Our final discussion is centered on searching and the search process.
Throughout the semester, we've been discussing how we represent documents using controlled vocabularies and natural language. Searching for documents on the Web seems simple and easy because we often search using keywords (natural language) and we are, generally, able to find seemingly-relevant materials. To demonstrate the pitfalls or keyword searching, I would like you to perform this very ambiguous natural language search:
pirates of the Caribbean
a. Use at least 2 different search engines (or more if you like)
b. Identify the search engines you used
c. Describe the type of information you retrieved.
d. How do you think you could retrieve different, more varied, results?
Throughout the semester, we've been discussing how we represent documents using controlled vocabularies and natural language. Searching for documents on the Web seems simple and easy because we often search using keywords (natural language) and we are, generally, able to find seemingly-relevant materials. To demonstrate the pitfalls or keyword searching, I would like you to perform this very ambiguous natural language search:
pirates of the Caribbean
a. Use at least 2 different search engines (or more if you like)
b. Identify the search engines you used
c. Describe the type of information you retrieved.
d. How do you think you could retrieve different, more varied, results?
For this search I choose Google, Google Incognito, and Dogpile .
I'm most familiar with Google and am completely invested in all most all of their products. I added the Google incognito search because I was curious how Google's algorithm and my previous searches would affect the outcome.
Google
Google found 34 million results in .78 seconds. The first page contained 8 references to the Disney Pirates franchise, the in the news sections contained 5 items 3 of which were also related to Disney Pirates, and the right hand column (Knowledge Panel) it aggregated the top five references into information about the Pirate movies such as plot, cast, and other films the searcher may also be interested in.
Google Incognito
Google Incognito found 29 million in .86 seconds. The first page contained almost identical results from the above search. I was hoping the "clean slate" of Google's Incognito mode would yield different results but it did not.
Dogpile
Dogpile does not give the number of result it has fetched the searcher, however, the first seven results were add disguised as links which was a little discouraging. It then returned 10 results all pertaining to the Disney films and then more ad's.
Search Results with Changes
(all searches done in Google)
I played around with the language used in my search I tried Pirates AND Caribbean and received almost identical search results; Pirates AND History AND Caribbean and received zero hits from the Disney movie with in the first search page and digging deeper within the search results i found a reference to the Disney franchise on page three half way down the page. I also attempted to use some of Googles Search operators like the " - " symbol, the "site:" operator and boolen terms to narrow down the search. The results still contained references to the Movies rather then the history of pirates in the Caribbean.
I have a basic understanding of Google page ranks and because of this I also feel I can search rather confidently. However, I can also understand how others, especially students, would become very frustrated with natural language keyword searching when all they want is the HISTORY of Pirates in the Caribbean, not Johnny Depp in eye liner. (Even if he does do it rather well.)
I'm most familiar with Google and am completely invested in all most all of their products. I added the Google incognito search because I was curious how Google's algorithm and my previous searches would affect the outcome.
Google found 34 million results in .78 seconds. The first page contained 8 references to the Disney Pirates franchise, the in the news sections contained 5 items 3 of which were also related to Disney Pirates, and the right hand column (Knowledge Panel) it aggregated the top five references into information about the Pirate movies such as plot, cast, and other films the searcher may also be interested in.
Google Incognito
Google Incognito found 29 million in .86 seconds. The first page contained almost identical results from the above search. I was hoping the "clean slate" of Google's Incognito mode would yield different results but it did not.
Dogpile
Dogpile does not give the number of result it has fetched the searcher, however, the first seven results were add disguised as links which was a little discouraging. It then returned 10 results all pertaining to the Disney films and then more ad's.
Search Results with Changes
(all searches done in Google)
I played around with the language used in my search I tried Pirates AND Caribbean and received almost identical search results; Pirates AND History AND Caribbean and received zero hits from the Disney movie with in the first search page and digging deeper within the search results i found a reference to the Disney franchise on page three half way down the page. I also attempted to use some of Googles Search operators like the " - " symbol, the "site:" operator and boolen terms to narrow down the search. The results still contained references to the Movies rather then the history of pirates in the Caribbean.
I have a basic understanding of Google page ranks and because of this I also feel I can search rather confidently. However, I can also understand how others, especially students, would become very frustrated with natural language keyword searching when all they want is the HISTORY of Pirates in the Caribbean, not Johnny Depp in eye liner. (Even if he does do it rather well.)