Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition Unit B

Internet Research – Illustrated 6 th Edition Unit B: Constructing Complex Searches

Objectives • Understand Boolean operators • Narrow a search with the AND operator • Expand a search with the OR operator • Restrict a search with the NOT operator Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 2

Objectives (cont’d. ) • Use multiple Boolean operators • Search with filters • Combine Boolean operators and filters • Use advanced search operators • Use metasearch engines Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 3

Understanding Boolean Operators • English language uses syntax § Set of rules for combining words to form grammatical sentences • Search engines use Boolean logic § Special mathematical syntax to perform complex searches • Keywords act like nouns in a sentence § Boolean operators tell a search engine how to interpret complex searches • Work like conjunctions in a sentence Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 4

Understanding Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) • Venn diagrams § Drawings that visually represent searches using Boolean operators Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 5

Understanding Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) • Boolean operators § § Expand, narrow, or restrict searches based on Boolean logic (e. g. , AND, OR, and NOT) Engine automatically insert a default operator • Usually AND but can be OR § May be able to type in basic search or only on the advanced search page Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 6

Understanding Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 7

Narrowing a Search with the AND Operator • Limits or narrows results • Tells search engine that both keywords must be on every Web page § § § Good to use when initial search finds too many irrelevant results Also used to force the search engine to include a stop word in search query Most search engines use AND as their default operator Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 8

Narrowing a Search with the AND Operator (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 9

Expanding a Search with the OR Operator • Expands search § § § Tells search engine to list every Web page that contains any of the keywords Every page returned must have one keyword, but it doesn’t need to more than one Good time to use is when initial search finds too few results Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 10

Expanding a Search with the OR Operator (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 11

Restricting a Search with the NOT Operator • Excludes keyword or search phrase that follows § Narrows or limits search by not including pages that include excluded terms Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 12

Restricting a Search with the NOT Operator (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 13

Using Multiple Boolean Operators • Search queries with only keywords and phrases are processed left to right • Can use parentheses ( ) to control order Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 14

Using Multiple Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 15

Using Multiple Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 16

Using Multiple Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 17

Using Multiple Boolean Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 18

Searching with Filters • Used to refine searches • Usually located on advanced search pages • Used to search only a specified areas or exclude specified areas of the Web Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 19

Searching with Filters (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 20

Searching with Filters (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 21

Combining Boolean Operators and Filters • Creates complex, specific searches Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 22

Using Advanced Search Operators • Powerful additional capabilities for locating specific information § § Filters results (e. g. , restricting searches to a particular Web site) Exact wording may vary among search operators Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 23

Using Advanced Search Operators (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 24

Using Metasearch Engines • Metasearch engines do not search the Web itself § § § They search engines’ indexes Access more of the Web in a single search Are broad, but often not deep Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 25

Using Metasearch Engines (cont’d. ) Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 26

Summary • Understand Boolean operators • Narrow a search with the AND operator • Expand a search with the OR operator • Restrict a search with the NOT operator Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 27

Summary (cont’d. ) • Use multiple Boolean operators • Search with filters • Combine Boolean operators and filters • Use advanced search operators • Use metasearch engines Internet Research Illustrated 6 th Edition 28