This service is provided for the Learning Organization
Listserve. Everyone is welcome.
Searching for Online Information
[Searching for Online Information]
Introduction. Greetings! You can find information here about
searching the Internet. The icons represent different
sub-topics. Select an option using the icons or from the table
of contents. Frame and simple text versions are available. This
presentation was designed for different USES; the last section
may be the most helpful to people who have worked with
databases before. The Next icons can be selected to go to the
next topic or sub-topic. Comments would be gladly received!
[* Clock *] Get me to the search on time. Goes to the "Use"
topic for immediate searching. There should be benefit to
following the order of the complete presentation, if there's
time.
Table of Contents
Searching [*]general description and overview.
Tools [*]methods of searching.
Sites [*]search providers.
Use [*]using search forms.
Expression [*]writing the search request.
[ TOP ] [Image] What searching is
| Searching | Tools | Sites | Use | Expression |
Computers can be used to search for words in a document or for
finding a reference or a book in a database around the world.
This part of the presentation is an introduction to searching
and includes the following sub-topics.
* Search Example
* Importance of search commands
* General definition of a database
* Understanding search command words
* Additional considerations for searching
The following example [- next-] leads to an Alta Vista Advanced
search and is offered as a means of clarifying the parts of a
search request and presenting some of the options. The example
shows different types of search words, including content words
(archetype, book), command words (and, or) and search modifiers
(title:, *).
Example: title:"Learning Org" and (archetype* or "system*
thinking") and (book* or serial* or journal*)
Note: The search topic is information about systems thinking
mentioned in the Learning Organization list archives.
Explaining the example. When searching Alta Vista, parentheses
show the elements of the search that should be evaluated
together by the computer. The asterisk is a search modifier
that represents all words that start with the same letters. The
phrase "system* thinking" has an understood adj or adjacent
command between system* and thinking.
Importance of search commands. [- next -] The process of using
a computer to search for data is made up of the following
parts.
search engine + access to engine + syntax + concept in words +
review of results = excellent results
Benefit from searching depends on each of the components of the
search process, and all of the components should be described
within this document. Concept in words represents the user's
starting point. Syntax is part of the process that is between
the user's idea and the computer search. It includes
requirements for how the search words are put together. Thus,
syntax is the means for exact wording. Search engine is the
popular name for a WWW database and the search program used to
access the database. It is the starting point for the
capability of searching. The content of the database and search
options define the limits of searching. Access to engine is
required for the capability to be put to use. Access involves
permission to use, knowledge of availability, and computer and
network access. Access is the means for using the search
engine. Review of results is the additional work the user adds
near the last of the search when evaluating the returned items.
Excellent results have their basis in the efficient use of
search opportunities and methods. The part of the process that
is most controlled by the user is the selection of concepts and
choice of wording (concept in words), and the use of search
syntax. Because syntax is not part of common language, it
requires particular attention.
General definition of a database. [- next -] A simple database
could be thought of as a table consisting of rows and columns
of data, as shown in the following example. Each row represents
a record and each column represents a field. The records each
contain the same fields. Each record has its own ID, and the
content of each field of a record may be different than the
fields of other records. The fields are the parts of records.
Example of a simple database
Field Field Field Field Field
ID Title Author Year Pages
Record 1 How to solve it: a new Polya, 1957 253
aspect of mathematical George
method, 2d ed.
Record 2 Code complete : a McConnell, 1993 857
practical handbook of Steve
software construction
McConnell,
Steve
Record 3 Object-oriented software Jacobson, 1993 528
engineering: a use case Ivar
driven approach, revised
edition
Record 4 The mythical man-month: Brooks, 1995 322
essays on software Frederick P.
engineering, anniversary
edition with four new
chapters
When a database is searched, the information about records
meeting the search requirements is returned. If the database
shown here were searched for "Brooks", the record for "The
Mythical Man-Month" would be returned. If "software" were the
search, then records 2, 3, and 4 would be returned. If the
search were "software and 1993", the result would be records 2
and 3. It isn't necessary for everyone to know much about
fields and records. For example, it isn't essential to know
that the ID Field numbers are unique for each record in this
database and that the records in the database happen to be
numbered consecutively. Knowledge at this level may not be
necessary for answering some questions. There are times,
though, when knowing the data type of fields in a database can
be beneficial. If it were known that the title field had the
most words of all of the fields, then searches requiring over
three words might not be used.
