Public Policy ResearchPublic Policy Research

Lisa BurleyLisa Burley

Brackett Library, Harding UniversityBrackett Library, Harding University

Recommended ResourcesRecommended Resources

SocINDEX SocINDEX

JSTORJSTOR

Print resourcesPrint resources

Keyword Searching vs. Subject Keyword Searching vs. Subject SearchingSearching

Keyword search Keyword search Like a Google Like a Google

searchsearch Matches a series of Matches a series of

characters and characters and spacesspaces

Scans entire record Scans entire record for termfor term

Lots of results, little Lots of results, little accuracyaccuracy

Subject term Subject term searchsearch Speaking the Speaking the

catalog’s languagecatalog’s language Sometimes yields Sometimes yields

fewer results, but fewer results, but always yields a always yields a higher level of higher level of accuracyaccuracy

Time efficientTime efficient

ExamplesExamples

Photo tags Photo tags

File foldersFile folders

Jargon and dialectsJargon and dialects

Why SocINDEX?Why SocINDEX?

Comprehensive coverage of sociology, Comprehensive coverage of sociology, encompassing all sub-disciplines and encompassing all sub-disciplines and closely related areas of study closely related areas of study

Provides data from more than 670 priority Provides data from more than 670 priority coverage journals as well as from 2,800 coverage journals as well as from 2,800 selective coverage journalsselective coverage journals

Full text for 428 core coverage journals Full text for 428 core coverage journals dating back to 1908, and 163 priority dating back to 1908, and 163 priority coverage journals coverage journals

Areas covered includeAreas covered include

abortionabortion criminology & criminal criminology & criminal

justicejustice demographydemography ethnic & racial studiesethnic & racial studies gender studiesgender studies marriage & familymarriage & family political sociologypolitical sociology religionreligion rural & urban sociologyrural & urban sociology social developmentsocial development

social psychologysocial psychology social structuresocial structure social worksocial work socio-cultural socio-cultural

anthropologyanthropology sociological historysociological history sociological researchsociological research sociological theorysociological theory substance abuse & substance abuse &

other addictionsother addictions violenceviolence

Library homepage Library homepage quest.harding.eduquest.harding.edu

Online Databases linkOnline Databases link

health care policy

A word of advice . . .A word of advice . . .

Always browse through index listsAlways browse through index lists

Narrowing ResultsNarrowing Results

By subjectBy subject

Retracing Your StepsRetracing Your Steps

““Bread crumbs”Bread crumbs”

Search History TabSearch History Tab

Narrowing ResultsNarrowing Results

By subjectBy subject

By publication typeBy publication type

Narrowing ResultsNarrowing Results

By subjectBy subject

By publication typeBy publication type

Refine Search TabRefine Search Tab

Recommendations:Recommendations:

Limit by year for current informationLimit by year for current information

Avoid limiting to “full text only”Avoid limiting to “full text only”

Evaluation and accessEvaluation and access

Cited ReferencesCited References

Evaluation and accessEvaluation and access

Cited ReferencesCited References

AbstractsAbstracts

Evaluation and accessEvaluation and access

Cited ReferencesCited References

AbstractsAbstracts

Full text or Full text or Search in QuestSearch in Quest

RememberRemember

Searches journal Searches journal title, title, not not article article titletitle

Know your citationKnow your citation

Location OptionsLocation Options

Current periodicalsCurrent periodicals

Bound periodicalsBound periodicals

Microfilm/microficheMicrofilm/microfiche

Another databaseAnother database

No full text?No full text?

Interlibrary LoanInterlibrary Loan

Ten cents per pageTen cents per page

Takes about a weekTakes about a week

Other optionsOther options

Long term storageLong term storage

Automatic updatesAutomatic updates

Formatting a bibliographyFormatting a bibliography

JSTORJSTOR

About JSTORAbout JSTOR

““dual mission to create and maintain a dual mission to create and maintain a trusted archive of important scholarly trusted archive of important scholarly journals, and to provide access to these journals, and to provide access to these journals as widely as possible. “journals as widely as possible. “

Because of JSTOR's archival mission, there Because of JSTOR's archival mission, there is a gap, typically from 1 to 5 years, is a gap, typically from 1 to 5 years, between the most recently published between the most recently published journal issue and the back issues available journal issue and the back issues available in JSTOR in JSTOR

Some differencesSome differences

Searching a subject index is not an Searching a subject index is not an optionoption

Increase accuracy by searchingIncrease accuracy by searching Article titleArticle title AbstractAbstract LanguageLanguage

Let’s try itLet’s try it

Need help?Need help?

Information Desk Information Desk 279-4775279-4775

Ask a LibrarianAsk a Librarian library library homepagehomepage

Search tips in JSTORSearch tips in JSTOR