1. Searching the Internet
Effectively
Alissa M. DiRubbo

2. Table of Contents
I. What are Internet Search tools?
II. What are some types of Internet Search tools?
III. Creating an Internet research strategy
IV. Type of searches-Basic, Phrase
V. Analyzing search results
VI. Boolean Operators/Boolean Searches
VII. Metasearch engines
VIII. Subject Guides
IX. Evaluative criteria for websites

3. Internet Search Tools
Internet Search tools are services that help you locate
information on the web and the internet.
Can you name some types of Internet Search Tools?
• Search engines
• Metasearch engines
• Subject guides
• Specialized search tools

4. Creating an Internet research
strategy
1. Define your topic and create keywords
2. Locate background information and add more keywords
3. Choose proper search tool
4. Perform your search
5. Evaluate search results

5. Basic Search
• View each search engine’s help screen before using it
• Some search engine’s results are better than others
• Trial and error approach to searching

6. Adding keywords
Adding keywords can help improve your
results. More keywords can narrow the results
more specific to your topic.

7. Phrase Search
Phrase searching- Place “quotation” marks
around the words you want to appear in search
results.

8. Analyzing Search Results
• Locate your search terms within the search results
• Decipher the URL
• Note the results ranking in the list of possible web pages
• Determine if the search engine uses directory links
• Determine if the search engine uses cached pages

9. Boolean Operators
CATS
DOGS
DOGS
Search the web separately for these 2 keywords
DOGS

10. Boolean Search
Boolean Search-perform searches using connectors such as AND, OR, NOT. This lets you
expand, narrow, or restrict searches.
Cats AND Dogs
CATS DOGS

11. Boolean Search
Boolean Search-perform searches using connectors such as AND, OR, NOT. This lets you
expand, narrow, or restrict searches.
Cats OR Dogs
CATS CATSDOGS

12. Boolean Search
Boolean Search-perform searches using connectors such as AND, OR, NOT. This lets you
expand, narrow, or restrict searches.
Cats NOT Dogs
CATS CATSDOGS

13. Boolean Search
Boolean Search-perform searches using connectors such as AND, OR, NOT. This lets you
expand, narrow, or restrict searches.
Dogs NOT Cats
CATS CATSDOGS

14. Metasearch engines
Metasearch engines offer a single search
form to query multiple search engines
simultaneously.

15. Subject Guides
Subject Guides offer hierarchically organized topical
directories that you navigate through to find relevant
links.
Name some characteristics of subject guides:
• Organization
• Selectivity
• Access methods
• Annotations
• Results
Lets look at Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/)

16. Evaluative Criteria
What criteria is used when determining if a web site
is appropriate?
• Organization
• Authority
• Objectivity and accuracy
• Scope
• Currency

17. Summary
 What are Internet Search tools?
 What are some types of Internet Search tools?
 Creating an Internet research strategy
 Type of searches-Basic, Phrase
 Analyzing search results
 Boolean Operators/Boolean Searches
 Metasearch engines
 Subject Guides
 Evaluative criteria for websites