1. Search Engines are software services that enable you to find information on any subject. The internet consists of millions of sites and billions of pages. Search engines cover huge numbers of sites but are not necessarily very specific - you can get tens of thousands of sites from one search. Lists are compiled automatically by computers that have made them by examination of titles, domain names, and metatags. Search is usually by key words but this can be refined by the use of 'Boolean operators' - that is by using the words 'AND' and 'AND NOT', or '+' and '-' (plus and minus) when typing in keyword searches. This forces the search engine to include or exclude certain words or phrases.

2. Directories are hierarchical indices that use categories and subject areas - they enable the user to follow a thread of links and sites that have been put together by people - this means that the number of sites covered is smaller than in a search engine but it is likely to be more specific for your subject. Search is usually by following links from the general to the more specific.

3. Libraries are specialist directories and work in the same way, i.e. by following threads and links, but they are an even higher quality, especially for formal research.

Try to use a 'relevant' search engine. For instance if you want UK sites use the UK version of a search engine - 'yahoo.co.uk' instead of 'yahoo.com' or 'excite.co.uk' not 'excite.com'. Try Search Engines Galore to see what's available. Remember that search engines are case sensitive, so use capital letters when appropriate.

To find out more about how to use the major search engines, and a whole lot more info on this subject go to Search Engine Watch.


There are now hundreds of these search facilities, so it's difficult to know which ones to use. You'll soon find your own favourites, but here are some to get you started:

SEARCH ENGINES:

Google - my favourite - seems to come up with useful stuff every time. You can even use it to search a particular site for a particular subject; e.g. do it like this - "Iraq" site:gov.uk. this should give you links to all the references to Iraq on UK governement websites.

Alta Vista - claims to index all existing web pages by text. This makes it HUGE, which is both good and bad - you get a vast number of returns but it's difficult to find exactly what you want. Use boolean operators for an advanced search.

Infoseek - includes more than just websites. Here you can find images, newsgroups, e-mail lists, FAQs and phone numbers as well. Use the '+' and '-' operators, not 'AND' and 'AND NOT'. Like Yahoo (see below), it contains a directory as well, so you can search by following links as well as by keyword.

Hotbot is also a very good one (another hybrid directory and search engine).

For more, see below.

DIRECTORIES:

Yahoo is probably the most popular for searching by category and topic. There is also a search engine that will respond to keywords and Boolean operators.

LIBRARIES:

The Argus Clearing House is a 'meta-library' - that is a library of libraries! A directory of categories and sub-categories leads to various search possibilities. A good starting point for social workers might be the 'Social Sciences and Social Issues' link.

And don't forget the two big academic portals:
The Virtual Library
and The BUBL Link

MORE SEARCH ENGINES:

UK Plus - focus on UK sites.
Allthe Web
Ask Jeeves
Go To
Looksmart
Lycos


If you rerally want to go into the subject of refining searches to seek out specific information have a look at ResearchBuzz.com.

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