Third Edition Discovering the Internet Discovering the Internet Complete Concepts and Techniques, Second Edition Chapter 3 Searching the Web

Objectives Describe the search process Use different types of search tools and compare search results Apply search tool shortcuts and advanced features, including Boolean operators Perform searches using browser search features Identify and use specialized search tools Identify online research alternatives to search tools Chapter 3: Searching the Web 2

The Search Process Choose the best search tool Formulate the search query Perform the search Examine the search results Evaluate the credibility of the search results Chapter 3: Searching the Web 3

The Search Process Choosing the Best Search Tool – Easy to use – Returns results quickly – Large, frequently updated index – Most relevant search results returned – Clearly marked paid listings Chapter 3: Searching the Web 4

The Search Process Formulating the Search Query – The search query or question defines the information you seek – A query should include at least one keyword, the specific word that describes that information – To perform a search, enter one or more keywords into the search text box – A search text box is a text box on a Web page into which you can enter words or phrases Chapter 3: Searching the Web 5

The Search Process Formulating the Search Query (cont'd) – Choose keywords carefully – Use specific keywords – More keywords equal more focused results – Surround a phrase with quotation marks Chapter 3: Searching the Web 6

The Search Process Formulating the Search Query – A natural language search uses complete sentences and ignores stop words – Small, unimportant words in a natural language search query are called stop words, and are ignored Chapter 3: Searching the Web 7

The Search Process Examining the Search Results – Different search tools return different search results for the same keyword Use different algorithms to rank pages in search results list Gather different information for indexes May include paid or sponsored listings People typically look only at the first 10 or 20 hits; search again with different keywords or search tool, if necessary Chapter 3: Searching the Web 8

The Search Process Evaluating the Credibility of Search Results – Authority Owner or author expertise Primary vs. secondary sources – Objectivity Fair Unbiased Not skewed toward commercial interests Chapter 3: Searching the Web 9

The Search Process Evaluating the Credibility of Search Results – Scope and Quality Depth of coverage Amount of detail provided Accurate and up-do-date Compares favorably with other pages on the same topic – Design and Functionality Well-designed and easy-to-use page Chapter 3: Searching the Web 10

The Search Process Chapter 3: Searching the Web 11

Search Tools Directories – A human-compiled hierarchical list of Web pages – Organizes links in categories and subcategories – Users drill down through categories and subcategories to find specific information – A breadcrumb trail shows the hierarchical arrangement of categories and subcategories through which you have clicked – Yahoo! is one of the first directories Chapter 3: Searching the Web 12

Search Tools Chapter 3: Searching the Web 13

Search Tools Search Engines – Three major components Spider, Bot, or Web crawler Index Search engine software – A spider or bot automatically browses the Web going from link to link to add and update its Web page index – Search engine software compares search keywords to index and presents search results list Chapter 3: Searching the Web 14

Search Tools Search Engines – Typical information collected by a spider Page title, URL, meta tag keywords Occurrence of keywords in page All of the words on the page Internal links Number and relevancy of other pages that link to the page – Search engines use different algorithms to rank Web pages in a search results list – Most search engines also include paid or sponsored listings on the search results page Chapter 3: Searching the Web 15

Search Tools Search Engines – Some search tools provide special toolbars you can download as browser plug-ins Chapter 3: Searching the Web 16

Search Tools Metasearch Engines – Compiles the search results from multiple search engines into one list Some eliminate duplicates Watch for paid or sponsored listings in search results list – metacrawler – Dogpile – KartOO – Mamma – Ixquick Chapter 3: Searching the Web 17

Search Tools Chapter 3: Searching the Web 18

Advanced Search Techniques Using Boolean Operators – Complex searches may require the use of Boolean operators to include or exclude keywords AND – Keyword must be included OR – At least one of multiple keywords must be included NOT – Keyword must be excluded Chapter 3: Searching the Web 19

Advanced Search Techniques Chapter 3: Searching the Web 20

Advanced Search Techniques Advanced Search Forms – Used to structure advanced search queries – Prompts you to specify Boolean operators and other criteria – Can filter results by: Language File type Domain – Great way to learn more about how to use specific search engine shortcuts and Boolean operators Chapter 3: Searching the Web 21

Advanced Search Techniques Chapter 3: Searching the Web 22

Browser Searches Search by using features and tools available in the browser – Enter keywords in the Address bar, Search box, Find Bar, and Research Explorer Bar Chapter 3: Searching the Web 23

Browser Searches Address Bar Searches – Enter keywords in the Address box on the Address bar – IE uses designated default search tool for Address bar and Search box searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web 24

Browser Searches Search Box Searches – Enter keywords in the Search box Press Enter or click the Search button – Select a different search tool by clicking the Search button arrow and clicking a search tool in the list Chapter 3: Searching the Web 25

Browser Searches Customizing the Search Box – Adding new search tools to the list QuickPick Menu Click the Search box arrow Click Find More Providers Use the Add-ons Gallery: Search Providers page to locate and select a search tool to add Chapter 3: Searching the Web 26

Browser Searches Find Bar – Allows you to search the contents of a Web page – Press CTRL+F to display the Find Bar Chapter 3: Searching the Web 27

Browser Searches Research Explorer Bar – Click Tools on the Command bar, point to Explorer Bars, and then click Research Chapter 3: Searching the Web 28

Specialized Searches People and Business Search – Use online white or yellow pages directories Yahoo! People Search Lycos WhoWhere? whitepages.com superpages.com Chapter 3: Searching the Web 29

Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web 30

Specialized Searches News and Current Events Search Chapter 3: Searching the Web 31

Specialized Searches Video and Social Media Search Chapter 3: Searching the Web 32

Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web 33

Specialized Searches Shopping Search Chapter 3: Searching the Web 34

Specialized Searches Research Alternatives to Search Engines – LexisNexis Abstracts and articles on business, news, government, medical, and legal topics – IngentaConnect Full-text online articles from academic and professional publications – Hoover’s and Dun & Bradstreet Information on businesses of all sizes Chapter 3: Searching the Web 35

Specialized Searches Research Alternatives to Search Engines – FindLaw Legal resources portal – Dialog Information on news, business, chemistry, engineering, environment, government, intellectual property, medicine, and pharmaceuticals – Government resources Federal Citizen Information Center Internal Revenue Service U.S. Census Bureau USA.gov Chapter 3: Searching the Web 36

Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web 37

Third Edition Discovering the Internet Chapter 3 Complete Chapter 3 Complete