When I search “Instant Messaging” in:
Google:
Yahoo:
AskJeeves:
MSN Live Search:
AltaVista:
The above shows me that none of the search engines are similar in any way and all give different number of results by a great deal. I have typed in “Instant Messaging” in all of the above search engines accurately with all giving me worldwide results and the number showing next to the logo is telling us how many results the search engine has come up with. The only similar search engines that had the same number of search results were Yahoo and AltaVista.
I will now show the questionnaire I used to collect the data directing to my aim and investigation of this coursework.
I used this survey on 30 people from varied ages so that I get reliable and balanced views towards the use of instant messaging software’s using the variation of the ages.
Now, I will use a simple search on basic and renowned search engines to show different results and to find an accurate hit to allow me to complete my research on instant messaging.
I will base my searches on the prevention of the disadvantages of using an IM application from the threats it may cause to the user. I will use “instant messaging safety” in all search engines accomplishing my simple search.
Google:
Yahoo:
AskJeeves.com:
MSN Live Search:
AltaVista:
Out of all the search engines, only 1 of the search engines came up with one other hit whereas all the other search engines came up with the same link as number #1 link. Ask came up with a link directing to and as we all know, Microsoft is a well recognised franchise which would not guide the users into wrong directions so therefore it is the most reliable and non biased link than the others which direct me in to a website called which is also reliable but not as much as Microsoft because this is a organisation based website that helps people for safety online. All the above shows that I have conducted my simple search and now I will move on to showing a refined search taking out unnecessary by omitting them using the features of a search engine.
I am now moving in to more refined searching which means using a hit with their embedded search engine that searches only within the site. I will go into the link and search for instant messaging safety within the website using their search engine.
As I press go, I come across results within the website.
I have now completed the refined search using the search engine in their website. I have been given many results with the terms “instant messaging safety” within their website. I can not refine that any more other than by adding more keywords or using an exact phrase command which is by inserting the phrases in to “phrase goes here” which gives me exact results of the phrase I entered in order.
I will now use advance search options by using the same keywords but the search engine will not search for it worldwide as I will opt for searches “Within UK”. This will narrow down my search results vastly.
Google:
Ask.com
All of the other search engines from Yahoo, AltaVista and Live Search are the same as the Google search engine. Ask.com shows me a link with which specialises in safety in instant messaging and the other search engines showing results redirecting to . In this case, I think is more reliable because they specialise in research in the safety of instant messaging.
I can also use exact phrase command in search engines globally by using “instant messaging safety” with the “” or alternatively I can use advanced search options of the search engine. An example of using a exact phrase command would be:
Google
Notice how all the links provided have “instant messaging safety” or some of the phrase in the link or in the Meta tags.
In the above steps, I have crossed check using the simple search that any result appeared in the search engines are similar against the other search engines and if not I have marked out the difference. This shows that the results the search engine offers are accurate.
Websites such as Microsoft constantly update any blogs and posts that are posted on their website making them incredibly reliable.
Information such as the safety preventions are the same and do not change much and are called static. They do not need much updating as long as the safety precautions are extended and not focusing on a specific safety issue of using the software.
Websites that are hosted as .com or .co.uk are generally made by public around the world and only few of them are reliable from which some are well known websites such as , , and . These websites do not fit in the category of using .org, .net, .edu or .gov because they are worldwide sites. Schools would use websites such as www.school.edu and government based websites would use An organisation trying to focus on a specific point would use . Websites with such domains are generally more reliable than .com and .co.uk because they are controlled by an authority of groups of people.
Websites I have used for searching to allow me to complete my simple, refined and advanced searches are:
I can bookmark websites for quick access to it and can also set it to work offline so that I can access the current bookmarked page without the use of an internet connection. I will now instigate on how to bookmark a page.
1: Right Click -> Bookmark This Page
2: Click on Bookmarks -> Select the bookmark for the research website
