Google: Search and Research

Busn 216

Google: Search and Research

1) Google:

1. Full-text search engine, which uses computerized “spiders” to index billions of pages

2) Web

1. Google Search:

i Type in what you are looking for and Google will return a list of related links

2. I’m Feeling Lucky

i Takes you to the first link you would have seen using Google Search

3. Search Results:

i Number of results, definition, time

ii Sponsored links

iii List of links:

Ö Link to page where word match was found

Ö Quote from page with bold words indicating an exact match with the word you typed in to the search

Ö Link

Ö Cache

¨ The exact page that Google looked at when the spider visited the page

· This can be an older version of the page if the spider has not been there recently

Ö Similar

¨ Similar pages

4. Basics:

i Google is case-insensitive

Ö Boomerang = boomerang = BooMeRaNG

ii Google ignores “stop words:” I, a, the, of…

Ö Use a “+” to force Google to use a stop word:

¨ +the king

¨ “the move” glam

· The is part of the search

iii Google searches for the words you type in whether side-by-side or scattered throughout the page

Ö Example: to be or not to be

iv If you want Google to search for a phrase put the words in quotes

Ö This forces Google to search for the words only when they are side-by-side

Ö Example: “to be or not to be”

Ö Example: how to link excel "spin button" to cell

v Boolean[1] AND

Ö Google searches for all the words you type in

Ö This is the default in Google

Ö Example: Enron Author Anderson

vi Boolean OR

Ö If you want to search for any one word or phrase, use OR or | (“pipe”)

Ö Example: Enron OR "Author Anderson"

vii AND & OR

Ö (rangs OR boomerangs) “Seattle, WA”

viii Negation

Ö Not = -

Ö Example: boomerangs

Ö Example: boomerangs -"MX Boomerangs"

ix Full-Word Wildcard

Ö * stands in for one full word

Ö ** stands in for two full word

x 32-word limit for what you can type into Google

Ö Omit common words that might not help to limit search

¨ Limit search, favor obscurity:

· "protest too much, methinks" instead of "the lady doth protest too much, methinks"

Ö Use Wild cards (not use against limit):

¨ “do as * say not as * do” quote original English usage

Ö Use wildcards. Wildcards are not counted toward limit

xi Look up words: obfuscate, boomerang, rad

Ö Click definition link right below search textbox:

5. Syntax:

i Site:

Ö .com

Ö .edu

Ö .net

Ö .pro, .de, .jp, .gov

Ö Example: Get info on admissions to Stanford

¨ admission site:www.stanford.edu

ii Daterange:

Ö Google searches by date of when web page was indexed by Google

Ö Use Julian Dates (number of days since noon, January 1, 4713)

¨ Example: Enron daterange:2451911-2452276

Ö To avoid Julian Dates number of days since noon, January 1, 4713, use advanced search

Ö Why?

¨ Fresher content

¨ Omit current events

iii Loc:

iv filetype:

Ö xls = Excel

Ö doc = Word

Ö pdf = portable document format

Ö Example: standard Curve filetype:xls

v related:

Ö Example: related:finance.yahoo.com

vi phonebooks:

Ö phonebook:

Ö rphonebook:

Ö bphonebook:

¨ Example: bphonebook: pizza Seattle WA

· Google Maps are great:

i. Maps.google.com

Ö phonebooks are case sensitive

Ö Hints:

¨ Wildcards don’t work

¨ Or doesn’t work on City or State

¨ Exclusions won’t work

Ö Reverse lookup works:

¨ 206-878-3710

3) Images

1. Type in what you are looking for and Google will return a list of related images

4) Groups

1. Searches groups

i Usenet Groups: text-based discussion groups

2. Google Groups can be date searched easily

i Each Google Group message is date stamped

3. The Google group archives begins in 1981

i Great for asking questions about:

Ö Technical issues

Ö Topics that date before the internet

¨ Example: “New Coke” April * 1985

5) News

1. Searches news

2. Syntax:

i Enron source:washington_post

6) Froogle

1. Searches products

7) LocalNew!

1. Searches local: Washington beauty school

2. Phone numbers

3. Maps

8) more»

1. Labs, Maps

i Example: from: 9468 Olson Pl SW, Seattle WA 98106 to: 3822 14th Ave. S. Seattle WA 98108

2. Desktop Search

9) Advanced Search

10) Preferences

1. For Research:

http://www.business.umt.edu/seminar/seminarPapers/Montana.ppt

11) Language Tools

12) Other Research tips:

1. Google Scholar:

i Example: Finance “Smooth Earnings”

2. Find magazine articles by including copyright footers in search:

Google is a new verb! Page 5 of 5

[1] BOOLEAN: A term used in the context of searching. The word comes from George Boole, a mathematician, who developed a system of logic based on mathematics. The words AND, OR, and NOT can be used in expressions to limit the context of a search, or a logical statement, or an equation. Many search engines on the Web use Boolean logic in advanced searches. (http://www.durhamcountylibrary.org/training/Glossary.html)