Databases are usually more complicated than this example
indicates. One complication is that there are usually multiple
tables in a database and the relations between the tables, in
the context of certain searches, provide significant
information. Another consideration is that full-text indexing
of WWW data is available, and the data isn't distributed in the
kinds of fields shown in the example. For example, Alta Vista
provides options such as url:, link:, title:, anchor:, and
host: for limiting the related search words to those fields. I
do not know if any WWW search sites use the field and record
method of database design, though they may. Databases intended
for public use should likely be designed so that knowledge of
how they are constructed is not necessary for use.
Understanding search command words. [- next -]
Of all the command words used in searching, AND, OR, and NOT
seem to be the most basic. In the following Venn Diagrams, the
colored sections are the result of using the command words on
the sets A and B.
[Venn Diagram]
In a search, AND requires that all of the search words be found
in each of the resulting records. OR requires that at least one
of the search words be found in each of the resulting records.
In more complicated searches like (A OR B) AND (C OR D) these
methods apply to the groups within the search and then apply
again to the result.
Starting with the simplest sets, there is the set of all
records within the database. A, B, C, and D are elements within
the search request and could be thought of as the subsets that
contain those particular elements. These subsets could contain
some of the same records.
Explaining the search procedure in words, (A OR B) is
evaluated; then (C OR D) is evaluated. Then the first result
AND the second result is evaluated. Because AND is the final
operator, that means that the records that were found in both
the first and second result are the search results.
Word How the word is used in How the word is used in a search
speech
----------------------------------------------------------------
AND [Say AND] [Use AND in search]
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Additional considerations for searching. [- next -] Search
language is also different than speech in the following ways.
In conversation, descriptions and requests may not be
completely specific. There could be a reluctance to be specific
because of the mental cost to the listener. This would be like
making requests as though they were keyword searches. Also,
when making request of a person, it may seem or be
inappropriate to make so particular a request that it limits
the listener's options or puts the listener to unjustifiable
expense. For example, I want a coat that has such-and-such
particular attributes resulting in the coat not being easily
available.
The search words are not necessarily attributes of the item
being sought; the item could be focused on or about the words,
or the real information could be provided using those words.
What is requested is the writing that contains those words. It
is possible, given the tentative nature of keyword searching,
that useful items might not include some given search words. A
search for a particular named item like an author or a title
has the requirement of finding an exact result, yet some
searches could be worded in different ways, so search results
might not include the original search words yet still be
counted as successful. The words that the search is made of and
the logic it represents are less significant to the searcher,
perhaps, than the idea they are trying to express with those
words.
Further communication is planned for
Extent that search engines index information that is on the WWW
Subject words within records
Characteristics of Boolean logic. Difference from general
reasoning and general use of the words of Boolean logic.
[ TOP ] [Image] Tools for searching [- next -]
| Searching | Tools | Sites | Use | Expression |
List of ways to search for information:
WWW - This document emphasizes searching the WWW.
Gopher - Searching gopher sites could find online
information that pre-dates the WWW.
ftp - Archie is one method of searching ftp sites.
Online Database - government databases, for example,
available through the U.S. Government Printing Office
site.
Browsing - Learning Organization archive, Continuous
Quality Improvement Server at Clemson
[ TOP ] [Image] List of search sites [- next -]
| Searching | Tools | Sites | Use | Expression |
Further communication is planned for
Check major search sites for particular learning organization
listserve notes.
Check major sites for other major sites.
List of keyword search sites allowing logic.
List of phrase search sites. Same as keyword + logic?
