HSU Library
Communication 280: Introduction to Information Research Skills
Using the Internet: Internet Search Tools

Background Material:

• Characterization of the Internet
• What is the Internet? (OWL 5)
• "Visible Web" vs. the "Invisible Web" - information contained on the web is located using various Internet search tools that are listed below. The best search engines retrieve only 25% of the information on the Internet. There are millions of "invisible web" pages that are excluded by Internet search engines either because of the file format of the page or because the information content is delivered as a unique page based upon a searcher's interaction with a database at a web site.
• "Public Web" vs. "Private Web" - some information content is available only on a fee basis, e.g., many of the HSU Library's databases are restricted to just current HSU students and faculty; or is behind firewalls at corporate and other sites.

• Size & Growth of the Internet
• Internet Sizer
• Hobbes' Internet Timeline
• Web Characterization Project (OCLC)
• Internet Growth Charts

• Internet Search Tools - there are four basic "families" or types of search tools.  For additional information see

How Do I Find Useful Information on the Internet? (OWL 5) and Internet Search Tools (HSU Library)
 
• Search Engines - these search tools index the "visible" by using computer programs ("robots" and "spiders") to create a master database of web pages against which users can search and receive a ranked list of matching web pages. They are large in size but do not evaluate the quality of pages gathered in the database. Use search engines when you:
• have a narrow topic
• want to gather a large number of results
The following sites are guides to general and specialized search engines:
•  Search Engine Sizes (Search Engine Watch)
• Guides to Specialized Search Engines (SearchAbility) - guide to over 35 master directories that list Internet search tools by broad subject category. Collectively these guides list thousands of specialized search engines and directories.

• Subject Directories/Gateways/Portals - these search tools are databases compiled by humans and categoried by subject. They frequently are an attempt to create a database of key Internet resources in a specific area of human knowledge. They are small in size but the information retrieved from them has been evaluated.  Many of the subject  Research Guides developed by HSU librarians list recommended subject directories.  Use subject directories when you:
• have a broad topic
• want selected, evaluated and annotated web pages

• "Invisible Web" Directories - these subject directories list specialized databases by subject or file format. Use invisible web directories when you:
• are looking for information that is likely in a database
• are looking for information that dynamically changes in content
• are looking for information in unusual file formats
The following sites discuss in more detail the "invisible web" and list recommended directories:
• Invisible Web (Deep Web) (About.com)
• Invisible Web: What it is, Why it exists, How to find it, and Its inherent ambiguity (UC Berkeley Libraries)
• Those Dark Hiding Places: The Invisible Web Revealed (Lackie)

• MetaSearch Engines - utilities that search more than one search engine and/or subject directory at a time and compile search results in varying ways. While they are "quick and dirty" ways to search, multiple search tools also simplify the power of the individual search tools.

• Constructing Internet Searches
• Search Strategies
• Recommended Search Strategy (UC Berkeley Library)
• Basic Search Tips
• Figure out how a particular search engine works and use it to its fullest power.
• In searching keywords use phrase searching whenever possible--this is often done with use of quotation marks around the phrase.
• Make use of features that allow one to find similar web pages--look for options such as "More Like This" or "Related Sites".
• Search Engine Features
• The Best Search Engines (UC Berkeley Library)
• Search Engine Features for Searchers (Search Engine Watch) Summarizes key search commands and search assistance features.
• Search Engine Comparison (Botluk) Defines search engine features and compares these features on major search engines.
• For Fun
• Useless Pages (Go2Net)
• Very Last Page of the Internet
• Google Pigeon Rank

Assignments: Print off and complete

• OWL 5 - Using the Internet Quiz
• Internet Search Tools