Google Me This, Google Me This, Batman!Batman!

Maureen Pettitt, Ph.D.Maureen Pettitt, Ph.D.

Skagit Valley CollegeSkagit Valley College

Did you know?Did you know?

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Making the Most of Making the Most of Search TermsSearch Terms

What is the population of What is the population of Mount Vernon, WA?Mount Vernon, WA?

mount vernon = 11,400,000 mount vernon = 11,400,000 resultsresultsEvery web page that Google has Every web page that Google has

indexed that includes the words indexed that includes the words mount mount or or vernonvernon

mount vernon washington = mount vernon washington = 2,360,0002,360,000Every webpage that it has indexed Every webpage that it has indexed

that includes the words that includes the words mount or mount or vernon or washingtonvernon or washington

““mount vernon washington” = mount vernon washington” = 129,000 results129,000 results Instead of returning pages that Instead of returning pages that

include mount, vernon, or washington, include mount, vernon, or washington, using quotes will yield only pages that using quotes will yield only pages that include the entire phrase that you put include the entire phrase that you put in quotesin quotes

Notice that the results still includes Notice that the results still includes sites about George & Martha’s estate sites about George & Martha’s estate in Virginiain Virginia

(Notice that not too far down the list is (Notice that not too far down the list is the Wikipedia webpage…)the Wikipedia webpage…)

What happens if we reverse the state What happens if we reverse the state and city name?and city name?““washington mount vernonwashington mount vernon” = 212,000; ” = 212,000;

with with all all the top hits being George & the top hits being George & Martha’s placeMartha’s place

If we add population to “If we add population to “mount vernon mount vernon washington” washington” we get 12,400 resultswe get 12,400 resultswith the population of the city the first with the population of the city the first

result (from Wikipedia no less!)result (from Wikipedia no less!)

Adding more search termsAdding more search terms

Using the plus signUsing the plus signAdd Add +census+census to the search; the result is to the search; the result is

622622A plus sign forces pages to include the A plus sign forces pages to include the

term after the “+”term after the “+” If we want to exclude Wikipedia If we want to exclude Wikipedia

(Batman wants us to do so)(Batman wants us to do so)Add a minus sign in front of the term you Add a minus sign in front of the term you

want to eliminate want to eliminate ––wikipedia wikipedia There are now 517 resultsThere are now 517 results

If we only want census pages, click If we only want census pages, click on Advanced Search and add on Advanced Search and add census.govcensus.gov to the “Search within a to the “Search within a site or domain field”site or domain field”

Holy Joy Hog, Batman! Holy Joy Hog, Batman!

We narrowed the search We narrowed the search down to 54 results from our down to 54 results from our

original 11.4 million!original 11.4 million!

A Short CutA Short Cut If you are wanting only If you are wanting only

government web sites, government web sites, add “*.gov” to your add “*.gov” to your search terms, but note search terms, but note that this can broaden that this can broaden rather than reduce rather than reduce your results!your results!

Your government is Your government is clearly here to help…clearly here to help…

……and obviously a and obviously a wildcard!wildcard!

Molasses DisasterMolasses Disaster Molasses Disaster gets us 1, Molasses Disaster gets us 1,

570,000 results570,000 results Searching for Searching for “molasses disaster”“molasses disaster”

(with quotes ) reduced the number (with quotes ) reduced the number to 68,800to 68,800

““molasses disaster” + Boston = molasses disaster” + Boston = 47,20047,200

Adding Adding ““eduedu”” in Advanced Search in Advanced Search under domain = under domain = 792 results792 results

Dictionary DefinitionsDictionary Definitions MedianMedian WhippersnapperWhippersnapper

ImagesImages WhippoorwillWhippoorwill

Synonym SearchSynonym Search ~~

Calculations, conversions, flight status, Calculations, conversions, flight status, package tracking, movies, get address package tracking, movies, get address from a phone number, people search, etc.from a phone number, people search, etc.

Other Other Useful Useful

StuffStuff

Similar to using ProQuest or Similar to using ProQuest or EBSCOhost, but is available when EBSCOhost, but is available when you can’t get to those resources, or you can’t get to those resources, or want to supplement your searchwant to supplement your search

FeaturesFeaturesScholar Preferences Scholar Preferences

Specify language, library, Specify language, library, number of results, or number of results, or bibliography mgr (i.e., bibliography mgr (i.e., EndNotes)EndNotes)

Advanced SearchAdvanced SearchSpecify author/subject Specify author/subject

information, publication, datesinformation, publication, dates

My Go-To My Go-To Advanced Search:Advanced Search:

Author SearchAuthor Search

Advanced Search Tips:Advanced Search Tips:

The search [The search [friedmanfriedman regression regression] returns ] returns papers on the subject of regression papers on the subject of regression written by people named Friedman. If written by people named Friedman. If you want to search on an author's full you want to search on an author's full name, or last name and initials, enter name, or last name and initials, enter the name in quotes: [the name in quotes: [""jhjh friedmanfriedman""]. ].

When a word is both a person's name and When a word is both a person's name and a common noun, you might want to use a common noun, you might want to use the "author:" operator. This operator only the "author:" operator. This operator only affects the search term that immediately affects the search term that immediately follows it, and there must be no space follows it, and there must be no space between "author:" and your search term. between "author:" and your search term.

For example:For example:[[author:flowersauthor:flowers] returns papers written by ] returns papers written by people with the name Flowers, whereas [people with the name Flowers, whereas [flowers -flowers -author:flowersauthor:flowers] returns papers ] returns papers about flowers, and ignores papers written about flowers, and ignores papers written by people with the name Flowers (a minus by people with the name Flowers (a minus in front of a search term excludes results in front of a search term excludes results that contain this search term). that contain this search term).

You may use the operator with an author's You may use the operator with an author's full name in quotes to further refine your full name in quotes to further refine your search. Try to use initials rather than full search. Try to use initials rather than full first names, because some sources first names, because some sources indexed in Google Scholar only provide the indexed in Google Scholar only provide the initials. initials.

For example: For example: To find papers by Donald E. Knuth, you To find papers by Donald E. Knuth, you could try [could try [author:"dauthor:"d knuthknuth""], [], [author:"deauthor:"de knuthknuth"]"], or [, or [author:"donaldauthor:"donald e e knuthknuth""]. ].