Google: Search and Research

1)       Google:

1.        Full-text search engine, which uses computerized “spiders” to index billions of pages

2)      

3)       Web

1.       Google Search:

i           Type in what you are looking for and Google will return a list of related links

2.       I’m Feeling Lucky

i           Takes you to the first link you would have seen using Google Search

3.        Search Results:

i           Number of results, definition, time

ii         Sponsored links

iii        List of links:

Ö        Link to page where word match was found

Ö        Quote from page with bold words indicating an exact match with the word you typed in to the search

Ö        Link

Ö        Cache

¨      The exact page that Google looked at when the spider visited the page

·        This can be an older version of the page if the spider has not been there recently

Ö        Similar

¨      Similar pages

4.        Basics:

i           Google is case-insensitive

Ö        Boomerang = boomerang = BooMeRaNG

ii         Google ignores “stop words:” I, a, the, of…

Ö        Use a “+” to force Google to use a stop word:

¨      +the king

¨      “the move” glam

·        The is part of the search

iii        Google searches for the words you type in whether side-by-side or scattered throughout the page

Ö        Example: to be or not to be

iv        If you want Google to search for a phrase put the words in quotes

Ö        This forces Google to search for the words only when they are side-by-side

Ö        Example: “to be or not to be”

Ö        Example: how to link excel "spin button" to cell

v         Boolean[1] AND

Ö        Google searches for all the words you type in

Ö        This is the default in Google

Ö        Example: Enron Author Anderson

vi        Boolean OR

Ö        If you want to search for any one word or phrase, use OR or | (“pipe”)

Ö        Example: Enron OR "Author Anderson"

vii      AND & OR

Ö        (rangs OR boomerangs) “Seattle, WA”

viii     Negation

Ö        Not = -

Ö        Example: boomerangs

Ö        Example: boomerangs -"MX Boomerangs"

ix        Full-Word Wildcard

Ö        * stands in for one full word

Ö        ** stands in for two full word

x          Ten-word limit for what you can type into Google

Ö        Omit common words that might not help to limit search

¨      Limit search, favor obscurity:

·         "protest too much, methinks" instead of "the lady doth protest too much, methinks"

Ö        Use Wild cards (not use against limit):

¨      “do as * say not as * do” quote original English usage

Ö        Use wildcards. Wildcards are not counted toward limit

xi        Look up words: obfuscate, boomerang, rad

Ö        Click definition link right below search textbox:

Ö       

5.        Syntax:

i           Site:

Ö        .com

Ö        .edu

Ö        .net

Ö        .pro, .de, .jp, .gov

Ö        Example: Get info on admissions to Stanford

¨      admission site:www.stanford.edu

ii         Daterange:

Ö        Google searches by date of when web page was indexed by Google

Ö        Use Julian Dates (number of days since noon, January 1, 4713)

¨      Example: Enron daterange:2451911-2452276

Ö        To avoid Julian Dates number of days since noon, January 1, 4713, use advanced search

Ö        Why?

¨      Fresher content

¨      Omit current events

iii        Loc:

iv        filetype:

Ö        xls = Excel

Ö        doc = Word

Ö        pdf = portable document format

Ö        Example: standard Curve filetype:xls

v         related:

Ö        Example: related:finance.yahoo.com

vi        phonebooks:

Ö        phonebook:

Ö        rphonebook:

Ö        bphonebook:

¨      Example: bphonebook: pizza Seattle WA

·        Google Maps are great:

i.         Maps.google.com

Ö        phonebooks are case sensitive

Ö        Hints:

¨      Wildcards don’t work

¨      Or doesn’t work on City or State

¨      Exclusions won’t work

Ö        Reverse lookup works:

¨      206-878-3710

4)       Images

1.        Type in what you are looking for and Google will return a list of related images

5)       Groups

1.        Searches groups

i           Usenet Groups: text-based discussion groups

2.        Google Groups can be date searched easily

i           Each Google Group message is date stamped

3.        The Google group archives begins in 1981

i           Great for asking questions about:

Ö        Technical issues

Ö        Topics that date before the internet

¨      Example: “New Coke” April * 1985

6)       News

1.        Searches news

2.        Syntax:

i           Enron source:washington_post

7)       Froogle

1.        Searches products

8)       Local^New!

1.        Searches local: Washington beauty school

2.        Phone numbers

3.        Maps

9)       more »

1.        Labs, Maps

i           Example: from: 9468 Olson Pl SW, Seattle WA 98106 to: 3822 14th Ave. S. Seattle WA 98108

2.        Desktop Search

10)    Advanced Search

1.       

11)    Preferences

1.        For Research:

i          

12)    Language Tools

13)    Other Research tips:

1.        Google Scholar:

i           Example: Finance “Smooth Earnings”

2.        Find magazine articles by including copyright footers in search:

i           Example: Hologram “Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.”