Optimal Usage of Optimal Usage of Internet SearchingInternet Searching

Part IPart I

Tips on searching Google

& other such creatures

BIO 102 Spring 2008

Callie Bergeris

Types of Search ToolsTypes of Search Tools

►Search EnginesSearch Engines►Meta-Search EnginesMeta-Search Engines►DirectoriesDirectories

You’ve heard it said that You’ve heard it said that information on the Internetinformation on the Internet

comes from ANYWHERE is published by is published by ANYONEANYONE is is not screenednot screened or peer- or peer-

reviewed prior to publicationreviewed prior to publication

There is little “quality control” There is little “quality control” on the Internet unless….on the Internet unless….

It’s smart to use more It’s smart to use more than one search enginethan one search engine

http://ranking.thumbshots.com/http://ranking.thumbshots.com/

It’s obvious that you have It’s obvious that you have to be cautious when looking for academic to be cautious when looking for academic

and other information on the Internet.and other information on the Internet.

http://http://www.library.uow.edu.au/helptraining/tutorials/resedwww.library.uow.edu.au/helptraining/tutorials/resedge/site1.htmlge/site1.html

Search Engine - DefinitionSearch Engine - Definition

►Online tool which uses a software program Online tool which uses a software program known as a spider to “crawl” the Web and known as a spider to “crawl” the Web and retrieve information about Web pages which retrieve information about Web pages which are indexed by the engine. are indexed by the engine.

► Provides a search tool which retrieves results Provides a search tool which retrieves results based on a user-defined search query.based on a user-defined search query.

► You are actually searching the engine’s You are actually searching the engine’s collection of web pages which it has indexed collection of web pages which it has indexed -- not the Web itself!not the Web itself!

More on search engines…More on search engines…

► Indexed by spiders / entries Indexed by spiders / entries not reviewed by not reviewed by humanshumans

► Provide a Higher Quantity of Results vs. Provide a Higher Quantity of Results vs. QualityQuality

► Powerful Advanced Searching CapabilitiesPowerful Advanced Searching Capabilities► Search the Full-Text of WebPagesSearch the Full-Text of WebPages► Very Current - UpdatedVery Current - Updated►Most useful for Specific QueriesMost useful for Specific Queries

Search Engine – a close-upSearch Engine – a close-up

GoogleGoogleLargest & Most Popular Search EngineLargest & Most Popular Search Engine

8 Billion + Pages Indexed8 Billion + Pages IndexedVery Effective Advanced Search Very Effective Advanced Search

FeaturesFeaturesLimit searches by domain, ie. Site:eduLimit searches by domain, ie. Site:eduLimit searches by format, ie. .pdf, Limit searches by format, ie. .pdf,

Specialized Search ToolsSpecialized Search ToolsImages, Directory, Videos, Books, Images, Directory, Videos, Books,

Scholar, News, BloggerScholar, News, Blogger

A Closer LookA Closer Look

►Google Scholar Google Scholar (scholarly literature=articles, (scholarly literature=articles, books)books)

►Google Books Google Books (books)(books)

►Google Directory Google Directory (handpicked specific topical (handpicked specific topical sites)sites)

Google aids to useGoogle aids to use

► ANDAND,, OR, NOT OR, NOT► site:gov site:orgsite:gov site:org site:edusite:edu ► define:electromagneticdefine:electromagnetic► ~food~food ~facts~facts ( (food facts and food facts and

nutrition and cooking information) nutrition and cooking information)► phrase searching “second phrase searching “second

hand smoking” hand smoking”

Google tips continuedGoogle tips continued

►enrollment enrollment site:www.iona.edusite:www.iona.edu

►music site:ukmusic site:uk►allintitle: organic farmingallintitle: organic farming►allinurl: nuclear energyallinurl: nuclear energy►virus -computervirus -computer

Google help centerGoogle help center

http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/supportsupport

There is strength in numbersThere is strength in numbers

Do not use Google Do not use Google onlyonly

Try two or three other search Try two or three other search engines, such as:engines, such as:

ask.comask.com yahoo.com yahoo.com (same as (same as

search.yahoo)search.yahoo) scholar.google.comscholar.google.com alltheweb.comalltheweb.com

