What is the Internet?What is the Internet?

It is the world-wide distributed network of computers

It has no central control - works through the cooperation of network administrators

Benefits of using InternetBenefits of using Internet

Communication locally / internationally faster and more cost effective

Long distance telephone charges eliminated by using e-mail

Creates better informed staff/students with access to resources not otherwise available

Good for advertising services / facilities offered by institutions/companies

Bookmarks / FavouritesBookmarks / Favourites

Bookmark your favourite URL’s for direct access with only a click

Search EnginesSearch Engines

Search engines help you to sort through the masses of information on the WEB

Major search engines are: Google, Yahoo, HotBot

Which search engine is the Which search engine is the biggest / best?biggest / best?

Search engines are constantly evolving : competition is fierce

Some handle boolean queries better e.g. Yahoo, MSN, Gigablast.

Some better on relevance ranking e.g. Google

Some more user friendly e.g. Ask Jeeves - but results not as good as larger search engines

Comparing search enginesComparing search engines

Very few standards in place Each search engine has own way of dealing with:

– Boolean logic– Truncation– Phrase searching– Case sensitivity– Sorting by: date, site, categories, etc– Use HELP files

• This website is periodically updated and groups the search engines by size• Also compares search features• By clicking on “Review” a complete update of search engine is provided

Information on Strengths, Weaknesses, Features, etc

General search requesting 4 terms to

be present

1650 websites retrieved!

Narrow search by using the “Advanced Search”

Now only 17 websites retrieved

Click on “Images” and type in search term for pictures

Click on “News” for up-to-date general news

For “Health News” click on “Health”

Use Google Scholar for more Use Google Scholar for more academic informationacademic information

Most hits are journal articlesMost hits are journal articles

Can also do an advanced

search

Advanced searchAdvanced search

Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Retrieves more relevant and peer-reviewed documents

Any articles from ejournals to which the University Library subscribes will be available in full text on-campus only

You can access Google Scholar from You can access Google Scholar from the Library Web pagethe Library Web page

QualityQuality How up-to-date are the links? Is the resource full text? Is the Internet version of resource current, e.g.

dictionaries How comprehensive is this site? Is the resource available from or pointed to by multiple

Internet sites? Who is the author or producer? Was content developed by an academic

institution/commercial enterprise with established reputation?

Quality (cont)Quality (cont)

Does resource stay current through regular updates or demonstrate on-going maintenanceWas the content peer-reviewed by experts in field?

What are dates of coverage ? Is any sort of bias evident? When was the Web item produced? When was the Web item last revised? Is contact information for author/producer included?

ConclusionConclusion

The Internet is a rich source of information, which can be used to great advantage. However, because there is no control over the material that is placed on the Internet, evaluate any information very carefully.

Main method of retrieving peer reviewed academic information is from computerized databases. e.g. Medline