List two ways that search engines and electronic databases are similar and three ways that search engines and electronic databases are different. Use specific examples to clarify your points.
Computers and Technology · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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Two ways that search engines and electronic databases are similar include:
1. Information Retrieval: Both search engines and electronic databases are designed to help users find information. Whether you're using Google, Bing, or an academic electronic database like PubMed, the goal is to input a query and receive the most relevant results based on that query.
2. Indexing: Both systems rely on an indexing process to organize information. Search engines crawl the web to index websites, while electronic databases index articles, papers and datasets to make them searchable for academic or professional use.
Three ways that search engines and electronic databases are different include:
1. Scope of Content: Search engines like Google have a much broader scope when it comes to the content they index – they aim to provide information on virtually any topic from the entire World Wide Web. On the other hand, electronic databases are often subject-specific or focused on particular types of content. For example, JSTOR indexes academic journals in the humanities and social sciences, whereas IEEE Xplore focuses on technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and related technologies.
2. Depth of Information: Electronic databases often provide in-depth, peer-reviewed articles and papers that offer detailed information and research findings. In contrast, while search engines can lead you to scholarly articles, they also index a wide range of less rigorous content, including news articles, blog posts, and forums; thus, they usually require additional effort to sift through to find authoritative sources.
3. Access and Cost: Many electronic databases require a subscription or institutional access because the content they provide is often behind paywalls. This makes them more exclusive but also ensures that the users get access to high-quality, vetted information. Search engines are freely accessible to anyone with internet access, but users may still encounter paywalls when they attempt to access certain articles or publications they find through a search engine.