ScirusScirusA search engine solely for scientific A search engine solely for scientific information:information:

www.scirus.comwww.scirus.comIndexes science-oriented web pages Indexes science-oriented web pages

as well as journal article citationsas well as journal article citations Subscription necessary for full-text of Subscription necessary for full-text of

many articlesmany articles167 million science-related web 167 million science-related web

pagespagesResearch and academic focusResearch and academic focus

Search Tips - Before the Search Tips - Before the SearchSearch

►Refine and clarify topicRefine and clarify topic -Browse directory and books-Browse directory and books

►Make keyword listMake keyword list

►Think about which resources would Think about which resources would most likely have information relevant most likely have information relevant to your topicto your topic

Search Tips continuedSearch Tips continued

►Do phrase searchingDo phrase searching

►Use combinationsUse combinations“origin of species” –darwin“origin of species” –darwin

►Place most important words first in Place most important words first in the search stringthe search string

►Might need to use uncommon wordsMight need to use uncommon words

Meta-Search EnginesMeta-Search Engines

AA meta-search engine meta-search engine searches the searches the collections of multiple single search collections of multiple single search engines engines simultaneouslysimultaneously, retrieving the , retrieving the top results from each. They do not top results from each. They do not sustain an index of their own.sustain an index of their own.

Meta-Search Engine Meta-Search Engine CharacteristicsCharacteristics

►Most return the top 5 or 10 results from each Most return the top 5 or 10 results from each engineengine

► No advanced searching capabilitiesNo advanced searching capabilities►Many Many don’tdon’t allow Boolean or phrase searching allow Boolean or phrase searching► Less precise than single search enginesLess precise than single search engines► Some don’t search GoogleSome don’t search Google► Useful in finding which engine covers topic Useful in finding which engine covers topic

bestbest► Useful in finding what information may be Useful in finding what information may be

available on a topicavailable on a topic

More about meta-search More about meta-search enginesengines

►Do not crawl the web themselves to build Do not crawl the web themselves to build databases of Web pages like search databases of Web pages like search engines do; they send your search terms engines do; they send your search terms or queries to several search engines at or queries to several search engines at once and display the top results together once and display the top results together on a single page. on a single page.

► As good as the quality of the search As good as the quality of the search engine databases they obtain results from.engine databases they obtain results from.

Try these meta-search Try these meta-search enginesengines

►www.dogpile.com www.dogpile.com

►www.mamma.comwww.mamma.com

►http://www.jux2.com/http://www.jux2.com/

►www.zuula.comwww.zuula.com

►www.graball.comwww.graball.com

You can also use DirectoriesYou can also use Directories

A directoryA directory (often called a subject(often called a subject directory)directory) is a collection of is a collection of indexed web pages indexed web pages hierarchically hierarchically organizedorganized into browsable into browsable categories by categories by humanshumans..

Directories - CharacteristicsDirectories - Characteristics

► Indexed by human editorsIndexed by human editors►Provide higher quality vs. quantityProvide higher quality vs. quantity

Typically Much Smaller than Search Typically Much Smaller than Search EnginesEngines

►Entries are usually annotatedEntries are usually annotated►They don’t search the full-text of web They don’t search the full-text of web

pages as search engines dopages as search engines do►Both commercial & non-commercial Both commercial & non-commercial

directoriesdirectories

Directories—when to useDirectories—when to use

►Useful When You Have a Broad TopicUseful When You Have a Broad Topic

Can help narrow focusCan help narrow focus►Useful at Start of Research to Define Useful at Start of Research to Define

Relevant Key WordsRelevant Key Words►Useful to Observe What Information is Useful to Observe What Information is

Available on a Topic Available on a Topic

Directories - ExamplesDirectories - Examples

► Open Directory Open Directory ProjectProject http://dmoz.orghttp://dmoz.org

► Librarian’s Index to Librarian’s Index to the Internetthe Internet http://www.lii.orghttp://www.lii.org

► InfomineInfomine http://infomine.ucr.eduhttp://infomine.ucr.edu

►Academic InfoAcademic Infohttp://http://wwwwww

.academicinfo.net.academicinfo.net

►Yahoo!Yahoo!http://dir.yahoo.comhttp://dir.yahoo.com

►Resource Resource DiscoveryDiscovery

NetworkNetworkhttp://www.rdn.ac.uk/http://www.rdn.ac.uk/

A good web page with a table of A good web page with a table of general directoriesgeneral directories to use can to use can

be found atbe found at

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SubjDirectories.htmlInternet/SubjDirectories.html

