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Researching Companies Tutorial
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Last Update:
02/27/04
Because the Web is not indexed in any standard manner, finding information can seem difficult. Search engines are popular tools for locating web pages, but they often return thousands of results. Search engines crawl the Web and log the words from the web pages they find in their databases. Because some search engines have logged the words from over 1 billion documents, results can be overwhelming. Without a clear search strategy, using a search engine is like wandering aimlessly in the stacks of a library trying to find a particular book.
Successful searching involves two key steps. First, you must have a clear understanding of how to prepare your search. You must identify the main concepts in your topic and determine any synonyms, alternate spellings, or variant word forms for the concepts. Second, you need to know how to use the various search tools available on the Internet. For example, search engines (e.g., AltaVista) are very different than subject directories (e.g., Yahoo). Even search engines themselves can vary greatly in size, accuracy, features, and flexibility.
This tutorial presents an easy-to-follow process on using search engines and subject directories for finding what you need on the World Wide Web.
Specifically, this course will enable you to:
- Use subject directories and describe the difference between a subject directory and a search engine.
- Use implied and full Boolean logic, phrase searching, truncation, and field searching effectively.
- Identify key concepts, synonyms, and variant word forms in your search topic.
- Use key search engines effectively including AltaVista, Google, All the Web/FAST, and HotBot.
- Use meta-search engines.
- Use specialty databases when appropriate.
- Apply search strategies and techniques in a scavenger hunt exercise.
For best results, review the topics in the order listed above.
In each topic section, the tutorial will highlight key websites and/or provide exercises for practicing search techniques.
When you click on a link, the tutorial will change to a frames interface.
Specific instructions for practicing a technique or navigating a site will appear in the left frame.
The actual search engine or subject directory will appear in the right frame.
Use the search engine or directory and the suggested exercises to practice the search technique.
NOTE: As you will soon discover, there are many effective ways to state keywords and search criteria.
The HINTS and SHOW ME suggestions provided throughout the tutorial offer one of many possible alternatives for obtaining relevant search results.
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