Emily’s Initial Research Question

I want to study the increasing

dependence on virtual workers in the newspaper workplace

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crystaljingsr/3915514014/

Parse the Question• Pick out keywords– Dependence– Virtual workers– Newspaper workplace

• Consider relationship between the concepts– All of these are unique concepts• Link with AND

“Dependence AND virtual workers AND newspaper workplace” 0 hits in CMMC

virtual workers

newspaper workplacedependence

0 results at the intersection of these 3

concepts0

Communication and Mass Media Complete

No Results? Really?

• We know intuitively that there are articles about this concept

• How can we get more?

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1058971

Search with Synonyms: OR• Virtual workers– Telecommuting– Outsourced

• Newspaper workplace– Newspapers– Newsroom

• “Workplace” is implied– Exclude

These are related concepts, Link with AND

(telecommuting OR outsourced) AND (newspapers OR newsroom)

Boolean Search with Synonyms 7 articles in CMMC

telecommuting OR outsourced

newspapers OR newsroom7 results at the

intersection of these 2 concepts

7

Communication and Mass Media Complete

Is That a “Good” Number?

• Hmmm• Probably not.• There should be LOTS

MORE!

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1058971

How Do We Get More?• Truncation / wildcard *– Telecommut* = telecommute, telecommuting– Newspaper* = newspaper, newspapers

• Look at database search terms for more ideas

Truncation symbol in LexisNexis is ! Search for Newsroom! Outsource!

ExamplesTruncate!• telecommute* OR Outsource*• Newspaper* OR Newsroom*

Look at EBSCO subject terms & add to above• CONTRACTING out• MASS Media Industry

More synonyms• Broadcast* OR journalis*• Not explicitly a newsroom, but conceptually related

In English / CMMC-ese• ( telecommut* OR outsource* OR

CONTRACTING out ) AND ( newspaper* OR newsroom* OR journalis* OR MASS media industry OR broadcast* )

Boolean Search with Synonyms 72 articles in CMMC

telecommut* OR outsource*

OR CONTRACTING

out

newspaper* OR newsroom* OR journalis* OR MASS media industry OR broadcast*

72 results at the intersection of these 2 concepts

72

Communication and Mass Media Complete

Even More Results?!

• Search more than one database

• “Choose Databases” in EBSCO– “Use the EBSCO ‘Accessory Wall’ wisely:”– Hover over the yellow icon for more info.

Choose Databases »

Click the one(s) you want.

Search in THREE EBSCO databases

telecommut* OR outsource*

OR CONTRACTING

out

newspaper* OR

newsroom* OR journalis*

OR MASS media industry OR broadcast*

3,120 results at the intersection of these 2

concepts

3,120

Is That a “Good” Number?

• Hmmm• Probably not.• That’s too many to go

through – Too many “false

positives” or articles that aren’t relevant

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1058971

How Do We Get More Refine?

• Use the “Subject: Thesaurus Term” on EBSCO’s left

Narrow by Source Type and/or Database

DO NOT Refine by Full-text

Why?Full-text via Find @ UNC

Use Find @ UNC if no pdf, html link

Full-text of articlesomewhere else

Options for gettingfull-text via Interlibrary Loan

If article is not online …

Lather, Rinse, Repeat• Try in different databases– PubMed– PsycINFO

• Try with new search terms

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