Library Resources for Internet Library Resources for Internet SearchingSearching

How do I get there?How do I get there?

http://www.iona.edu/library/http://www.iona.edu/library/

Search Tools SummarySearch Tools Summary►Search EnginesSearch Engines - - Search a collection Search a collection

of indexed web pagesof indexed web pages►Meta-Search EnginesMeta-Search Engines - - Search Search

multiple search engines simultaneouslymultiple search engines simultaneously►DirectoriesDirectories - - Provide a collection of Provide a collection of

indexed web pages arranged in indexed web pages arranged in categoriescategories

►Specialized ResourcesSpecialized Resources - - Dedicated Dedicated to One Subject or Industryto One Subject or Industry

Compare the Internet Compare the Internet vsvs. . Electronic DatabasesElectronic Databases

Some important differences:Some important differences:

Electronic databases contain a collection of Electronic databases contain a collection of information (articles, images, statistics, etc.) information (articles, images, statistics, etc.) that has been selected and packaged into a that has been selected and packaged into a product that the library product that the library subscribessubscribes to to

Information in our electronic databases Information in our electronic databases comes from comes from reputable sources and/or reputable sources and/or publicationspublications

Many electronic databases include a Many electronic databases include a highhigh percentagepercentage of scholarly journalsof scholarly journals

E-Databases & Scholarly E-Databases & Scholarly JournalsJournals

Scholarly journals areScholarly journals are “peer-“peer-reviewed”reviewed” or or “refereed”“refereed”

In many electronic databases, you In many electronic databases, you can limit your search to peer-can limit your search to peer-reviewed journals only reviewed journals only www.iona.eduwww.iona.edu

Getting Full-text ArticlesGetting Full-text Articles ““So many” articles are not available in full-text in the So many” articles are not available in full-text in the

database that I’m searching? database that I’m searching?

Check the “Finding Journal Articles” web page to Check the “Finding Journal Articles” web page to see if the journal is available in our see if the journal is available in our paper/microform collection or electronically inpaper/microform collection or electronically in another databaseanother database

www.iona.edu/library www.iona.edu/library Journal of BacteriologyJournal of Bacteriology

Document Delivery Document Delivery Service Service (Interlibrary Loan or ILL)(Interlibrary Loan or ILL)

To request an article from a journal that To request an article from a journal that we don’t have either in print or in we don’t have either in print or in another electronic database:another electronic database:

Request the article electronically by Request the article electronically by selecting the selecting the “request articles” link“request articles” link on on the Document Delivery Services web the Document Delivery Services web pagepage

Be sure to allow enough time for these Be sure to allow enough time for these materials to be retrieved –materials to be retrieved –

usually aboutusually about 2 weeks2 weeks

www.iona.edu/librarywww.iona.edu/library

Writing Your PaperWriting Your Paper

Style guidesStyle guides are used to format your are used to format your paper and paper and citecite your sources of your sources of informationinformation

They will also help you to cite electronic They will also help you to cite electronic sources of information – information sources of information – information from databases, the Internet, and so from databases, the Internet, and so forthforth

Examples of Style GuidesExamples of Style Guides

(CBE) The Council of Biology Editors (CBE) The Council of Biology Editors Style of Documentation in Science Style of Documentation in Science and Mathematicsand Mathematicshttp://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/cbe.htmhttp://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/cbe.htm

(ACS) American Chemical Society (ACS) American Chemical Society Style Guide Style Guide http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/CHEM/acsstyle.htmlhttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/CHEM/acsstyle.html

Guides for Citing Guides for Citing SourcesSources

http://www.iona.edu/library/http://www.iona.edu/library/

More assistanceMore assistance??????

You may make an appointment for individual You may make an appointment for individual help with a librarian by signing up for a help with a librarian by signing up for a “RAP”“RAP” sessionsession

““RAP” (Research Assistance Program)RAP” (Research Assistance Program) sessions sessions are a service provided by the Iona College are a service provided by the Iona College librarianslibrarians

Appointments must be made at least Appointments must be made at least 48 hours48 hours in in advance of the time you wish to meet and at advance of the time you wish to meet and at least least two weekstwo weeks before your assignment is due before your assignment is due

Good luck with your Good luck with your research …..research …..

If you need help, please If you need help, please ask a librarian !ask a librarian !

Callie Bergeris, 633-2227Callie Bergeris, 633-2227Reference Desk, 637-7716Reference Desk, 637-7716