WIXLIB

BASIC INTERNET SEARCH TECHNIQUES

Learning ObjectivesAt the end of this presentation thestudent will be able to:State definitions for the terms Internet,World Wide Web and search engineAnalyze a research topicDevelop appropriate search strategies andconduct a searchRefine search results

Defining Search ToolsBefore starting your search it’s a goodidea to have a basic understanding ofthe tools used to retrieve information:InternetWorld Wide WebSearch engine

Defining Search ToolsThe terms Internet and World WideWeb (Web) are often usedinterchangeably, but they are not thesame thing

Defining Search ToolsThe Internet provides the electroniccommunication structureThe Web uses the structure to find anddisplay information from a variety ofsources

Defining Search ToolsYou can search for information on theWeb using any number of differentsearch enginesWhat are search engines?Search engines are large databases of webpage files

Defining Search ToolsSearch engines use programs called“spiders” or “robots” to “crawl”through Web pages, index theinformation and add it to the searchengineMost of the information is free, thoughthere may be linksto sites that are notfree

Defining Search ToolsWhen you use a search engine (such asGoogle, Yahoo, Ask, AltaVista) you areasking it to scan its index of sites andmatch your keyword(s) and phrase(s)with those in the texts of documentswithin its database

Defining Search ToolsDue to the sheer number of wordsindexed by search engines you mayget many responses to simple searchrequestsYou may get lengthy documents in whichyour keyword appears only onceMany may not berelevant to your topic

Defining Search ToolsWeb pages found by search engines donot go through a review processAnyone can publish their ideasYou must evaluate the site and informationcarefully

Defining Search ToolsNo two search engines are exactly alikein terms ofSizeSpeed and contentRanking schemesSearch options

Defining Search ToolsRemember – a search engineCannot think for youCannot understand what you mean byyour concepts or termsCan only match the word(s) you choose

Defining Search ToolsNo single search engine can access theentire WebThe information you retrieve willdepend on:The search engine(s) and the searchterm(s) you use

Defining Search ToolsCheck your search engine’s home pageor initial screen to find out its defaultor basic settingsLook for “help”, “tips”, “FAQs”Know the default settings as this mayexplain why your search results are notwhat you expected

Analyze Your Research TopicSearching for information can befrustrating and the resultsoverwhelmingAnalyzing your topic, and then usingsearch techniques effectively, will helpyou obtain the information you needfor school or personaluse

Analyze Your Research TopicFirst take time to think about exactlywhat you are looking for – be specificIt may be useful to write out your topicin the form of a sentence or question tohelp clarify exactly what type ofinformation you need

Analyze Your Research TopicExample: I want to research dyslexiaWhat about this topic are you interestedin?Do you want to know the extent of theproblem (statistics), signs/symptoms,effect on learning, how to help someonewith dyslexia, what age group?

Analyze Your Research TopicExample: I want to research driving inthe elderly populationWhat about this topic are you interestedin?Do you want to know physical changesthat affect the elderly, how many elderlystill drive (statistics), any laws that limitdriving based on age,pros and cons of drivingafter a certain age?

Analyze Your Research TopicOnce you identify your topic break itinto key concepts or pointsWrite down all the keywords andphrases that best describe your topic

Analyze Your Research TopicThink of synonyms or related terms foreach concept or pointConsider spelling variations as well asthe singular and plural of words

Analyze Your Research TopicExample: If writing about dyslexia inthe adult population consider termssuch as:Dyslexia: reading disorder, developmentalreading disorder, learning disabilityAdult: adults, mature individual(s)

Analyze Your Research TopicExample: If you are researching drivingand the elderly consider these relatedterms:Driving: drive, automobile driving, cardriving, auto drivingElderly: old, aged, geriatric(s), elder, olderadult, aging

Analyze Your Research TopicThe word(s) you use will determine theinformation you findUsing different words in your searchmay give you additional information

Strategies to Conduct Your SearchTo do a basic search on most searchengines type in a keyword you haveidentified – example: dyslexiaThis will produce the greatest numberof results, though often not what youwant

Strategies to Conduct Your SearchA multiple keyword search retrievesmore specific or focused resultsExample: elderly driving lawsWhen using a multiple keyword search,put the most important keywords first

Strategies to Conduct Your SearchUse “ ” marks around phrases tomake sure they are searched exactlyas is otherwise most search engineswill look for each word separatelyExample: “nursing care plans” vs. nursingcare plansExample: “world healthorganization” vs.world health organization

Refine Search ResultsYou can refine and improve yoursearch by using different techniquesto broaden or narrow your searchresults

Refine Search ResultsSearch tips to refine your resultsUse a plus sign in front of a word torequire its inclusion (no space betweenthe sign and the word)A word or phrase preceded by a mustbe present in the search results Example: newborn

Refine Search ResultsSearch tips to refine your resultsUse a minus sign – in front of a word torequire its exclusion (no space betweenthe sign and the word)A word or phrase preceded by a – willexclude that word in the search results Example: –infant

Refine Search ResultsSearch tips to refine your resultsUse lower case to find both upper andlower case versions of a wordUse of upper case results in only exactupper case matches

Refine Search ResultsSearch tips to refine your resultsBoolean searching A way of connecting keywords using the“operators” AND, OR, NOT Here’s how they work

Refine Search ResultsBoolean searchingUse of the “operator” AND narrows yoursearch because the results must containall of the search terms connected by theword AND, not just one of the words Example: heart AND lung Example: newborn AND infant Example: dyslexia AND adults

Refine Search ResultsBoolean searchingUse of the “operator” OR broadens yoursearch because the results must containat least one of the search terms connectedby the word OR Example: heart OR lung Example: adolescent OR teenager

Refine Search ResultsBoolean searchingUse of the “operator” NOT excludes termsso that your results do not contain any ofthe terms that follow itUse of NOT excludes unwanted conceptsor words Example: lung disease NOT smoking

Refine Search ResultsHere are some additional searchtechniques you may find usefulTruncationWild cards

Refine Search ResultsUse truncation and wildcards to searchfor variations in spelling and the formof a wordExamples of spelling variations can beseen in the difference between Americanand British spelling Examples: pediatric vs. paediatric,orthopedic vs. orthopaedic

Refine Search ResultsTruncationTyping the stem, or root of a word, plus a*, ? or symbol at the end of the word willretrieve all forms of the word Example: allerg will yield allergy, allergic,allergen Example: gastro* will yield gastroenteritis,gastrointestinal, gastroenterologist

Refine Search ResultsWildcardsWildcard symbols such as a ? may beinserted in place of a letter(s) in a keywordUseful when you are not sure of a spellingor when there are different forms of theroot word Example: wom?n will yield both woman andwomen

Refine Search ResultsThe symbols used may vary dependingon the database or search engine youare using

Your Search ApproachRememberThere is no right or wrong approach. Itdepends on The topic you choose The time you have - but NEVER wait until thelast minute! How exhaustive your search needs to be

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World Wide Web and search engine Analyze a research topic Develop appropriate search strategies and conduct a search Refine search results. Defining Search Tools Before starting your search it's a good idea to have a basic understanding of the tools used to retrieve information: Internet