1. Designing a Search Strategy
Kettering College of Medical Arts Library
Kathy Salgado, MLS

2. Designing A Search Strategy
One of the keys to successful database searching is thoughtful design of a search strategy
No database search will retrieve all the relevant resources on a topic while eliminate everything that is irrelevant
The effectiveness of a search is depends on the search terms selected and the manner in which the search strategy is designed

3. Designing a Search Strategy
The goal in designing a search strategy is to retrieve a significant number or relevant records and a minimum of irrelevant ones
It is important to take time to select appropriate search vocabulary and to design an effective search strategy

4. Designing a Search Strategy
Key considerations
Use appropriately professional terms
Avoid acronyms
Don’t use too many search terms---the more terms you use the fewer results you will retrieve

5. Designing a Search Strategy
Identify the keywords or subject headings to be used
Identify the Boolean operator(s) needed to link multiple terms
AND—each term must be present
OR—any of the terms may be present
NOT—term will be eliminated
Nest terms as needed using parentheses

6. Identify Key Terms Start with your search question or statement:
Is aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen more effective in treating back pain?
Not all words in a question are important.
Identify the keywords you need to use in your search:

7. Identify Key Terms Consider synonyms or relevant related terms
Aspirin: acetylsalicylic acid
Non-prescription drugs
Analgesics, non-narcotic
Do not use brand names for drugs
Use acetaminophen NOT Tylenol

8. Keyword Searching Most search tools allow keyword searching
Internet search tools retrieve items with all the search terms entered as well as the first term and at least one other term and finally items with just the first search term
This makes Internet search results less focused
Library search tools only retrieve items containing all the search terms entered

9. Keyword Searching
Most search engines automatically insert AND between each keyword entered in the search box and search for each term independently of the other search terms.
Search terms may appear anywhere in the retrieved record.
To search for a phrase rather than separate words, enclose the words in quotation marks: “acetylsalicylic acid”

10. Boolean Operators AND OR NOT
There are three terms you can use to link search terms:
AND OR
NOT

11. Boolean Operators Link terms using appropriate Boolean Operators:
Aspirin OR acetaminophen:
will retrieve materials containing either term
Aspirin AND acetaminophen:
will only retrieve materials containing BOTH terms
Aspirin NOT acetaminophen:
will eliminate all materials containing acetaminophen even those with aspirin

12. Boolean Operators
Sometimes you may want to search for synonyms or other relevant terms in one search but not all the words need to be present in the records retrieved.
You can link synonyms and other relevant terms with OR
aspirin OR “acetylsalicylic acid”
This will retrieve records that have aspirin, records that have acetylsalicylic acid, and records that have both

13. Nesting or Using ( )
Parentheses must be used to group terms linked by OR if another operator is also used
This is to identify the order in which the terms are to be processed:
(aspirin OR acetaminophen OR ibuprofen) AND “back pain”
This is the same as order of operation and the distributive principle in math:
a(b + c)= ab + ac

14. Subject Searching
Library catalogs and most periodical databases provide an option to search by subject headings.
Subject headings are a standardized set of terms used to identify a concept
Subject headings retrieve all resources on the subject regardless of the terms used by the author

15. Subject Searching Subject searching is more focused and specific.
Minimizes the need to consider synonyms
Eliminates retrieval of items that have the keywords but are not relevant to the topic
Generally retrieves fewer results than keyword searches

16. Identifying Subject Headings
Do a keyword search then check the subject headings listed in the records of items that are relevant
Access the Subject Headings search option within the database being searched
Check the Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes
Assigned to items in library catalog
Used by some periodical databases

17. Subject Headings: in a Catalog Record

18. Subject Headings: in a Periodical Database Record

19. Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings
Many databases provide an option to search for subject headings.
At the database search screen click the link to access the Subject Headings.

20. Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings
The subject search option will display.
Enter a search term in the Browse box.
Click Browse.

21. Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings
A list of subject headings will display.
Check to see if your term is listed.
Cross-references to appropriate terms may also be provided.

22. Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings2
To search by a subject heading, click the box to the left. A check will appear.
Next click Add. 1

23. Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings
The subject heading will be added to the search box.
Click Search to retrieve a list of articles with the selected subject heading.
You can repeat the process to select and add multiple subject headings to your search.

24. Need More Information? Identifying key terms

25. Need More Help? Boolean Operators

26. Need More Help?
Nesting

27. Need More Help? Keyword v Subject Headings