (“ ”)use to look for words in exactly the

order in which you enter them“human rights”“affirmative action”

Search Strategiesminus sign (-)use to exclude a word from your results

vikings –minnesota

Search Strategiessite: use to limit your search to pages

published by certain groupsteens site:eduteens site:orgteens site:gov

Search strategy examplesDepressionSearch Terms # of results depression depression –great depression –great seasonal depression –great seasonal FAQ depression –great seasonal FAQ site:gov depression -great seasonal FAQ site:gov

symptoms

Search Terms # of results the great depression“the great depression”“the great depression” site:edu “black blizzards” “the great depression” site:gov“the great depression” site:gov “black blizzards”

•At your table with your partners, use the searching techniques you have learned to answer the following questions.•Record the search terms you use and the number of results for each search. •The team with the fewest number wins the game.

Can you explain how the author has used the raven as a symbol in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem“The Raven”?

“Edgar Allan Poe” raven symbol site:govAbout 235 results

Question #2How was Edgar Allan Poe related to Virginia

Clem, and what is the lowest number of results you are able to get when doing a search about their relationship?

“Edgar Allan Poe” “Virginia Clem” site:gov

2 results “Edgar Allan Poe” “Virginia Clem”

site:orgAbout 39 results