How to Evaluate Internet Search Engines
The Internet is now the primary tool for information gathering for the average person--it has made telephone books and libraries almost obsolete for a lot of people. The abundance of information available on the web can be overwhelming. Search engines attempt to aggregate data as usefully as possible to increase user satisfaction. But not every search engine produces results that give you the information you need. Each one brings its own set of likes and dislikes to the web interface. However, there are standard steps you can use to evaluate search engines to get the most benefit from them.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Define the term "user experience." User experience is often referred to as UX and its meaning may have subtle differences based on who is defining the term. Ultimately, it encompasses the satisfaction of you, the user. Specifically, when you access a website, is the experience a good one and if so why? Google, for example, is a very successful search engine in part because a lot of users have had good experiences with the page. The main home page has remained the same for a decade. It is unambiguous and minimal. Search engines with a focused goal of being a search engine have a clear goal that is intuitive to users.
-
2
Mine for basic web data. Entire careers are built on the analysis and reporting of web usage. This is helpful information--but it often comes with a price. However, critical information is available for free by accessing sites such as Alexa that gather basic web usage data. Site ranking inside and outside the U.S., the number of sites that link into a particular site and the percentage change in unique visitors on a daily and monthly basis are available on any search engine. Knowing how useful the site is for current and past users offers some knowledge to determine the viability of the search engine. Key metrics link number of sites linking into a search engine says whether or not the site provides solid search results that users need.
-
-
3
Determine who cannot use the browser. Is the site viewable in Linux, Mac and with standalone browsers like Opera? Are there versions of the site configured for the hearing and visually impaired? When evaluating a search engine, compatibility offers some insight into the motive of the creator. A search engine geared toward more than one type of user is more likely to gather information from a broad array of sources. More sources provide more search results and, in most cases, a more robust information-gathering process for the user.
-
4
Develop tools to rate content and readability. Take a group of potential users and show them site content. Search engines must have simple, easy-to-read searches that make sense to users. In the early days of search engines, many search results had nothing to do with the query entered in the search field. Over time, mathematical algorithms have been honed to provide very precise information. Still, some searches are created by humans to appear in search results. In evaluating search engines, it is helpful to separate human search engines from programmed searches and assess the results accordingly.
-
5
Ask what the company does with search queries. Does the search engine make its privacy policies clear? Is the information that users enter for a search subject to review by commercial or governmental entities? If information is bartered or sold to other entities, can you, the user, prevent this from happening? Under what circumstances is a private search subject to review? Search engine security is a hot button issue and any evaluation of a search engine should include these questions.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit search image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
