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What is the text entered into the search box?
I'm using Google.com and I typed in asexual reproduction.
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For the basic search, how many results are returned?
from Google: 942,000
from Yahoo!: 409,000
from Ask: 132,300
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Using the first 10 results, how many appear to be useful?
from Google:
1. and 2. The first two are from Wikipedia, which I find to be useful, but many scoff at the idea of using Wikipedia for actual educational work.
3. The third one is a basic web page, with some simple graphics, but useful information.
4. Fourth is very nice, and gives specific examples with graphics.
5. Number five compares and contrasts sexual and asexual reproduction, which is good.
6. Sixth is not bad, but very basic, and not a lot of information (more about meiosis and mitosis.)
7. The next is mostly about specific methods of making plant "clones," a nice "aside," but not the major topic.
8. 8th is a news story that is not particularly relevant.
9. Wiki
10. Final one is very nice. Focuses on bacteria.
So all in all 8 out of 10 are very useful.
from Yahoo!
1. Wiki
2. Good (same as Google)
3. Good (same as Google)
4. Not so good (same as Google)
5. definition
6. Wiki (same as Google)
7. Good
8. short but useful
9. Wow! Really good.
10. useful notes
So 7 out of 10.
from Ask
1. Good (repeat)
2. Good (repeat)
3. Very small but ok
4. Small and very specific (not so useful)
5. Good (repeat)
6. a neat lab activity
7. Wiki
8. Not so good (repeat)
9. Wiki
10. very basic definition (not useful)
So 5 out of 10.
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Make links to three sites that appear to be useful.
from Google:
from Yahoo!: (I picked different ones than from Google)
from Ask: (I picked different ones than from Google and Yahoo!)
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Refine your search by using the advanced search features. What did you do to refine your search?
Google
I am refining my search by adding the word fission as a "at least" word
Yahoo!
I am refining my search by having "the exact phrase" be fission
Ask
I am refining my search by having "at least one of the words" be fission
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Are the results returned significantly different in number or content?
Google - 98,600 links (much lower) Only one repeated link in the first page of links.
Yahoo! - 37, 300 links (much fewer) No repeated links on the first page.
Ask - 13,100 links (much fewer) Only one repeated link on the first page.
On all the search engines, the content is more focused toward microbiological studies and specifically fission.
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Compare and contrast the homepages for each of the search engines. What features do you like/dislike about them?
I prefer Google. I like the plain and simple approach. For years I used Yahoo!, but then the pop ups came and drove me away. I don't like all the extra stuff on their page. Too distracting. I like Ask's simple search style.
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Compare and contrast the results pages for each of the search engines. What features do you like/dislike about them?
For years I used Yahoo!, but then the pop-ups came and drove me away. Then I started using Google. Google keeps it simple, and the uncluttered homepage appeals to me. I also find that Google's image search is great. I am not familiar with Ask, but it seems to work well.
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Which of the three do you find best? Why?
I like Google the best. Plain and simple. Good image search feature. No pop ups or distractions.
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