The major search engines use different algorithms in
indexing and in searching; therefore, each of the search engines will yield
different results using the same search "strategy" or "statements".
Here are some points to consider when choosing a search engine. You may want
to take the time to compare the results you get with each of the search
engines by answering some of these questions.
- What is the size of the database; how many records are indexed?
- Who produces or operates the search engine?
- What does the screen look like? Clean? Advertisements? Easy to use?
- What other added features does the search engine provide -- indexes,
current events, people finder, maps, search for graphics, etc.?
- Do you have a choice to conduct a simple and an advanced search?
- Are the same sites retrieved with each search engine?
- Does a search engine retrieve more commercial sites than others?
- How much commercialism/advertising is attached to the search engine screen
display?
- How much descriptive information accompanies the search results?
- How are the search results displayed -- most relevant first, alpha,
etc.?
- Is one search engine better suited to a particular grade level as far as
ease of use or display of results?
- Can you select the number of "hits" you wish to retrieve?
- How easy is it to expand the search and ask for more "hits"?
- Is Boolean searching a feature? What about other limiters such as date,
number of results to display, type of material, etc.?
- Can searches be limited/defined by field?
- Is phrase searching or proximity searching a feature?
- Is there an option to re-run the search via other search engines?
- Are search results graded or rated by relevance or number of matches?
- How fast is the search engine? How busy is the site, can you get in?