Discovering the Internet Complete Concepts and Techniques, Second Edition

1. Discovering the InternetComplete Concepts and Techniques,Second Edition • Chapter 3 • Searching the Web

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. The Search Process Chapter 3: Searching the Web

12. 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

13. Search Tools Chapter 3: Searching the Web

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. Search Tools Chapter 3: Searching the Web

19. 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

20. Advanced Search Techniques Chapter 3: Searching the Web

21. 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

22. Advanced Search Techniques Chapter 3: Searching the Web

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. 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

30. Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web

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

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

33. Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web

34. Specialized Searches • Shopping Search Chapter 3: Searching the Web

35. 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

36. 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

37. Specialized Searches Chapter 3: Searching the Web

38. Chapter 3 Complete • Chapter 3 • Complete