Using Search Engines

There are several kinds of search tools that are on the web: Internet Directories, Search Engines, and Meta-search Engines.

Internet Directories are subject-tree listings. The user follows subject headings to find a listing of topics relevant to the search. This is probably the easiest form of search tool. The most popular such search tool is Yahoo. 

Search Engines are tools that allows the user  to enter key words and search the web for documents that contain the keyword(s). Some provide a relevancy feedback option, which numerically rates the hits. The higher the number, the greater chance that the link contains the information being sought. AltaVista and Google are two popular search engines.

Meta-search engines - These search engines send a keyword search to several or more search engines simultaneously. Metacrawler, for instance, sends keywords to 10 different search engines and then collects and displays the best responses from each.

Search Strategies

Refine a search by putting quotes around phrases.  "Community College" will allow you to search for the phrase rather than the words community and college.

Refine a search by using the "AND" term.  Several words can be linked together in this manner.  In searching for community colleges in Ohio, you might use the following strategy: Community AND College AND Ohio.

Refine a search by using the "NOT" term.  In searching for community colleges that are not in Ohio, you might use the following strategy: Community AND College NOT Ohio.

Refine a search by using a wildcard.  If the user searches for Tech*, the results of the search will show documents that contain the keyword tech, technology, technologies, technique, etc.

Click here to view a Search Tool Chart

Click here to download Search Tool Assignment as a WORD document

Click here to download Search Tool Assignment as an ADOBE ACROBAT file

Updated: 10/03/05