Databases: search strategy, search techniques (I) Class 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 television advertising movies music videos Body image self concept self-esteem eating disorders anorexia Young adults teenagers adolescents youth high 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 & chocolate 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 databasehelp screen

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 title author’s last name subjects: 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).