Introduction
Search engine is a computer program that helps to look for information about a particular topic of interest from the internet (Sullivan, 2006, Para. 2). By using different search engines, we are going to look for information about pediatric ear infection as our topic, evaluate the information they present and the problems encountered while using these search engines to look for reading materials related to the topic.
Using search engines
During the information finding, we used Google, yahoo, Wikipedia and eBay search engines look for sites to read from about pediatric ear infection and Google search engine proved to be the best as it gave more sites where you can study journals, articles and books about pediatric ear infection (Google, 2010, Para.1-9). However we were able to get the information by the use of these search engines, it proved to be challenging as the information we were looking for from the sites was not straight forward. But by reading on the summary of the topic presented at each site, we were able to get the published materials related to our topic.
Google search engine was able to give a variety of reading sites where you can read pediatric ear infection which included web pages, articles, journals, and internet books. Where as yahoo search engine gave the information about pediatric ear infection, it did not give a variety of reading materials (Kaneshiro, 2010, Para.1-27). The eBay search engine not only give little information about pediatric ear infection, but it was like an advertisement site as it mostly gave information for commercial purposes such as where to get pediatric ear infection treatment rather than what pediatric ear infection is , what causes it and how it can be treated. On the other hand, Wikipedia gave very shallow information about pediatric ear infection. To our surprise, as we typed the same key words on these search engines, they did not exactly give the same reading material about pediatric ear infection; however some sites were common in both search engines. Search engines like Google search gave more studying material sites for pediatric ear infection as compared to yahoo and eBay search engines (Iannelli, 2007, Para.1- 7).
On credibility of information that can be retrieved from these search engines, Wikipedia was the less reliable information site since its articles can be edited by anybody with internet access hence its information can be distorted according to the editor wish rather than giving factual information about the topic under study. Search engines which give room for any body to edit it articles are not credible since the information edited may not be authentic to be used as a reading material because they give more of a personal opinion (Reuben, 2010, Para.1-4). Search engines which publish electronic studying materials do not allow their site to be edited by any one who visits the site and at the same time, contribution to the site is verified to be factual before the site is updated(Schmitt, 2010, Para. 1-14).
Conclusion
In conclusion, search engines are important for information search and it is upon the person finding for particular information to know which search engine will give him/her the best and variety of information he / she wants to know.
Reference List
Google. (2010). Pediatric ear infections. Web.
Iannelli, V. (2007). Ear Infections and Ear Tubes. Web.
Kaneshiro, N. K. (2010). Ear infection – acute. Web.
Reuben, T. (2010). Pure Natural Diva: Pediatric Ear Infections and the Home Remedy That Works for Us. Web.
Schmitt, B. (2010). Ear Infection (Otitis Media). Web.
Sullivan, L. (2006). Common terms used when discussing Link Building. Web.