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 jane.long@swosu.edujane.long@swosu.edu

How do I get started?

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

Today’s job market

work

learner

apprentice

business

student train

livelihood

education

practice

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

Magazines vs. Scholarly Journals

What is the difference?

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

I need periodical sources, so databases are the right place to look!

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

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

Article Databases

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>.

Exercise

• Academic Search Complete Worksheet

• Topic: Use your pro/con research topic

Questions?

• Contact me:– Jane Long

• 774-3030• jane.long@swosu.edu• Faculty webpage:

http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long/

Thank You!