Some key concepts of searching apply to ALL databases.
These are:
- identify keywords that describe your topic
- identify any synonyms for your keywords
- be aware of spelling variations and/or plurals
- know the time period you want to cover, the document types you need,
eg.
journal articles, newspaper articles, books, dissertations, other
- decide the scope of your search, eg. a few items on your topic or a
comprehensive listing
Prepare the above information before you even sit down at a keyboard.
All databases do the same thing. They retrieve records
(sort records) based on the terms you supply. The quality of your
results is based on the quality of your search terms and your
understanding of how to communicate with the system.
Indexes are produced by many different companies. They compile the
citations into an index, using electronic typesetting methods. This results in
electronic tapes that contain the indexing information. There are additonal
companies (called vendors) in the business of buying these tapes, from many index
producers, and turning them into electronic indexes, searchable from a
keyboard using a "command language". Each vendor has a different method of
communicating with its system, that is, a different way to tell the system to search,
truncate a word, limit a search and print results.
THE METHOD THAT WORKS IN ONE DATABASE MAY NOT WORK IN ANOTHER!!
Trying to use the same method in different databases will surely affect
your search results, often disasterously!
Miami University Libraries buy databases from many different vendors, so
you will have to become familiar with several different "command languages." This
really isn't as complex as it sounds. You don't need to remember the exact
names of the vendors, just that if a database comes from that vendor, it has a
specific command language. Many of the "command languages" are simply choices
from a menu, as in SHERLOCK and Academic Search Premier.
Before you search any database, ask yourself, or better yet, a
Librarian, these questions.
- How do I combine terms? Do I have to type in "and" or "or"?
Is there a template to fill out? Some databases assume you want an "and"
between words and search as if it were typed in. Other databases assume
you want to find the words side by side, as a phrase, and will retrieve
only that occurance.
- e.g. Online Catalog: the "and" is implied, you don't need to type it in
- genetically engineered organisms is a different search than
- genetically engineered AND organisms
- How do I truncate? How do I tell the system there are variations on the end of the word?
(symbols frequently used are *, $, !, :)
- e.g. If you type in develop, you will retrieve only records
with that term, but if you TRUNCATE develop, with whatever symbol
the database uses, you will retrieve all the variations on that root
- develop* retrieves: develop, develops, developed, developing,
development, developmental, developmentally, etc.
The Online Catalog and Academic Search Premier use an * (asterisk) for the truncation
symbol
- How do I view (and/or) print results? Varies from system to
system. Some systems are preset to a short printout, but you can change
to include an abstract (when available) if needed. Instead of printing
all your search results, you can select just useful items for printing.
Varies from system to system, but save a tree and ask how. Some systems
may allow downloading electronically or you may send to your email
The Online Catalog and Academic Search Premier print by pressing "p" from the menu.
Both databases allow for "export" of a record electronically.
READ the online help available with each electronic index. Jumping in
and not fully understanding the unique aspects of each database may
negatively affect your search results. You may always ask a librarian
for help!
NJM 8/95
updated SEH 8/27/02