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Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I)

Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I). caod@cofc.edu Class blog: lib105fall09.blogspot.com. In this class, . Databases (definition, examples) Periodical indexes/databases (definition, purpose) Search strategy Definition Access Tools (definition)

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Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I)

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  1. Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I) caod@cofc.edu Class blog: lib105fall09.blogspot.com

  2. In this class, • Databases (definition, examples) • Periodical indexes/databases (definition, purpose) • Search strategy • Definition • Access Tools (definition) • Steps (key concepts, synonyms, etc.) • Search techniques • Boolean search • Nested search • Thesauri • Field search • Keyword search vssubject search

  3. Databases • A database is a collection of data organized for rapid search and retrieval by a computer.Examples: Amazon.com, Academic Search Premier, the library catalog (underlying DBs, different look, different content)

  4. Databases • think databases as containers of info. • a library has many containers/databases of information

  5. LibraryCatalogs • A recap • library catalogs list items owned by individual libraries • search … whether the library owns a particular item such as a book or journal • search … find books, maps, magazines, videos, and other items in the CofC Libraries • be aware! library catalogs do not list individual articles (from periodicals)

  6. PeriodicalIndexes/Databases • Periodical Indexes/Databases (subscription databases, article databases) list individual articles found in journals and magazines • search a library subscription database to find articles on a topic

  7. Search Strategy • recap: determine info need  determine types of sources  choose the right access tool  plan a strategy  conduct a search • recap: What is an access tool? • An access tool is simply a print or computerized “finding aid” that leads you to various kinds of information. • Examples? library online catalogs (OPACs), periodical indexes/databases

  8. Search Strategy • e.g. support the thesis statement: The proliferation of fast food has led to the national problem of obesity. • type it in the search box, right? • WRONG!!!!! irrelevant words in the search statement.

  9. Search Strategy • Recap: what is a search strategy? • A search strategy is a specific plan for how you’ll conduct an efficient and effective search so that you uncover the most relevant information that a particular access tool can provide on your topic. • Simply, How you ask

  10. Search Strategy: Key Concepts • key concepts (main ideas) • essential • The proliferation of fast food has led to the national problem of obesity.

  11. Search Strategy: Synonyms • alternative keywords and phrases (for the key concepts), important • paper topic: What is the effect of the media on the body image of young adults? brainstorm … … • Mediatelevisionadvertisingmoviesmusic videos • Body imageself conceptself-esteemeating disordersanorexia • Young adultsteenagersadolescentsyouthhigh school students

  12. Search Technique: Boolean searching • a method of combining search terms using Boolean operators: • AND • OR • NOT (some DBs use AND NOT)

  13. Boolean searching -- AND • narrows your search • tells the database that ALL search terms must be present in the resulting records

  14. Boolean searching -- AND database coffee & tea coffee only tea only results Search for coffee AND tea

  15. Boolean searching -- OR • connects two or more similar terms (synonyms) • broadens your search • tells the database that ANY of your search terms can be present in the resulting records

  16. Boolean searching -- OR database coffee & tea coffee only tea only results Search for coffee OR tea

  17. Boolean searching -- NOT • excludes words from your search • narrows your search • tells the database to ignore word(s) that may be implied by your search terms

  18. Boolean searching -- NOT database coffee & tea coffee & chocolate coffee only results Search for coffee NOT tea

  19. Boolean searching: search order • search order is important • DBs recognize the AND operator as being the primary operator, and connect search terms with AND together first. • If … combination of AND and OR operators in a search, put the words to be "ORed" together in parentheses.

  20. Boolean searching: search order • Like with algebra, the terms in the parentheses are dealt with FIRST • (television OR advertising) AND (teen*ORadoles*) AND (self concept OR self esteem) • (ethic* OR moral*) AND (stem cell) AND transplant*

  21. Boolean searching • Don’t make your search strings too complex • Check the help screen(every DB usu. has one) to make sure of the best way to organize your search with Boolean operators in that database

  22. Nested searching • Boolean operators can be nested using parentheses • Example: feeding AND (dogs OR puppies) • Feeding dogs • Feeding puppies • Feeding dogs and puppies

  23. Nested searching (more complicated) • one search statement nested within another • Example: • ((vegetarian OR vegan) AND restaurants) AND charleston • vegetarian restaurants and charleston • vegan restaurants and charleston • restaurants serving both and charleston

  24. Nested searching • Good for searching synonyms or related terms simultaneously • Expands the reach of the search • (black OR afro-american OR african-american) • (beach OR coast OR shore)

  25. Using thesauri (subject search) • A list of subject headings or descriptors (sometimes called a thesaurus) assigned in a particular database that can be used to search that database • This is another way to find subject headings or descriptorsfor your topic. • Guide to use of terms, showing relationships between them, for the purpose of providing standardized, controlled vocabulary for information storage and retrieval

  26. Using thesauri (DB: PsycINFO)

  27. Using thesauri (screenshot 2) Browsed for codependence Found nearest match

  28. Using thesauri (screenshot 3) Create a search Related terms

  29. Keyword Search vs.Subject Search • A recap • All databases provide keyword searching • ask the computer to scan all words in a record, including the title, abstract, and author (and other fields). • For example, the keyword "dating" would find the following books in a catalog:Radiocarbon Dating: An Archaeological Perspective (R.E. Taylor)The Complete History of Farm Tractors (Henry W. Dating)How to juggle women: without getting killed or going broke (Stefan Feller) • keyword in titleauthor’s last namesubjects: Dating (Social Customs)

  30. Keyword Search vs.Subject Search • Many databases allow you to do subject searching • using standardized wordsor phrases, these subject headingsdescribe the main topics of each record. • searchesonly the subject field of a record, more focusedsearch results • a strength of library databases that search engines like Google don't have. • works best if you use the EXACT subject headings as defined by the databaseYou need to know what the database uses for the subject heading. This is where the keyword search comes in handy.

  31. Searching for phrases • Use double quotation marks in most databases • “under the influence” • “stem cell”

  32. Search Technique: Wildcard/truncation symbols • a character used in keyword searching, assume the value of any alphanumeric character, permit more options such as alternative spellings, to be achieved quickly • Check the help screens of individual databases to discover exactly what wildcard symbols to use in each database • Examples: • wom?n: • woman, women, womyn • educat* • educate, educated, educating, educator, education, educational • Behavio$r (British and American spellings) • Behavior, behaviour

  33. Proximity searching • how close search terms are to each other within a document • NEAR or N • searches for terms next to each other in either order • e.g. democrats NEAR spending

  34. Proximity searching • how close search terms are to each other within a document • WITHIN or W • e.g. money W/10 divorce • Finds documents in which “money” and “divorce” are within 10 words of each other

  35. Proximity searching • BEFORE and AFTER in some databases • Again, check help or tipsscreens in each database for specific proximity operators and how to use them

  36. Field Searching • Looks for search terms in particular parts of the citation record • Title • Author • Abstract • Subject/descriptor • Many more, depending on the database

  37. Review: developing a search strategy • Divide your research question into key concepts • Identify synonyms or related terms for each concept • Combine terms using Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT) and nested searches • Conduct a keyword search in a database • Consider field searching (such as subject search), wildcard/truncation, and proximity searchesif … provides these features

  38. How to ask (tips) • Be flexible in planning your search strategy. Understand that language (search statement) matters. • A keyword search is always a good way to start looking for information. • If you know or discover the subject heading(s), use it. It will yield more preciseresults (fewer false results).

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