Tutorial 1&2

1.Are Blogs similar to Wikis? Explain why.
Slightly similar as both are more on subject based.

2.How is an Advocacy website different from an Information website?
Advocacy is created to influence the public opinion whereas information website is based on factual information.

3.Explain TWO features of databases. Give an example of a database.
-Support Boolean operators, phrase and proximity searches
-Advanced search allows limitation to particular fields.
Lexis-Nexis is an example of the database.

4. Briefly explain how each Boolean Operator “AND”, “NOT” & “OR” works. Illustrate your answer using diagrams.



5. Other than using Boolean operators, explain with appropriate examples other strategies that you can use to refine your search results.
-Use the '-' sign to display results that does have the word search.

6. Study the following website: www.geocaching.com website.
a. What is the purpose of this website?
Advocacy
b. Explain the features of websites similar to what you have identified in (a).
The sites promote causes and created to influence the public opinion.

Practical 4&5


Type of Search Facility : Search Engine

Search Engine : www.google.com.sg

Keywords used : "alcoholism on youth"

URL : http://dpic.sgh.com.sg/SpecialTopics/Alcohol/

Purpose : News

Comments on search result :
Results 1 - 10 of about 3,900,000 for alcoholism on youth were displayed.The first few results displayed are mostly on news which meets my requirements.


Type of Search Facility : Search Engine

Search Engine : www.yahoo.com.sg

Keywords used : "alcoholism amongst youth"

URL : http://www.health.org/govpubs/rpo990/

Purpose : News

Comments on search result :
Results 1 - 10 of about 126,0000 for alcoholism on youth were displayed.MOst of the results are based on topics in news.


Comparsion

Comparing the 2 search engine, both are quite similiar in the displaying of results. The priotisze news results before displaying the different type of results. But as compared to the results, google search engine has more results than yahoo and it is more global.



Keywords used:
alcoholism, alcohol, drinking, youth, entertainment, clubbing, beer, liquor



Type of Search Facility : Meta Search Engine

Meta Search Engine : www.mamma.com

Keywords used : Alcoholism on youth
URL : http://www.ncadd.org/facts/youthalc.html

Purpose : Information/ News/ Advocacy
Comments:
Results displayed 49 for alcoholism on youth.Most of the results showed are from the government websites.

Type of Search Facility : Meta Search Engine

Meta Search Engine : .http://www.metacrawler.com/

Keywords used : Alcoholism on youth
URL :

Purpose : Information/ News/ Advocacy
Comments:
Results displayed 49 for alcoholism on youth.Most of the results showed are from the government websites.

Comparsion:
BOth used simliar type of searching format and the results found are very limited. But metacrawler.com produced better and relevant results as compared to mamma.com


Type of Search Facility : Subject Directory

Subject Directory : Yahoo Web Directory

Keywords Used : Alcoholism on Youth

URL : web.missouri.edu/~marc/
Purpose : Information/ News

Comments on Search Result :
Results 1 - 4 of about 4 for alcoholism on youth. The results are more general and reults are few.


Both Google and Yahoo Search engine has a larger variety of results as they search for the more general results as according to the keywords entered. Results from googles are more compared to yahoo.com

Meta Search Engine-
Strength- It produces a more detailed results which means it narrow the research area for results that are closest to the keywords keyed.
Weakness- The results produced are very limited.
Subject Directory
Strength- The searching tool is just by clicking the subdirectories which is easier and faster finding the results according to the category the user need to search on.
Weakness- Thought the results are the closest to the keywords keyed, the results produced are few.

I preferred search engine even though it has more redundant results as it did not narrow down the results. They just searched in general according to the keywords. In this way, there are more options opened to the user though it might waste time looking for the appropriate result. It is more user friendly for new users.

Practical 3

Resource 1:
Purpose of resource : Information
Resource:http://www.marininstitute.org/
Reasons : This website provides information on alcohol industry and facts about alcohol. It does reflect on the effect of alcohol and statistics on the increase of youth indulging themselves in alcohol.

Resource 2:
Purpose of resource : Business/ Marketing
Resource:http://camy.org/
Reasons :This website has fact sheet and research reports on alcoholism. They have a marketing gallery on brochures advertising on different brands of beer. This website is to attend to the public concern about the alcohol marketing and youth.

Resource 3:
Purpose of resource :Information/ Advocacy
Resource:http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/
Reasons :This website is by the government to encourage the youth to stop drinking and to meet the public concern. It provides helplines for consultation and ideas for combating this drinking issue. This is more useful for parents facing the problems.

Resource 4:
Purpose of resource :News
Resource:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197541,00.html
Reasons :This new article is based on the research done by a researcher stating the drop of the alcoholism on youth who are aged under 13. They provide the statistics on the drinking youth.

Practial 2

Alcoholism Amongst Youth

Personal
http://adayinthelifeofalcoholanddrugrecovery.blogspot.com/
This is a personal blog maintained by the blogger regarding his drinking lifestyle and how he managed to overcome the problem.

Organization
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
It provides the latest links on the abuse of alcoholism on youth. This is a health website hosted by the government which is not only based on alcoholism but also health issues.

Subject-based
http://www.alcoholismaddiction.com
The information in the website are focused on alcoholism addiction. It not only have information on youth alcohol abuse but also on the general details on alcohol.

Subject-Based
http://www.council-houston.org/Public/index.asp
This website is hosted by a council which providing services and information to all who may be adversely affected by alcohol and drugs.


Organization
http://www.alcoholinfo.nsw.gov.au
This website is by Australia government which provides links to Institutes doing research on alcoholism.

Google and yahoo search engine are used for the finding of organization and subject-based. Blogger.com is used to search for the personal. Alcoholism, alcohol, alcoholism on youth, alcoholism amongst youth, youth, health are the keywords used. Personal is basically based on one's personal experience and reflections whereas compared to organization and subject-based are facts from research.