Scoped web site search: an Australian university case study

Sue Steele, Manager, Web Resources and Development, Information Technology Services, Monash University, Vic. , 3800. Email: Sue.Steele@its.monash.edu.au

Keywords

scoped web search, web search, university web sites, enterprise wem search

Abstract

The first part of this paper examines public web site searching at thirty-eight Australian universities with particular emphasis on the use of site-specific scoped search options. Google is the most common search engine, in use at eighteen universities. Twelve universities offer more than one search engine on all or part of their web site. Twenty-three universities are using scoped web searches on their web sites.

The second part examines scoped searching at Monash University in more detail by analysing the university's 2005 search engine logs. Monash University uses scoped searches on almost all of its sub-sites. Scoping parameters are inconsistently applied and there is no clear definition of a web-site for searching purposes. Initial analysis indicates a relatively high proportion of searchers choosing the broader search option. Some scoped search options result in very high zero-hit search rates. Further user-centred research is required.