SEARCHING THE INTERNET

An Overview

What is a Search Engine

electronically gathers Internet information into an index to be searched using keywords, narrowing terms, and Boolean logic

when you use a search engine you are NOT searching the Internet but searching that engine’s own index

different search engines use different indexing methods so they can give different results

i.e. altavista.com, ask.com, google.ca

Who is Altavista?a leading provider of search services

and technologycontinue to advance Internet search

with new technologies and features designed to improve the search experience for consumers

Awarded 61 search-related patents, more than any other Internet search company

Who is Altavista? (cont’d)Delivers Internet's first Web index

(1995)First multilingual search capabilities on

the InternetFirst Internet search engine to launch

Image, Audio, and Video search capabilities

Most advanced Internet search features and capabilities: multimedia search, translation & language recognition, and specialty search

What is a Metasearch Engine?

finds results from multiple search engines

some rank resultsi.e. www.dogpile.com,

www.ixquick.com

Open your browser to view these Metasearch Engines

What is a Boolean Operator?

Used to narrow a searchTo include or exclude wordsBoolean logic consists of three

logical operators: OR AND NOT

Examples of Boolean OperatorsQuery:    I need information about cats. Boolean logic:    OR Search:    cats OR felines

Query:    I'm interested in athletes in basketball.

Boolean logic:    AND Search:    athletes AND basketball  

More ExamplesQuery:    I'm interested in radiation, but

not nuclear radiation. Boolean logic:    NOT Search:    radiation NOT nuclear

Query:    I want to learn about cat behaviour.

Boolean logic:    OR, AND Search:    (cats OR felines) AND behaviour

Open your browser and choose www.altavista.com to search these examples

Online ResearchWhen you are using the web for research the

preparation process and steps to completing your research paper are:

a) know how to choose a topicb) know how to discover resourcesc) know how to gather informationd) know how to prepare for writinge) know how to write the paper

Guidelines when using a search engine Only use Wikipedia to get the bearings on a

subject not for content Use keywords to perform your search Keep the search narrow Check that your source is credible (check date

creation, who the author is, if the site is biased/opinion or states facts)

Guidelines when using a search engine (cont’d)

Read the About Page section (who posted, when, last update, who author)

Should check your facts on more than one website

Use factual information

Documenting your web sourceTopic – Steve Nash StatisticsURL address

-http://www.nba.com/playerfile/steve_nash/index.html?nav=page

Author - NBA Media Ventures, LLC Date posted – October 12, 2010Date accessed the site – Wednesday, October 13,

2010Title of the article –Players Steve NashPublisher of the website - Turner Sports &

Entertainment Digital Network

Works CitedElectronic resources should be cited as:Author, “Article Title.” Title of the website.

Version #’s or revision #’s. Publisher Information (Date and Name). Page #’s if applicable. Date you accessed the material. URL if required or for your own information.

NBA Media Ventures, LLC. “Players, Steve Nash.” NBA.com. 2010 Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 13 Oct. 2010 <http://www.nba.com/playerfile/steve_nash/index.html?nav=page>

Rewards of knowing how to conduct proper research

gain valuable knowledgecan save timeimportant to learn how to search properly

and effectively so you can weed out what you don’t need