Finding information on the deep web...

 

Characteristics of the "surface web"
  • millions of hits will result from your query
  • irrelevant results
  • no quality control, therefore search engines will search EVERY web page to return results

Here is an example of a "surface" web search engine:
Google search engine

 

 

Characteristics of the "deep web"
  • web-based searchable databases normally not found through regular searches
  • web portals or gateways which have a very narrow focus and lead a user to select web resources and databases
    EXAMPLE: Milne Library's web page
  • usually available only through a separate query of the database
  • data many times consists of nontext files, such as multimedia, graphical, software or nonstandard formats like PDF

Here is an example of a deep web database:
National Center for Education Statistics

NCES web search example

 

 


 

 

 

Example of a deep web gateway or portal:
The Gateway to Educational Materials

gateway example

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Tips for Searching the Deep Web...
  • Try using search engines for specific topics:
    SearchEdu.com to search for education websites
    FirstGov.gov     to search government websites
  • If using a "surface web" search engine, try typing in the word "database" along with your search terms to narrow the search for deep web databases:
    education + statistics + database
    photographs + schools + database
  • Use gateways or portals, such as the library's web page, and find links for resources on your particular topic
    For example, on Milne Library's webpage, we have a Research Resources link, which has lists of databases and websites for different subjects, such as Education:
Milne Library Resources by Subject database page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2005-2006 Kate Pitcher
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last updated 05-Sep-2006