A Comparison between Search Engines and Meta-search Engines in Retrieving Information Related to Physics and the Extent of their Overlap

Document Type : Research َ Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor; of Library and Information Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. Iran

2 M.A. in Library and Information Science; Sama Technical-Vocational College, Roudehen, I.R. Iran

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this research was to compare search engines with meta-search engines in retrieving information related to physics and to identify the extent of their overlap.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research population contains six search engines and six public meta-search engines which are introduced as the most commonly used search engines by the "searchenginewatch.com" website. Frequency distribution, percentage and averages are used for data analysis and Microsoft Excel is employed for drawing tables and graphs.
Findings: It was found that among different search engines, “Yahoo” retrieved the highest number of physics documents (40%) and the “AOL” search engine had the greatest information overlap with other search engines (39%). Among meta-search engines, the “CurryGuide” meta-search engine retrieved most of the physics information (77.1%). Also the “Info” meta-search engine had the greatest overlap with other meta-search engines (43.7%).
Conclusion: With regards to the degree of overlap, public metas-earch engines are preferable to public search engines.

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Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
Volume 22, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
87
December 2011
Pages 130-140

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 November 2009
  • Revise Date: 22 April 2015
  • Accept Date: 26 January 2010

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