Search Techniques for the Web
Internet Searching Keywords
The basis of all search techniques○ Main topic of search ○ Additional words to narrow search
But what if you still can’t find it?Boolean logic
○ Use “computer-ese” – language for machines!
Plan Your Search Sometimes just keywords are too general Make a plan for your search
Identify concepts○ What are your keywords?
Make a listSpecify logical relationships
○ Boolean: AND, OR, NOT
Choosing Keywords General keywords will return many results
Words that have different meaningsExample: Watch
○ Can mean timekeeping device or the verb “to look”
Before searching, compile a list of keywords and alternates to help refine your results.
Example of Multiple Meaning Keyword
Return from Google on keyword “Watch”
Choosing Keywords
Carefully specify keyword(s)If searching for “watch” as in timekeeping
device○ “Wristwatch”, or “wrist watch” – space implies
“AND”Use Boolean logic operators to include and
exclude unwanted terms.
Boolean Searching: AND
Search engines assume “AND” when inputting multiple keywordsThe AND operator will narrow your resultsExample: Instructional Design = Instructional
AND DesignSearch returns will contain BOTH those
keywordsSearch returns will reject pages that have
only one or the other keyword
Boolean Searching: OR Use the Boolean operator OR to:
Expand your results in the case of having keywords that are too specific
Example: college OR universityResults will return pages with the terms
college, university or both in the same page.Don’t use OR when you already have too
many results
Boolean Searching: NOT
Use the Boolean operator NOT to:Eliminate unwanted resultsExample: college NOT universityResults will return pages with the first term
only when not accompanied by the other term.
Wristwatch NOT watch will return only pages that contain “wristwatch”.○ May narrow search too much
Boolean Searching:Combining Operators
Use multiple Boolean operators in combinationCombine multiple operators in search stringParenthesis determine order of processing
○ As in Mathematics○ Example: wristwatch AND (analog NOT digital)
Results will include only wristwatches that have dials with hands, not digital displays
Search Engine Tools Most search engines have an “advanced”
setting that allows more specific searchesIn multiple keywords, AND is implied.
Search:○ All of these words/Must contain the words
OR logic - Search: ○ Any of the words/At least one of the words/Should
contain the wordsNOT logic - Search:
○ Must not contain the words/Should not contain the words
Verbatim Keywords Some search software allows
the “+” symbol to specify a verbatim keyword+wristwatch eliminates returns
of “wristwatches” and other variations.
In Google, use “Verbatim” under Show Search Tools on left hand side of results page
Google – Show Search Tools
Additional search options for refining Google searchesNarrow by posting
date/timeNarrow by specific tools
like Verbatim
Search Phrases
Use “quotation marks” on a phrase when looking for the exact return.Example: 18,000 bph watch versus “18,000 bph
watch” returns different results.Using quotation marks will reduce unwanted resultsChoose search phrase carefullyQuotes can limit results too much
Searching the WebQuestions and Answers
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