of Database Searching

workshop for Ruby Certificate

presented by:

Theresa Mastrodonato

mastrodo@geneseo.edu

February 20, 2007

GOALS- What You Should Come Away

With Understand the types of databases that can be searched

Be able to go from broad to specific search terms

Understand the difference between a keyword and subject search

Be able to use advanced search screens

Understand how to read citations in different databases

A is for Access

How do I best access the resources available? What should I look at first? Multi-disciplinary vs. Subject specific databases Citation vs. Abstract vs. Full-Text databases

Which Should I Use?

Multi-disciplinary databases: Provide information on a lot of different subjects Large number of subjects – not a lot of in-depth

information

Subject Specific databases Provides information on one specific subject Lots of in-depth information available

Multi-disciplinary or Subject Specific?

ProQuest Research Library

Anthropological Index Online

JSTOR CINAHL

PSYCINFO GeoBase

Types of Databases

Citation

Abstracts

Full-Text

Citation

Search limited to a small number of fields Provides only basic information about the

article/work Author, title of article, title of journal, year…. Provides no information about what the article is

about In order to find the article, you have to search the

library for it

Abstract

Larger number of fields to search for term Provides more information about the article

Author, title of article, title of journal, year Abstract which tells what the article is about

Many allow you to click on Find Text button to help find the article

Full-Text

Largest number of fields to search for term Including searching the full text article

Provides the most information about the article Author, title of article, title of journal, year Abstract which tells what the article is about Full-text article may be available to view/download Find Text button available for those that are not

full-text

B is for Be Specific

Think about the best search terms before using the database will help you get the best results.

Important to narrow down a search Narrow search terms by using BOOLEAN

operators, truncation, wildcards

Think About the Best Search Words

Think about your topic – what words describe your topic

Come up with some search terms you think might work for your topic

Think of other words that people may use for the same idea you are working on. teens – young adults – adolescents kings – monarchs – pharaoh

Broad to Specific

Once you have your search terms see if they can be narrowed down even more.

Find unique terms that may help narrow your search even further

Use the suggestions provided by

the database to narrow your search

down further

BOOLEAN Operators

AND: Both terms have to be in the result milk and butter

OR: Either one or both terms are in the result milk or butter

NOT: Do not want the term in the result Milk not chocolate

want milk but not chocolate milk

OROR NOTNOT

Truncation/Wildcards

Databases allow you to truncate a word that you want to search on to get more than one form of the word. teen* --- will also give teens, teenager, teenagers parent*---will also give you parents, parenthood,

parenting Databases also allow you to use wildcards to

get variant forms of a word wom?m---will give you woman or women

C is for Choose

Subject vs. Keyword searches

Basic vs. Advanced searches

Keyword vs. Subject – Is One Better Than the Other?

A keyword search looks for your search terms anywhere in the citation, abstract, or full-text.

A subject search looks only in the list of subject headings that describe the major focus of the article. These are assigned by the database.

Both subject and keyword searches may provide results that are relevant to your information needs

Basic (Simple) vs. Advanced Searches – Is more better?

Basic searches Smaller number of options to limit searching

Advanced searches More options to narrow your search Can search by author, title, etc.

Advanced searches allow you to narrow the focus of your search even further to find the best results available.

D is for Decipher theCitations

Can you read them? Citations should include:

Author of article Title of article Title of journal Volume and/or issue number of journal Page numbers of the article Date of journal article is found in

Don’t Stress About the Database Interface

Even though the interface may be different for each online database you use, the same basic search selections should be available: You should be able to search by keyword or

subject You should be able to narrow down your search

(by date, scholarly/academic) Use the tools learned here to decipher

the citations

Can You Find It? MUST use Academic Search

Premiere

Find an article on Google and YouTube that talks about The Simpsons.

Image from: http://tvcomedies.about.com/od/thesimpsons/ig/The-Simpsons-Photo-Gallery/The-Simpsons-Family.htm

A is for Access Make sure you know the different types of databases and how to get the information about the article from each one.

B is for Be Specific

Be as specific as you can in your search terms. This will help narrow your results to the most relevant information.

C is for ChooseMake sure you choose the correct search fields (subject vs. Keyword) to get the most relevant results. Choose advanced searches over basic to narrow your results even more.

Questions?????

Please see a reference librarian for any help you may need searching for books or articles.

We are here to help you find the information you need to complete your assignments.

Visit us at the reference desk, e-mail us, call us, or schedule and in-depth research consultation.

http://library.geneseo.edu/research/ask.shtml