Search Techniques

It is imperative students use proper techniques when searching information on a computer system. It is imperative students use proper techniques when searching information on a computer system. Poor techniques and random guessing leads to lost time and inefficient work habits. Poor techniques and random guessing leads to lost time and inefficient work habits.

Where do I begin? Google as a Search Engine Google as a Search Engine Google is a great start. Under Google, you can find an orderly list of search methods. Google is a great start. Under Google, you can find an orderly list of search methods. But first …… But first ……

Spelling Spelling Helps. Spelling Helps. If you know what you are looking for, spell it properly and the computer will not ask what you are looking for. If you know what you are looking for, spell it properly and the computer will not ask what you are looking for.

Boolean Search Using proper techniques to look for info on the world wide web. Using proper techniques to look for info on the world wide web. Using tried and true techniques that produce results. Using tried and true techniques that produce results. Following simple directions that work. Following simple directions that work.

Basic Boolean Search Operators - AND Using AND narrows a search by combining terms; it will retrieve documents that use both the search terms you specify. Using AND narrows a search by combining terms; it will retrieve documents that use both the search terms you specify. Example: Portland AND Oregon Example: Portland AND Oregon

Basic Boolean Search Operators - OR Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you type in. OR is a good tool to use when there are several common spellings or synonyms of a word. Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you type in. OR is a good tool to use when there are several common spellings or synonyms of a word. Example: liberal OR democrat Example: liberal OR democrat

Basic Boolean Search Operators - NOT Using NOT will narrow a search by excluding certain search terms. NOT retrieves documents that contain one, but not the other, of the search terms you enter. Using NOT will narrow a search by excluding certain search terms. NOT retrieves documents that contain one, but not the other, of the search terms you enter. Example: Oregon NOT travel Example: Oregon NOT travel

Important Boolean Info Keep in mind that not all search engines and directories support Boolean terms. However, most do, and you can easily find out if the one you want to use supports this technique by consulting the FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) on a search engine or directory's home page. Keep in mind that not all search engines and directories support Boolean terms. However, most do, and you can easily find out if the one you want to use supports this technique by consulting the FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) on a search engine or directory's home page.

Google Advanced Search Phrase search ("") Phrase search ("") By putting double quotes around a set of words, you are telling Google to consider the exact words in that exact order without any change. By putting double quotes around a set of words, you are telling Google to consider the exact words in that exact order without any change. By insisting on phrase search you might be missing good results accidentally. For example, a search for [ "Alexander Bell" ] (with quotes) will miss the pages that refer to Alexander G. Bell. By insisting on phrase search you might be missing good results accidentally. For example, a search for [ "Alexander Bell" ] (with quotes) will miss the pages that refer to Alexander G. Bell.

Google Advanced Search Search within a specific website (site:) Search within a specific website (site:) Google allows you to specify that your search results must come from a given website. For example, the query [ iraq site:nytimes.com ] will return pages about Iraq but only from nytimes.com. Google allows you to specify that your search results must come from a given website. For example, the query [ iraq site:nytimes.com ] will return pages about Iraq but only from nytimes.com. You can also specify a whole class of sites, for example [ iraq site:.gov ] will return results only from a.gov domain and [ iraq site:.iq ] will return results only from Iraqi sites. You can also specify a whole class of sites, for example [ iraq site:.gov ] will return results only from a.gov domain and [ iraq site:.iq ] will return results only from Iraqi sites.

Google Advanced Search Terms you want to exclude (-) Terms you want to exclude (-) Attaching a minus sign immediately before a word indicates that you do not want pages that contain this word to appear in your results. The minus sign should appear immediately before the word and should be preceded with a space. Attaching a minus sign immediately before a word indicates that you do not want pages that contain this word to appear in your results. The minus sign should appear immediately before the word and should be preceded with a space. You can exclude as many words as you want by using the - sign in front of all of them, for example [ jaguar -cars -football -os ]. You can exclude as many words as you want by using the - sign in front of all of them, for example [ jaguar -cars -football -os ].

Google Advanced Search Fill in the blanks (*) Fill in the blanks (*) The *, or wildcard, is a little-known feature that can be very powerful. If you include * within a query, it tells Google to try to treat the star as a placeholder for any unknown term(s) and then find the best matches. The *, or wildcard, is a little-known feature that can be very powerful. If you include * within a query, it tells Google to try to treat the star as a placeholder for any unknown term(s) and then find the best matches. For example, the search [ Google * ] will give you results about many of Google's products (go to next page and next page -- we have many products). For example, the search [ Google * ] will give you results about many of Google's products (go to next page and next page -- we have many products).

Google Advanced Search Search exactly as is (+) Search exactly as is (+) Google employs synonyms automatically, so that it finds pages that mention, for example, childcare for the query [ child care ] (with a space), or California history for the query [ ca history ]. Google employs synonyms automatically, so that it finds pages that mention, for example, childcare for the query [ child care ] (with a space), or California history for the query [ ca history ]. By attaching a + immediately before a word (remember, don't add a space after the +), you are telling Google to match that word precisely as you typed it. Putting double quotes around a single word will do the same thing. By attaching a + immediately before a word (remember, don't add a space after the +), you are telling Google to match that word precisely as you typed it. Putting double quotes around a single word will do the same thing.

Google Advanced Search The OR operator The OR operator Google's default behavior is to consider all the words in a search. If you want to specifically allow either one of several words, you can use the OR operator (note that you have to type 'OR' in ALL CAPS). Google's default behavior is to consider all the words in a search. If you want to specifically allow either one of several words, you can use the OR operator (note that you have to type 'OR' in ALL CAPS). For example, [ San Francisco Giants 2004 OR 2005 ] will give you results about either one of these years, whereas [ San Francisco Giants ] (without the OR) will show pages that include both years on the same page. For example, [ San Francisco Giants 2004 OR 2005 ] will give you results about either one of these years, whereas [ San Francisco Giants ] (without the OR) will show pages that include both years on the same page.

Punctuation that is not ignored Punctuation in popular terms that have particular meanings, like [ C++ ] or [ C# ] (both are names of programming languages), are not ignored. Punctuation in popular terms that have particular meanings, like [ C++ ] or [ C# ] (both are names of programming languages), are not ignored. The dollar sign ($) is used to indicate prices. [ nikon 400 ] and [ nikon $400 ] will give different results. The dollar sign ($) is used to indicate prices. [ nikon 400 ] and [ nikon $400 ] will give different results. The hyphen - is sometimes used as a signal that the two words around it are very strongly connected. (Unless there is no space after the - and a space before it, in which case it is a negative sign.) The hyphen - is sometimes used as a signal that the two words around it are very strongly connected. (Unless there is no space after the - and a space before it, in which case it is a negative sign.) The underscore symbol _ is not ignored when it connects two words, e.g. [ quick_sort ]. The underscore symbol _ is not ignored when it connects two words, e.g. [ quick_sort ].

What is Your Search Preference? Check it out. Check it out. Look for this right now. Look for this right now. Frogs Frogs Frogs + Saskatchewan Frogs + Saskatchewan Rare Frogs + Saskatchewan Rare Frogs + Saskatchewan What is the results return? What is the results return?

Questions??? Lets check out Google!! Lets check out Google!!

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