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This different approach is one that is likely to interest advanced web users who are often seeking information quickly and easily.
4. Report on results
The following table represents the results of the three test search engines (Part 2) against the evaluation criteria (Part 1 and 3). | Accuracy + Relevance | Speed | Search Options | Additional Services | Layout + Design | |
| AltaVista | 60 % | Ex client | 9 / 10 | 5 / 5 | 6 / 10 |
| 55 % | Excellent< /td> | 8 / 10 | 2 / 5 | 6 / 10 | |
| Direct Hit | 85 % | Good | 5 / 10 | 5 / 5 | 7 / 10 |
5. Evaluate your criteria and Methodology
After evaluating three search engines according to the criteria established in Part 1, the usefulness of some of the criteria was questionable. The Accuracy and Relevance score was useful, and seemed to accurately represent how accurate I felt the search engine was. However, in evaluating the accuracy and relevance of pages, no 'scientific' method could be employed - rather, it was a purely personal decision, of whether I thought the page was relevant to someone using the search term used. For a more in-depth analysis of search engines, I would have to suggest a more tangible method of evaluating this criteria. However, I can't see relevance of search results being measured according to 'rules'; I think personal opinion is an important part of determining relevancy (what may be relevant to one person may be irrelevant to another). Therefore, I don't think a definitive statement of a search engine's accuracy and relevance for all people is possible. Due to the short time-span for this assignment and a lack of inside knowledge of the operation of search engines, the Speed criteria could be measured only by my own guess. This meant that no specific numbers about search speed could be returned and the results I came to are very much debate able. In retrospect, I think the Speed criteria should have been evaluated according to the following points: CPU time taken to perform search (based on 100 searches). Of course, finding these details would probably require access to the search engine server.
Average ping time (ping search server from about 10 worldwide locations). Again, this point would have been very difficult to do, especially in the limited timeframe. I think a measurement of speed according to the above points would be more accurate and useful, and would provide more specific results. I think the Search Options and Additional Services Criteria were very useful and establishing specific points that the search engines could be easily evaluated against (either true or false) made establishing a score for each search engine easier.
The only flaw with the criteria as set out in Part 2 was probably a lack of points, and the scope of these points may have been too narrow. For a more in-depth study, I think more criteria points would have to be established. I think the Layout and Design Criteria were too broad. I think for a more in-depth study, more (and more specific) criteria would have to be established.
I would also suggest a true / false style points system (rather than three points per option system) for fairness and less personal opinion. Furthermore, I think the criteria addressed layout and design too generally, and not specifically for the advanced web user. In retrospect, I stand by my selection of search engines. I think they represented the search engines used by advanced web users, although I think a more in-depth study would have to evaluate more search engines (I think Excite and Infoseek should also have been evaluated) because many advanced web users would also use the mainstream search engines such as Yahoo, Excite, AltaVista, Infoseek, Metacrawler etc. Overall, I think the evaluation performed was adequate as a more simplistic evaluation.
While some problems with the criteria became apparent after use, I think the criteria were generally fair and useful for an advanced web surfer.
6. Useful URLS dealing with search engine evaluation
C|Net: Search Engine Shoot-Out - web > How to Search the web: A Guide to Search Tools - web > Evaluating Internet Search Engines - web > Search Engine Statistics - web > Yahoo: Comparing Search Engines - web and Internet/Internet/World Wide Web/Searching the Web/Search Engines/Comparing Search Engines/ Search IQ - web > APPENDIX 1
Specific Results for Search Options: AltaVista - 9 / 10: Variable number of results per page Search for "phrases" Boolean Searches (AND, OR, NOT) Wildcard ( ) searches Search for pages in different languages Search for pages located in specific countries Search for pages under a certain domain Search for pages containing links to a URL (eg link: web) Search for pages LIKE a certain page (eg like: web) Google - 8 / 10: Variable number of results per page Search for "phrases" Boolean Searches (AND, OR, NOT) Wildcard ( ) searches Search for pages in different languages Search for pages located in specific countries Search for pages under a certain domain Search for pages LIKE a certain page (eg like: web) Direct Hit - 5 / 10: Search for "phrases" Boolean Searches (AND, OR, NOT) Search for text in only title or body Search for pages in different languages Search for pages located in specific countries Specific Results for Additional Services: AltaVista: Online shopping guide Suggested searches. Searches based on what you have searched for Other searches - whitepages, yellowpages, maps / directions etc Hand-picked categories or channels for web browsing Personalisation of search results, layout, information etc Google: Hand-picked categories or channels for web browsing Personalisation of search results, layout, information etc Direct Hit: Online shopping guide Suggested searches. Searches based on what you have searched for Other searches - whitepages, yellowpages, maps / directions etc Hand-picked categories or channels for web browsing Personalisation of search results, layout, information etc Specific Results for Layout and Design: AltaVista: Easy navigation - 3 Good Aesthetics - 2 Quick PAGE load time - 1 Google: Easy navigation - 2 Good Aesthetics - 1 Quick PAGE load time - 3 Directhit: Easy navigation - 3 Good Aesthetics - 3 Quick PAGE load time - 1 Free research essays on topics related to: personal opinion, search engines, td td, td tr tr td, additional services
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