List of simple keyword search sites.
Are there any other national or international search sites that
provide access to additional information?
List of Internet Search Options
[ TOP ] [Image] Using data input forms [- next -]
| Searching | Tools | Sites | Use | Expression |
Search Alta Vista
The following form is copied with permission from Alta Vista
Tips.
Search and Display the Results
Alta Vista simple search combines search words in an effort to
list more relevant items first. For more exactness, use + for
required, - for not included words and phrases. Put phrases in
"double quotes". * includes all words with the same starting
letters. Capitalized letters are used to search for capitalized
letters only. The Alta Vista Advanced Search may be as easy to
use as the simple search, however, the syntax is different.
Example: +boolean +"search engine*"
Both the simple and advanced search include useful help
options.
Search Lycos.
The following form is copied with permission from the Lycos
Refined Search site.
Query:
Search Options:
Display Options:
[ TOP ] [Image] How to phrase the search
| Searching | Tools | Sites | Use | Expression |
Building Boolean searches
At any point in the search, the result may be all that is
needed, and the search can be stopped. It is also possible that
at some point in the search options will be too limited. Then
the searcher could take out the least relevant parts of the
search or further expand on the sub-topic level.
Example of building a search
gum
Begin with the main topic or the term likely to be
found in fewer records within the database.
gum and talking
Add another sub-topic using and to begin focusing on
the exact topic.
(candy or gum) and (talking or conversation)
Expand on the sub-topic level using or to put
together words with the same meaning. Use parentheses
to indicate sub-topic groups.
(candy or gum) and (talking or conversation) and (poll* or
survey*)
Continue adding sub-topic groups with and and
expanding on the sub-topic level with or until
finding the required information or the search
results show that the search is too limiting.
Guidelines for searching
1. Imagine the words that would be used to express or
describe the topic.
2. Allow for synonyms and related ideas.
3. Use less obviously related words if the first searches do
not find information.
4. Use unique phrases or words when possible.
5. Use classification codes or established subject words,
when available.
6. Allow for different spellings.
7. Parentheses are helpful and often necessary.
8. Keep or print search strategy.
9. Be flexible in thinking.
10. Break problem into components.
11. Conceptualize the search topic.
12. Use database vocabulary helps.
13. Interact with the system.
14. Use cycles for developing the search.
15. Use early results to improve the search.
16. Use relevant article for search clues.
17. Use the system capabilities.
18. Broaden or narrow the search as part of the general
toolkit of options.
19. Use the right database for the topic.
20. Don't require numerous attributes in the search when
records have few words.
21. Databases sometimes have "stopwords", words that cannot be
searched (like of, the, and with).
Examples of search expressions
Search Request Items Date
Service found
----------------------------------------------------------------
Alta Vista "learning organization*" 2000 23-March-96
Simple: records that include the
phrase "learning
organization" or "learning
organizations"
Alta Vista +ithink +"system* thinking" 36 18-March-96
Simple: records that include the word
ithink and the phrase "system
thinking". Note - the
asterisk represents any
following letters so "systems
thinking" or "systematic
thinking" would also be
found.
Alta Vista "learning organization*" or 5000 16-March-96
Advanced: "learning organisation*" or
"organizational learning" or
"organisational learning"
Alta Vista ("computer program*" or 129 16-March-96
Advanced: software) near
("organizational learning" or
"organisational learning" or
"learning organization" or
"learning organisation" or
"team learning" or
(facilitate near team*))
searching for computer help
for learning organizations.
Words in parentheses are
evaluated first.
Alta Vista not wais and (boole* and 1000 21-April-96
Advanced: ((hints or tips) near (boole*
or search*)))
Lycos Refined learning organization 15 16-March-96
Search (all
terms, close
match):
Lycos Refined learning organization 24 16-March-96
Search (all
terms, loose
match):
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Edited May 7, 1996, jpf. Essential Use Case Modeling was used
to design this presentation.
URL:http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/jfullerton/search/