Search Techniques & Using
Databases
Jane Long
MLIS, University of Oklahoma
MA, Wright State University
Reference Services Librarian
Al Harris Library
jane.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 – SWOSU Catalog
– Parenthesis
Keyword Phrase Examples
• Death Penalty
– Lethal injection
– Gov. George Ryan
– Cruel and unusual
punishment
– Amnesty
International
– Stanley (Tookie)
Williams
• 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: teenagers, health,
help, quit, smoking
– (You are looking
for synonyms)
Tobacco use by teens
cease
quitting
give up
youth
tobacco
teenagers
smoking
adolescents
cigarettes
Health issues related to
tobacco use by teens
assistance
teen (s)
help
teenagers
program
young adults
wholeness
health
well-being
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:
• MAGAZINES
– Popular Info
– Audience:
• General Public
• Casual Reader
– Purpose:
• Hobby
• Pleasure
• Curiosity
• JOURNALS
– 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
• Nike
– Shoes for…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Men
Women
Children
Basketball
Baseball/Softball
Running
Soccer
Golf
• EBSCOHost
– Academic Search
Complete
– ERIC
– Newspaper Source
– CINAHL
– MEDLINE Plus
– SPORTDiscus
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 Evaluation
Scholarly sources are concerned with
academic study, especially research
for individuals such as, students,
teachers, professors, or any other
professional who need current
information to stay informed of
changes to their profession or area
of expertise. Many scholarly journals
are peer reviewed or refereed, that
is, these articles have been
subjected to a rigorous approval and
editing process by other scholars in
that discipline. This process doesn’t
apply to popular magazines.
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?
1. Searching
Techniques
2. Scholarly vs.
Popular Periodicals
3. Periodicals List
4. Databases 101
The search should begin by
creating an EBSCO folder.
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
Thank You!