Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I)

caod@cofc.eduClass blog: lib105fall09.blogspot.com

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 vs subject search

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)

Databases

think databases as containers of info. a library has many containers/databases of

information

Library Catalogs

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)

Periodical Indexes/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

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

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.

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

Search Strategy: Key Concepts key concepts (main ideas)

essential The proliferation of fast food

has led to the national problem of obesity.

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 … … Media

televisionadvertisingmoviesmusic videos

Body imageself conceptself-esteemeating disordersanorexia

Young adultsteenagersadolescentsyouthhigh school students

Search Technique: Boolean searching a method of combining search terms using

Boolean operators:

AND OR NOT (some DBs use AND NOT)

Boolean searching -- AND

narrows your search tells the database that ALL search terms

must be present in the resulting records

Boolean searching -- AND

coffee only

tea only

Search for coffee AND tea

coffee & tea

database

results

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

Boolean searching -- OR

coffee only

tea only

Search for coffee OR tea

coffee & tea

database

results

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

Boolean searching -- NOT

coffee only

coffee & chocolat

e

Search for coffee NOT tea

coffee & tea

database

results

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.

Boolean searching: search order Like with algebra, the terms in the

parentheses are dealt with FIRST (television OR advertising) AND (teen*

OR adoles*) AND (self concept OR self esteem) (ethic* OR moral*) AND (stem cell) AND

transplant*

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

Nested searching

Boolean operators can be nested using parentheses

Example: feeding AND (dogs OR puppies) Feeding dogs Feeding puppies Feeding dogs and puppies

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

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)

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 descriptors for your topic.

Guide to use of terms, showing relationships between them, for the purpose of providing standardized, controlled vocabulary for information storage and retrieval

Using thesauri (DB: PsycINFO)

Using thesauri (screenshot 2)

Browsed for codependence

Found nearest match

Related terms

Create a search

Using thesauri (screenshot 3)

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) 

Keyword Search vs. Subject Search

Many databases allow you to do subject searching using standardized words or phrases, these subject headings describe the

main topics of each record. 

searches only the subject field of a record, more focused search 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 database

You need to know what the database uses for the subject heading.

This is where the keyword search comes in handy.

Searching for phrases

Use double quotation marks in most databases “under the influence” “stem cell”

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

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

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

Proximity searching

BEFORE and AFTER in some databases Again, check help or tips screens in each

database for specific proximity operators and how to use them

Field Searching

Looks for search terms in particular parts of the citation record

Title Author Abstract Subject/descriptor Many more, depending on the database

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 searches if … provides these features

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 precise results (fewer false results).