Michael's
Internet
Finding
Tips:
Intro-
duction
Search
links:
| AltaVista | Ask Jeeves | Beaucoup | Deja |
| DogPile | Excite | FindFAST | Google |
| HotBot | LookSmart | MetaFind | Northern Light |
| Open Directory Project | Research-It | whatis?com | Yahoo |
Quick Links
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Looking for something??
"Furious activity is no substitute for understanding."
If you search the Internet on a regular basis, you should invest a few hours to learn how to make your search time more productive.
The initial problem with searching the Internet is that everyone assumes it is easy. In fact, it is not! The number of sites queried by most search engines has grown tremendously. The real problem is getting too many 'hits'. Specifically, finding the site(s) that has the information you are actually looking for.
Depending on what you are looking for, where you are looking for it, etc. will often determine your success. If you think searching is trivial and that you just type in some words, think again.
Try this lesson in reverse:
- pick a page, any page
- go to your favorite search engine
- enter about 3 or 4 key words from your chosen page
- ...search
- did your search engine find your page? Where was it in the 'hit' list ranking?
- puzzled?? read on...
Learn about searching
Sink or Swim: Internet Search Tools & Techniques Background info, tutorial, tips, search engine comparisons, exercises, and references.
Finding Information on the Internet: A TUTORIAL
(http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/(wrap) Internet/FindInfo.html)
Search services: (indexes, catalogs, directories, guides) -- if you don't have the right one, you may be heading off in the wrong direction! Do you know the differences?
Common SEARCH myths
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myth #1: All search sites are basically the same. reality: What are commonly grouped as search sites really fall into three categories:
myth #2: Search engines examine all Web pages. reality: Even the best search sites contains only a partial subset of the Web's content. You may not find your 'needle' because you are not looking in the entire 'haystack'. The proportion of your 'stack' to the whole will surprise you. And that isn't even considering those pages behind firewalls or passwords. myth #3: The 'Web' has all the information I need! reality: While the Web contains a lot of current information, don't forget that most day-to-day discussions take place on USENET, not the World Wide Web. There is also still lot of information only available via GOPHER. myth #4: Search sites/engines are required to follow the query language rules in the Internet search standard. reality: Standards are what got the Internet going, however there is no such thing as an Internet search standard or a standard query language. Syntax and rules differ from site to site. |
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myth #5: One search engine is as good as another. reality: Each 'search engine' indexes a different subset of the Internet. Not all searches are based on 'full text' searching. The 'search engine' refers to the actual software and methodology used to gather and maintain information. How different can they really be? The search engine feature chart highlights the major differences. myth #6: A full text search engine will always find what I want. reality: Try searching for a page you already know exists based on a few keywords.... any more questions? Just because a Web page exists does not guarantee that it will be contained in a particular search data base. Nor does it guarantee that it will appear in the first 50-100 'hits' returned by that search service. myth #7: You only need to know how to use one search service well. reality: Based on the subject matter and type of information you are looking for, your 'usual' site may not always be the best choice. myth #8: If I develop searching skills now, I'll be set for the future. reality: Like the Internet itself, search technology is constantly changing. Be sure to follow up when you hear about new techniques and tips. The "evolving search technology" section lists several recent search engine developments you may not be aware of. |
