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Search Techniques & Using Databases
Jane LongMLIS, University of OklahomaMLIS, University of OklahomaMA, Wright State UniversityMA, Wright State University
Reference Services LibrarianReference Services LibrarianAl Harris Library Al Harris Library [email protected]@swosu.edu
Search Techniques:
1. Keywords– Flexible Terms– Easy Searches– Less Accuracy in
Searching– Use of Phrases– Use Synonyms
Identifying Keywords
• Identify the significant terms and concepts that describe your topic from your thesis statement or research question.
• These terms will become the key for searching catalogs, databases and search engines for information about your subject.
Keywords: Synonyms
Keyword phrase: green business
Synonyms: environmentalism, sustainable living, social responsibility, clean energy, ecological modernization, environmental protection, environmental aspects, green movement, political ecology, recycling ethic, preservation…
Keyword Phrases• Single concept, multiple words• Some electronic resources require keyword
phrases be enclosed with punctuation by using– Quotation marks– Parenthesis
Keyword Phrase Examples
• Gasoline Taxes-- Highway Trust
Fund-- Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
-- Transportation spending
-- Sport utility vehicles (SUVs)
-- Fuel efficiency
• Government Bailout– Bear Stearns– Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac– Housing bill– Savings and loan
crisis– Henry Paulson – Subprime
mortgages
Search Techniques:
2. Boolean Operators– Connect keywords only– Must be placed between keywords– AND
• Narrows your search– OR
• Expands your search with synonymous terms
– NOT• Excludes words from your search• If used too much, it can work against
you!
Treatment of employees by fast food restaurants• First, narrow down the topic
– Which restaurants are you talking about?– What kind of treatment?
• Good or Bad• Focusing on:
– Working environment & hours– Benefits & Pay– Promotion & Opportunities
– How employees are treated by their peers? Manager(s)? Customer(s)?
How “AND” is used
• AND (narrows)– restaurant and employee– restaurant and employee and “retirement
benefits”
How “OR” is used
• OR (expands)– restaurant or cafeteria– salary or income
• AND & OR together– restaurant or cafeteria and employee– salary or income and “work hours”
How “NOT” is used
• NOT (excludes)– cafeteria not school– income not influx
• AND, OR & NOT together– employee and restaurant or
cafeteria not school
Search Strategy
• Endless possibilities…– employee OR worker AND cafeteria AND salary– employee AND restaurant AND salary OR income– waitress AND eatery AND income
Class Exercise• Keyword Building Exercise
Brainstorming Ideas: student, train, work(You are considering why students go to school as a beginning topic possibility.)– Your keyword choices should be
synonyms
Finding Articles
• We find articles in periodicals. This includes magazines, scholarly journals, and newspapers
• Many of these resources are available in print • Many are available through our library databases
Recap:
• MAGAZINESMAGAZINES– Popular Info– Audience:
• General Public• Casual Reader
– Purpose:• Hobby• Pleasure• Curiosity
• JOURNALSJOURNALS– Scholarly Info– Audience:
• Researcher• Professional Who
Needs to Stay Up-to-Date
– Purpose:• Goal-Driven
– Research Paper– Certification, Tenure– Job Requirement
Databases are:
• Large, regularly updated files of digitized information related to a specific subject or field.
• They are the place where we find articles from scholarly publications, magazines, and newspapers.
• They are where most of your research will take place.
Databases 101: Differences Between Brands & Products
• EBSCOHost– Academic Search
Complete– ERIC– Newspaper
Source– CINAHL– MEDLINE Plus– SPORTDiscus
• Nike– Shoes for…
• Men• Women• Children• Basketball• Baseball/Softball• Running• Soccer• Golf
Full-text articles
Full-text articles indicate the entire article can be found within the database, no physical searching is necessary. Full-text articles are accessible in the following ways:
• HTML (displays like a web page)• PDF (displays like a photocopy; best for citing
info)• Linked (hyperlinks to full-text in another
location)
Moving Toward EvaluationScholarly sources are concerned
with academic study, especially research for individuals such as students, teachers, professors, or other professionals who need current information to stay informed about their profession or area of expertise. Many scholarly journals are peer reviewed or refereed. These articles have been subjected to a rigorous approval and editing process by other scholars in that discipline.
Periodicals List
A directory used to identify the location of journals, magazines and newspapers accessible through the library regardless of format
Formats:– Electronic (article database)– Paper (soft or hard bound)– Microfilm (reel)– Microfiche (card)
Periodicals List Exercise
• Is the periodical a magazine or a journal?
• Does the library have access to this periodical?
• How do you know?
The search should begin by creating an EBSCO folder.
1. Searching Techniques
2. Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals
3. Periodicals List4. Databases 101
Citing Database Articles – magazine source
• Bernstein, Fred. "Architecture That Makes a
Difference." Architectural Record Oct. 2008: 65-
65. Academic Search Complete. EBSCOhost. Al
Harris Lib., Weatherford, OK. 27 Jan. 2009
<http://libnet.swosu.edu>.
Citing Database Articles – journal source
• Rozsa, Lajos. “A Psychochemical Weapon
Considered by the Warsaw Pact: A Research
Note.” Substance Use & Misuse 44.2(2009):
172-78. Academic Search Complete.
EBSCOhost. Al Harris Lib., Weatherford, OK. 27
Jan. 2009 <http://libnet.swosu.edu>.
Questions?
• Contact me:– Jane Long
• 774-3030• [email protected]• Faculty webpage:
http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long/