Utilizing Search Engines

Performing a Basic Search

Most of you access the Internet to search for information on the World Wide Web daily. How many results do you tend to average when you enter your keyword(s)? It has been noted that most search engine searches seldom produce fewer than a thousand results. Knowing how to perform a basic search to obtain your targeted results is an unknown concept for some but the learning object below will provide tips on how to use search operators to narrow your results. Use this link to obtain resources on utilizing search engines .

Evaluating a Website

After you have received search results from your basic search, you need to determine if the information provided on the website is accurate and reliable. If a result is reflected towards the top of the search list, that's not a guarantee that the site contains reliable and accurate information. The tips below provide details on how to evaluate a site for relevancy.

When considering results that appear at the top of your search return list, make sure the title looks relevant. Look for clues that a site might not offer reliable information such as spelling errors. Study the URL to make sure the source is trustworthy.
Examine the content of the website information. Make sure the content is accurate by checking to determine if the information contradicts what you know to be true about the subject matter. You should also access and evaluate other websites reflected in your web search query results. Checking the last modified date of the website is important and can typically be found at the bottom of the home page.
The website should include a contact name. Refer to the bottom of the first page and look for the Copyright information. If no contact is reflected, accessing a website like easyWhois can assist in obtaining the information needed.
Check the website's content for spelling and grammatical errors. A reliable site will not contain an abundance of such errors. Determine if sources cited are applicable to the subject matter provided. You should also check for broken links and confirm that the links provided direct you to a website that is relevant to the information provided in the website.

Use this link to obtain a resource on utilizing search engines and understanding URLs.

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