Search Techniques for the Web

Internet Searching Keywords

The basis of all search techniques○ Main topic of search ○ Additional words to narrow search

But what if you still can’t find it?Boolean logic

○ Use “computer-ese” – language for machines!

Plan Your Search Sometimes just keywords are too general Make a plan for your search

Identify concepts○ What are your keywords?

Make a listSpecify logical relationships

○ Boolean: AND, OR, NOT

Choosing Keywords General keywords will return many results

Words that have different meaningsExample: Watch

○ Can mean timekeeping device or the verb “to look”

Before searching, compile a list of keywords and alternates to help refine your results.

Example of Multiple Meaning Keyword

Return from Google on keyword “Watch”

Choosing Keywords

Carefully specify keyword(s)If searching for “watch” as in timekeeping

device○ “Wristwatch”, or “wrist watch” – space implies

“AND”Use Boolean logic operators to include and

exclude unwanted terms.

Boolean Searching: AND

Search engines assume “AND” when inputting multiple keywordsThe AND operator will narrow your resultsExample: Instructional Design = Instructional

AND DesignSearch returns will contain BOTH those

keywordsSearch returns will reject pages that have

only one or the other keyword

Boolean Searching: OR Use the Boolean operator OR to:

Expand your results in the case of having keywords that are too specific

Example: college OR universityResults will return pages with the terms

college, university or both in the same page.Don’t use OR when you already have too

many results

Boolean Searching: NOT

Use the Boolean operator NOT to:Eliminate unwanted resultsExample: college NOT universityResults will return pages with the first term

only when not accompanied by the other term.

Wristwatch NOT watch will return only pages that contain “wristwatch”.○ May narrow search too much

Boolean Searching:Combining Operators

Use multiple Boolean operators in combinationCombine multiple operators in search stringParenthesis determine order of processing

○ As in Mathematics○ Example: wristwatch AND (analog NOT digital)

Results will include only wristwatches that have dials with hands, not digital displays

Search Engine Tools Most search engines have an “advanced”

setting that allows more specific searchesIn multiple keywords, AND is implied.

Search:○ All of these words/Must contain the words

OR logic - Search: ○ Any of the words/At least one of the words/Should

contain the wordsNOT logic - Search:

○ Must not contain the words/Should not contain the words

Verbatim Keywords Some search software allows

the “+” symbol to specify a verbatim keyword+wristwatch eliminates returns

of “wristwatches” and other variations.

In Google, use “Verbatim” under Show Search Tools on left hand side of results page

Google – Show Search Tools

Additional search options for refining Google searchesNarrow by posting

date/timeNarrow by specific tools

like Verbatim

Search Phrases

Use “quotation marks” on a phrase when looking for the exact return.Example: 18,000 bph watch versus “18,000 bph

watch” returns different results.Using quotation marks will reduce unwanted resultsChoose search phrase carefullyQuotes can limit results too much

Searching the WebQuestions and Answers