Discuss ways to better define and improve search results.

Search engines,web directories,and databases work in different ways,so make sure you understand how to optimize your search and interpret the results for each tool you're using.With a keyword search,the engine or database attempts to find items that include all the words you enter.A Boolean search lets you define a query with greater precision,using such operators as AND (the search must include two terms linked by AND),OR (it can include either or both words),or NOT (the search ignores items with whatever word comes after NOT).Natural language searches let you ask questions in everyday English.Forms-based searches help you create powerful queries by simply filling out an online form.
To make the best use of any search tool,keep the following points in mind: Think before you search.The neatly organized results you get from a search engine can create the illusion that the Internet is an orderly warehouse of all the information in the universe,but the reality is far different.The Internet is an incomplete,unorganized hodge-podge of millions of independent websites with information that ranges in value from priceless to utter rubbish.After you have identified what you need to know,spend a few moments thinking about where that information might be found,how it might be structured,and what terms various websites might use to describe it.Read the instructions and pay attention to the details.A few minutes of learning can save hours of inefficient search time.Review the search and display options carefully so you don't misinterpret the results; some of these settings can make a huge difference in the results you see.Try variations of your terms,such as adolescent and teenager or management and managerial.Use fewer search terms to find more results; use more search terms to find fewer results.Look beyond the first page of results.Don't assume that the highest-ranking results are the best sources for you.For example,materials that haven't been optimized for search engines won't rank as highly (meaning they won't show up in the first few pages of results),but they may be far better for your purposes.