This document provides guidance on using web sources for research. It discusses how search engines work using keyword matching and ranking algorithms. It recommends choosing the right search terms and using operators like AND, OR, and quotation marks. It also suggests limiting searches to specific top-level domains like .edu or .gov. Additionally, the document notes that search engines only index 10% of the web and recommends evaluating sources using criteria like currency, relevance, authority, and purpose.

1. Using Web Sources for Research

3. • The perfect
search
engine
“understands
exactly what you
mean AND gives
you back exactly
what you want”
-- Larry Page
(Google co-founder)

4. Keyword
Matching
Ranking
Algorithm • Relevance
• Popularity
• Currency

7. - comScore, Sept. 11, 2013
67%
18%
11%
3% 1%
Google
Bing
Yahoo
Ask
AOL
Percentage of search
queries conducted

9. • Keyword searching: choose the right
terms!
• AND is assumed:
If want info on voting AND youth, type in:
voting youth
• OR have to type in OR:
If want info on diversity OR multiculturalism, type in:
diversity OR multiculturalism

10. • Can search for synonyms with “~”
~college
Searches not only for college, but also
for any synonyms of college, like
university

11. • Exact phrases: To search for an exact
phrase or name, put it in quotation
marks
“higher education”
• Limit search to top level domain: To
find sites that have the same kind of
top level domain (e.g., .edu, .gov)
site:.edu
site:.gov

14. • Search engines index less than 10% of
the entire Web!
• The remaining 90% = Invisible Web!

16. • Experience
• Limit to Top Level Domain
• Evaluate using CRAAP Test or other
model
• Ask a Professor or Librarian

17. • Limit your searches
to particular types
of websites:
• .gov
• .org
• .edu
• .com
• Google search:
• Google search
limited to govt sites
Women combat us military
Women combat us military site:.gov

18. • Currency
• Relevance
• Authority
• Accuracy
• Purpose

22. • Single search
• Search the entire library collection at
once

24. • NLT 11:59 pm Friday, May 2
• 90 points
• Assignment rubric and grading
criteria are in Week 8 module
• Submit as a document (.doc, .docx, or
.pdf) in the Discussion Board