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If you are unsure of where to look for information on a certain topic, you may want to use an Internet search engine or subject guide. When you use a search engine, it is also important to use words and terms that will help you find the information you need.
Search Engines
There are many different types of Internet search options and they are not all equal. Search engines sort through databases of Web pages that are automatically created by computers. They vary according to the database size and content, searching capabilities, and how they rank and display results. Don't give up on a search until you've tried at least two to three search engines.
Google.ca
This is one of the two largest databases on the Web. This site shows how relevant the results are to your search and can link you to similar pages. It also has a "caching feature" shows a snapshot of the page when it was first indexed. It is best to search using natural language terms with no linking words. (i.e., do not use "and", "or", "not")
Alltheweb.com
This is the second largest database and has an advanced search mode for in-depth search requests. It runs in much the same manner as Google does and has similar search capabilities. It is best to use natural language when searching here.
Hotbot.com
Although this database is smaller than Google or Alltheweb, there are more options in narrowing down your search results. You can use terms such as "and" "or" and "not" and you can specify certain file types that you want to find (i.e., PDF, Word format, HTML).
The Open Directory Project
This is the largest and most thorough human-edited directory of the Web. Each subject area contains links that are recommended and maintained by volunteers or net-citizens. The Cancer section is accessible through Health – Conditions & Diseases.
Ask NOAH
This database provides links to quality health information on the Web. All of the recommended links are provided with the assistance of various city health organizations and libraries. The database is searchable using natural language or Boolean terms such as "and" "or" and "not".
How To Search Effectively
Simple Search
A simple search will retrieve results that include all of the search terms. Most of the time the results will be ranked according to how relevant they are to your search and will be displayed in that order.
Example: a search for "Melanoma" will show you all of the Web sites that have the word melanoma in them. Searches with more than one word will usually insert and between them automatically. The word and ensures that the sites have both words in them, but the words will not necessarily be side by side. Most sites use "and" as a default, but you will occasionally need to insert this term yourself.
Phrase Search
If you are searching for a term with multiple words, the order you write them will effect the number of results you get.
Example: a search for "Skin Cancer Therapy" would only get you sites that had the three words: skin, cancer and therapy in them, in that order.
Boolean Search
The term Boolean refers to the use of the operators: or, and and not. Terms linked by and will ensure that both terms are present in the search results. Terms linked by or will return sites that include any, but not necessarily all of the search terms.
Example: "tumour or tumor and brain". This search will ensure that all results include the terms brain along with either spelling of tumour. By linking the terms with not you will ask the computer to exclude that term from the search: for example, tumour not tumor. This search will ask the computer to exclude any Web sites that use the term tumor (U.S. spelling) but to include the term tumour (Canadian spelling).
Field Search
By using the advanced search feature of a Web page, you can further limit the type of information you want to find. Often this type of search will limit Web pages according to: when they were last updated; the country they come from; the language they appear in; the audio or image content; or the size of the document.
