InformataaionLiteracy-modiudle 2: Effective searching
International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications
Workshop Exercises and Activities
Information literacy - module 2
Effective Searching Strategies and Techniques
Hands-on exercises and report back
In this session we will work in pairs ) and use the computers and electronic information resources to
practise advanced searching techniques.
Document Notes
Author
INASP [Martin Belcher and Sara Gwynn, Revised for ILWorkshop CH]
Date
Last updated 16/02/2016 09:07:00
Summary
On completion of this session the learner will have:
1. Undertaken a range of advanced searches
2. Practised formulating and implementing a rigorous search strategy
3. Reviewed advanced searching functionality on one or more search engines
Contents
1.
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark n
2.
Search Checklist and Exercise ................................................................................................ 3
Google… ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Exercise explained
Pairs of workshop participants will undertake hands-on work using the computer lab to practise
advanced searching strategies and techniques on a range of search engines.
Users should record their experiences of advanced searching in the spaces provided in this handout.
A short report back and discussion of advanced searching will be conducted at the end of this
session.
Hands-on duration:
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InformataaionLiteracy-modiudle 2: Effective searching
Report back and discussion:
1.1.
Objective
To practice devising and implementing an effective search strategy and incorporating complex search
techniques (where appropriate) such as Boolean operators, phrase searching, stop words, quotation
marks, punctuation, wildcard/truncation symbols, restricted field searching, proximity searching.
1.2.
Task
Use the ‘checklist’ to develop and run a search
designed to find some information relevant to you.
This will involve defining your information need,
visiting one or more of the following search engines
 Google

Altavista

Alltheweb
 Yahoo
finding out how that particular search engine works
(using the ‘Help’ section on the Web page) and then
filling in the table with your findings. Once you
have learnt how that particular search engine
functions you will carry out and review an advanced
search.
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1.
1.1
Search Checklist and Exercise

Define your information need

Decide which resources to use

Find out how the search engine functions

Run your search

Review and refine your search.
Define your information need
Think of a piece information that you would find useful to have. This could be a paper someone has
asked you to look up, information about a particular place you are visiting, facts for inclusion in a
report or essay, an item of news you would like to know more about. Now, in one sentence, write
down what it is you are looking for today (e.g. I want to find information about information literacy
training)
What are the key words in your search? (e.g. information literacy, training) If your information need is
in an area that is new to you it may be worth going to an encyclopaedia, dictionary or colleague to
help you to identify the key words and concepts.
Are there any concepts it is part of or related to? (e.g. information literacy is related to libraries,
education, ICTs,)
Are there any synonyms (words of a similar meaning) for your search terms? (e.g. training: tutorials,
lessons, workshops)
Are there any alternative spellings for your keywords or concepts that you should include in your
search? (e.g. workshop or work shop)
Now list your chosen search terms below.
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1.2
Decide which resources to use
For this exercise we are going to focus on search engines. If you were doing a search outside this
workshop you would need to decide which were the most appropriate resources for you to search
(e.g. subject gateways, databases, the Web, catalogues, reference resources, newspaper archives,
etc).
1.3
Find out how the search engine functions
Work through one or more search engines and make a record of how it functions using the table
included. If there are any additional features or comments you think we be useful to share with others,
please make a note of them too.
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InformataaionLiteracy-modiudle 2: Effective searching
Google
Google maintains a database of Web pages which you can search using simple or advanced search
forms. It searches Web pages for all the words entered for searching.
On completion of this part of the exercise you should know how to:
 connect to Google directly
 search Google’s database
Connect to Google by using the following URL:
http://www.google.com/
Google’s home page will be displayed, similar to the example shown below:
This is where you would enter a simple search.
This is where you would
enter an advanced search.
Firstly just have a look at the home page. If you want to, spend a few minutes exploring the other
features contained on it, such as the tabs above the search box which take you to directories, news
pages, etc.
Next return to the home page and click on the Advance Search link to get to the Advanced Search
page.
At the top right hand corner of the page is a link to Advance Search Tips, click on this and read
through the page (and any relevant/interesting links it contains).
Fill in the table below as a record of the features that Google Advanced Search has.
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Feature
Available?
Symbol/Details
Boolean AND
Boolean OR
Boolean NOT
Phrase searching
Truncation/wildcard
Case sensitive
Fields
Stop words
Relevance sorting
What is the default Boolean operator used by Google?
What other features, if any, are available in Google’s Advanced Search?
If you were unable to find information about any of the features in the table, try looking at
www.searchengineshowdown.com where information on many search engines can be found. The
Chart link at the top of the page takes you to a page that compares different search engines.
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InformataaionLiteracy-modiudle 2: Effective searching
1.4
Run your search
Using the information you now have about how Google works, enter your search. Try out both the
simple and advanced searches and evaluate
Is the simple search easy to use?
Is the advanced search easy to use?
What features were useful?
1.5
Review and refine your search
Having run your search, you now need to evaluate whether it has been successful.
Did you find the information you wanted?
Did you find good quality information?
What difficulties, if any, did you have?
If you need better results, how could you to revise or amend your search?
What different resource might you need to look at in order to find better results?
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