Compare results from a variety of search engines. First, think of an appropriate chemistry keyword or phrase (e.g. a compound name) and enter this into several search engines. Make sure that you include meta-search engines such as Dogpile. Compare the outcomes to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the individual search engines. Work with a colleague to compare different searches on a quantitative (i.e. number of hits) and qualitative (quality of hits) basis.

Short Answer

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The comparison results would vary depending on the keyword used and which search engines were compared. But this experiment should reveal some strengths and weaknesses of different search engines. Some might provide more results, but others could lead to higher quality hits. Remember, quantity of hits is not the only factor; the relevancy and quality of results matters significantly.

Step by step solution

01

Keyword Selection

Select a keyword or phrase related to chemistry. It could be a common chemistry term, a chemical name, or a phrase related to a chemical reaction. For example, 'Acetic Acid'.
02

Search and Data Collection

Enter the chosen keyword or phrase into several search engines, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, and meta-search engines like Dogpile. Take note of the top 5 results returned by each search engine for comparison purposes.
03

Quantitative Analysis

Note the total number of hits from each search engine. It refers to the total number of web pages that the search engine has found relevant to your keyword or phrase.
04

Qualitative Analysis

Examine the top 5 results given by each search engine. These represent the most relevant responses. Assess the quality of the results by asking, 'Are these results directly relevant to the keyword? Do they contain valuable information?' This qualitative analysis will show the strengths and weaknesses of each search engine for the given keyword.
05

Compare Results

Once all the information is collected, compare the results. The comparison should answer the questions: Which search engines gave the most hits? Which ones gave the highest quality hits? This process helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of different search engines regarding the chosen keyword.
06

Collaborative Analysis

Invite a colleague to do the same process with different keywords. Then compare your results. It will enrich your analysis and give you a broader perspective on this exercise.

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