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of Database Searching
workshop for Ruby Certificate
presented by:
Theresa Mastrodonato
February 20, 2007
GOALS- What You Should Come Away
With Understand the types of databases that can be searched
Be able to go from broad to specific search terms
Understand the difference between a keyword and subject search
Be able to use advanced search screens
Understand how to read citations in different databases
A is for Access
How do I best access the resources available? What should I look at first? Multi-disciplinary vs. Subject specific databases Citation vs. Abstract vs. Full-Text databases
Which Should I Use?
Multi-disciplinary databases: Provide information on a lot of different subjects Large number of subjects – not a lot of in-depth
information
Subject Specific databases Provides information on one specific subject Lots of in-depth information available
Multi-disciplinary or Subject Specific?
ProQuest Research Library
Anthropological Index Online
JSTOR CINAHL
PSYCINFO GeoBase
Types of Databases
Citation
Abstracts
Full-Text
Citation
Search limited to a small number of fields Provides only basic information about the
article/work Author, title of article, title of journal, year…. Provides no information about what the article is
about In order to find the article, you have to search the
library for it
Abstract
Larger number of fields to search for term Provides more information about the article
Author, title of article, title of journal, year Abstract which tells what the article is about
Many allow you to click on Find Text button to help find the article
Full-Text
Largest number of fields to search for term Including searching the full text article
Provides the most information about the article Author, title of article, title of journal, year Abstract which tells what the article is about Full-text article may be available to view/download Find Text button available for those that are not
full-text
B is for Be Specific
Think about the best search terms before using the database will help you get the best results.
Important to narrow down a search Narrow search terms by using BOOLEAN
operators, truncation, wildcards
Think About the Best Search Words
Think about your topic – what words describe your topic
Come up with some search terms you think might work for your topic
Think of other words that people may use for the same idea you are working on. teens – young adults – adolescents kings – monarchs – pharaoh
Broad to Specific
Once you have your search terms see if they can be narrowed down even more.
Find unique terms that may help narrow your search even further
Use the suggestions provided by
the database to narrow your search
down further
BOOLEAN Operators
AND: Both terms have to be in the result milk and butter
OR: Either one or both terms are in the result milk or butter
NOT: Do not want the term in the result Milk not chocolate
want milk but not chocolate milk
OROR NOTNOT
Truncation/Wildcards
Databases allow you to truncate a word that you want to search on to get more than one form of the word. teen* --- will also give teens, teenager, teenagers parent*---will also give you parents, parenthood,
parenting Databases also allow you to use wildcards to
get variant forms of a word wom?m---will give you woman or women
C is for Choose
Subject vs. Keyword searches
Basic vs. Advanced searches
Keyword vs. Subject – Is One Better Than the Other?
A keyword search looks for your search terms anywhere in the citation, abstract, or full-text.
A subject search looks only in the list of subject headings that describe the major focus of the article. These are assigned by the database.
Both subject and keyword searches may provide results that are relevant to your information needs
Basic (Simple) vs. Advanced Searches – Is more better?
Basic searches Smaller number of options to limit searching
Advanced searches More options to narrow your search Can search by author, title, etc.
Advanced searches allow you to narrow the focus of your search even further to find the best results available.
D is for Decipher theCitations
Can you read them? Citations should include:
Author of article Title of article Title of journal Volume and/or issue number of journal Page numbers of the article Date of journal article is found in
Don’t Stress About the Database Interface
Even though the interface may be different for each online database you use, the same basic search selections should be available: You should be able to search by keyword or
subject You should be able to narrow down your search
(by date, scholarly/academic) Use the tools learned here to decipher
the citations
Can You Find It? MUST use Academic Search
Premiere
Find an article on Google and YouTube that talks about The Simpsons.
Image from: http://tvcomedies.about.com/od/thesimpsons/ig/The-Simpsons-Photo-Gallery/The-Simpsons-Family.htm
A is for Access Make sure you know the different types of databases and how to get the information about the article from each one.
B is for Be Specific
Be as specific as you can in your search terms. This will help narrow your results to the most relevant information.
C is for ChooseMake sure you choose the correct search fields (subject vs. Keyword) to get the most relevant results. Choose advanced searches over basic to narrow your results even more.
Questions?????
Please see a reference librarian for any help you may need searching for books or articles.
We are here to help you find the information you need to complete your assignments.
Visit us at the reference desk, e-mail us, call us, or schedule and in-depth research consultation.
http://library.geneseo.edu/research/ask.shtml