POWER SEARCHING!

Goals Learn difference between internet & database searching Use Boolean search operators that net better results Learn Power search tips and tricks

Internet Searching Most search engines search by keyword, or using “natural language.” Google & Bing search by keyword Will find results by pulling important keywords out of complete sentences Still need to choose results wisely. Avoid sites like Yahoo Answers, & Wiki Answers.

Let’s try this… In Google, let’s type this question:Google When can I return to school after the flu?

Let’s try this… In the Student Resources in Context database, let’s try typing the same question:Student Resources in Context When can I return to school after the flu?

Database Searching More specific search criteria. Not usually natural language. Check databases for default setting: – Subject: searches general topics in title & description. Results highly specific. – Keyword: good when you don’t know exactly the specific term to search. More results, less precise. – Within Document: searches every paragraph in document for words, not just title/description.

Try this… Search influenza - in Google -in Student Resources in Context (in ‘entire document’, keyword, subject) -Both will get you results, but the SRC has more ACADEMIC answers.

When to use Quotes? Use quotes when you want to find the EXACT phrase in your results, esp. titles and names. EX: “Of Mice and Men”; “Esther Hoffner”, or “The final scene between George and Lennie is suffused with sadness, even though Lennie retains his blissful ignorance until the end.”

Using AND, OR, NOT AND requires ALL words appear in results OR requires ANY of the words to appear NOT prevents certain words from appearing – Especially helpful in searching DATBASES In search engines, can also use + and – signs directly before word – Ex: eagles -Philadelphia

What’s with the *? Using an asterisk in your search is called “truncation.” – It searches words that include those letters Ex: Teen* will search for teens, teenage, teenagers… – Also good for when you’re not sure of spelling Ex: Bosnia Herz* (for Herzegovina)

Using Advanced Search… If you’re not happy with the results of your search, always check out the Advanced Search feature – Allows for all kinds of combinations of searches – Usually exists in both search engines & databases