Using Social Care Online: an overview

Version 1.0 April 2015

Contents of the Guide

About Social Care Online

Key features of Social Care Online

Standard search 1. 0 Getting started

1.1 Results pages1.2 Filtering search results1.3 Full record example

Advanced search2. 0 Advanced search2.1 Search screen2.2 Single field search2.3 Results pages2.4 Multiple field search using AND2.5 Single subject term search2.6 Multiple field search using OR & AND2.7 Export search results2.8 Saved search

Further information and support

About Social Care Online

UK's largest online database of information on all aspects of social work and social care

Updated daily SCO contains over 150,000 records from the 1980s onwards

Includes legislation, government documents, practice and guidance, systematic reviews, research briefings, UK grey (informally-published) literature, books, and journal articles

Full text resources and web links are provided where available

Key features of Social Care Online

Fast Google-type standard search

Advanced search

Saved searches

Email alerts

Updated daily

Free to use!

Standard search1.0 Getting started

1. As you type, suggested topics /terms, titles, authors or publishers appear in the drop down list.

2. Select from the list or type your own search terms

3. Click on Search

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1.1 Results pageKey features

1.Sort the results [Default is Relevance]

2.Advance through results pages

3.Identify resource type & full text availability

4.View full record details

5.View full abstract, link to free resource if available & subject term search options

6.Filter results7.Perform a new search

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Note: Search results can range from an exact match (most relevant)to records containing all or some of your search terms eg Care Act 2014 to Changes to care.…Children and Families Act 2014

1.2 Filtering search results

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1. Click on filter link (in this case Free) to limit search results. More than one filter can be used to refine search results, but only one within each category eg Format types

2. Clear all filters or click on individual Filter link to remove it

Note: To search using more than one filter from each category use Advanced search

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1.3 Full record example

Advanced search2.0 Getting started

1. Click on Advanced search button to register or sign-in

Or

2. Click on Register/sign-in button

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Note: Social Care Online is free to search but to useall of its features you will need a Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) account

2.1 Search screen

Key features

1.Single field search

2.Drop down list of all fields

3.Add fields to build up complex searches

4.Combine search word or terms using AND, OR, NOT

5.Saved searches can be used to create & rerun complex searches & set up email alerts

6.On screen search tips

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2.2 Single field search

1. From the drop down field list select a field eg Author

2. Type your search query eg Author surname and select from the drop down list

3. Click on Search

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2.3. Results page

1. Sort by Publication Year or Title [Default is Relevance]2. Advance through results pages

3. Identify resource type & full text availability

4. View full record details

5. View and select records for export

6. Search result tools bar (Save searches, email alerts)

Tip: Select your Sort by preferencesbefore reviewing and exporting yourresults

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2.4. Multiple field search using AND

1. From the drop down field list select a field eg Publisher2. Type name of Publisher eg social care institute… & select from drop down list3. Select another field from the drop down list eg Format type4. Select Format type eg Digital media

5. Select another field from the drop down list eg Publication year6. Type date range eg 2013 to 2015 (if one year only put same date in both boxes)7. Click on Search

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2.5. Single subject term search

1. From the drop down field list select Subject Term

2. Type search term eg adoption & select from drop down list

3. Broader, Narrower & Related terms can be included to build up a complex search strategy

4. View the term details for the Subject term5. Select terms for inclusion in your search eg

Narrower6. Click on Search

Term details for 'adoption'Broader terms social careNarrower terms intercountry adoption, open adoption, post adoption services, transracial adoptionRelated terms access to birth records, adopted children, adoption agencies, adoption allowance, adoption contactregisters, adoptive parents, birth parents, permanency planning

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2.6. Multiple field search using OR & AND

1.Select field from drop down list eg Subject term - 2. Type adoption & select from list3.Include narrower terms

4.Change Boolean operator to OR5.Select field from from the drop down list eg Subject term & 6. Type adoption again 7. Include related terms

8. Change Boolean operator to AND9. Select field from drop down list eg Content type & 10. Select Government publication 11. Click on Search

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Note: For multiple field searches Boolean operators must be use in the order OR, AND, NOT

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2.7. Export search results

Key features

1.Choice of export types [CSV, RIS, TXT, XML] 2.View abstract – click on ‘arrow’3.Select All records for Export or use tick box to select individual records

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2.8. Saved searches

1.Run Search eg “care act 2014” All fields2.Name the search eg CA2014 [AF]3.Save Search4.Tick box to enable action menu

Use Saved searches to:

•Rerun searches

•Build complex searches

•Set up email alerts - weekly updates on content matching your search criteria.4

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Further information and support

1. View our YouTube introductory video

2. See About pages

3. Give us your feedback

4. Go to Help pages

5. Contact us

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Connect with us via Facebook or Twitter

http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/

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