Assignment Two: Search Engine Research and Evaluation

Objective: To empirically evaluate and compare two Web search engines for a particular information need.

Steps:

1. Specify a real or imaginary information need.
2. Identify and describe an information seeker who has the need.
3. Develop simple evaluation criteria for the information you will find.
4. Use two Web search engines to search for documents that address the information need.
5. Perform an evaluation and comparison of the results.
6. Based on the results, make a recommendation for which search engine is best for the information seeker's need.

The assignment will be written as one or more HTML files, using somewhat more sophisticated techniques than for assignment one. Generally, this should be written as a short evaluation assignment. Include a title, an introduction, a description of the problem and what you did, results, and a conclusion. Provide hyperlinks to external resources (e.g., the search engines you used) as appropriate.

Evaluation Criteria: This assignment is worth 15 points towards your total for INLS 181. The point distribution is as follows.

Due: 5:00 pm on Friday, July 13

Time estimate: 5-10 hours of work, including design, gaining familiarity with HTML and trouble-shooting.