Selecting Search Engines

Unlike a library, the Internet has no handy catalog, and search engines are not objective searchers. Each has its own system of locating material, categorizing it, and establishing the sequence for reporting results. One search site, patterned on a library index, might be selective. Another might separate advertising from search results, while a third pops up “sponsors” that pay advertising fees first, even though sites listed later might be better matches.

The best search engine is one you select and learn to use well. If you have a favorite, check its search practices. As you work out a combination of search terms relevant to your research question, think of your wording as a zoom lens. Tinker with it to search as narrowly as possible, finding relevant sites but avoiding endless options. Then try the identical search with another search engine to compare the results.

RESEARCH CHECKLIST

Comparing Search Engine Results

  • What does the search engine’s home page suggest its typical users want — academic information, business news, sports, shopping, or music?
  • What does the search engine gather or index — information from and about a Web page (Google), each word on a Web page (Yahoo!), academic sources (Google Scholar), a collection of other search engines (Metacrawler), or returns compared for several engines (TurboScout)?
  • What can you learn from a search engine’s About, Search Tips, or Help?
  • How does the advanced search work? Does it improve your results?
  • Does the search engine take questions (Ask, Wolfram Alpha), categorize by source type (text, images, news), or group by topic (About)?
  • How well does the search engine target your query — the words that define your specific search?
  • How can you distinguish results (responses to your query), sponsors (advertisers who pay for priority placement), and other ads by placement, color, or other markers?