How Google works

Google uses proprietary algorithms and a unique ranking system to determine where a website will be placed in your search results. Google’s algorithm tries to interpret your search terms based on several predetermined criteria and returns results that it decides are relevant. For everyday, quick searches, this can be helpful. However, the top results may not be the best sites for your intended purpose. Google does not always correctly interpret your search terms or intent, and excludes materials not available on the open web.

Every search has a different context. Sometimes you just need basic facts and news and, in that case, Google would be a good option. However, if you need scholarly information, Google is probably not your best choice. Because much scholarly work lives behind paywalls requiring payment or a login for access, you won’t easily find full access to these articles using Google.

Why can’t you just use Google?

If you rely on typical web search engines for all your information needs, you probably will miss most of the scholarly information on your topic because a lot of it is behind a paywall. Let’s say you need to write a paper about Jane Goodall, a world-renowned researcher and activist who has studied chimpanzees and animal behavior since the 1950s. She holds a PhD in ethology (animal behavior) from Cambridge University and has received numerous awards for her ground-breaking research in primatology and related conservation, environmental, and humanitarian work. She has also been named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Dr. Goodall has published at least 15 books on chimpanzees, animal behavior, and humanitarian/environmental topics. She has authored more than 100 scholarly articles about her research, publishing in some of the most renowned science journals. These works have been written primarily for an audience of fellow researchers.

Where do you start when you need to find information for your paper on Jane Goodall’s work? When you Google Jane Goodall, you’ll find websites related to her organizations, a Wikipedia entry, her social media profiles, photos and videos, links to buy her books, news articles, and so on. All of this may be good information, but most of it is not peer-reviewed scholarly material. If your professor requires you to use only peer-reviewed sources in your work, it will be necessary to go beyond Google to find what you need.

Strengths and weaknesses of web search engines

Strengths

• Simple to search and mobile-friendly
• Available to anyone with Internet access, regardless of university affiliation
• Media content, such as videos and images, is much easier to find than with other finding tools

Weaknesses

• Difficult to focus or refine your search and the number of results may be overwhelming
• Has more difficulty finding scholarly materials, such as journal articles
• Search engine algorithms may interpret your meaning incorrectly, based on past searches

Searching and Privacy

Accept?

Have you ever visited a website and seen a pop-up that says “Accept Cookies” or “Accept Privacy Terms”? These pop-up messages are everywhere! Because we want to see the information on the website, we often click “yes” and move on without giving it another thought. But what information are you giving up? Does it really matter? There are arguments on both sides of the fence here. Some people feel that websites and companies are tracking individuals too much, to the point where targeted ads are infiltrating what people see and experience. Others claim these ads are not as targeted as they seem, and that people aren’t really being tracked—rather, activity is being tracked.

Impact

We do know, however, that your online activity can impact your search results. Earlier in the semester we read about filter bubbles, which occur most often and strongly within social media, but also within search engines. On social media, you are fed stories based on people or organizations you follow and posts that you liked. This means that, before long,  you see only those things that you “liked” or similar items that you have followed. This greatly limits what you see, and a filter bubble is created. Same with search results. Basically, the search tool you use learns about your preferences. It knows your location, for example, therefore, it will provide results relevant to your geography. Search tools can also track the things you click on and will provide similar results in the future. If you start clicking on New York Times articles frequently, you might see more results coming back from the New York Times in your searches.

Protecting Privacy

There are steps you can take to combat these behaviors of online tools. One thing you can do is use a search tool that does not track your browsing history. DuckDuckGo is a popular search engine that protects your privacy as you search online. Another step you can take is to use your browser’s “incognito” or “inPrivate” mode. This will also limit what is saved on your computer and prevent or limit tracking behavior as you search.

You should always be vigilant about what you agree to online. Don’t dismiss those pop-ups that you “agree” to so quickly. If you’re on a website that you are unfamiliar with, take the time to read through to what you are agreeing to. You might be surprised, and you will have to decide for yourself if what you agree to is worth what you want to access. Some of these agreements may be harmless; but in the end, it’s your information and your privacy that might be at risk. Only you can determine if and when those values should be waived.

Source

Library 160: Introduction to College-Level Research Copyright © 2021 by Iowa State University Library Instruction Services is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License