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Power Searching 501 (?): a crash course The stuff you need to know about searching, but may have forgotten along the way! (And, the stuff I want you to know before you go off to college!) But we’ve heard this all before, Mrs. V!
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PowerSearching 501 (?): a crash course The stuff you need to know about searching, but may have forgotten along the way! (And, the stuff I want you to know before you go off to college!)
Sorry.This important review won’t hurt too much! I promise!!!! And it will help you in college and beyond!
Let us begin! Yeah! Okay. We love databases and searching!
And I love your enthusiasm for searching and databases! You make me proud!
Review question #1: What is the difference between free Web search tools and subscription databases?
Review question #2:How can you choose the right search tools for you information task?
Choose the right search engine for your information need! Choosing the Best Search Tool (Debbie Abilock) http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html Getting Started: Selecting a Tool for your Search http://library.albany.edu/internet/started.html
Even Google has choices: • Google Print - Search the full text of books • Google Scholar - Search scholarly papers • Google Directory for a subject approach • Google Images
Review question # 3: And when you are in the search engine or database, did you know you have a major searching interface choice?
Simple vs. Advanced It’s about power!
Simple Screen Click here for more precision and power!
And within your database, you will often have to make another choice!
Another decision: Subject / Topic Keyword Full text
Review question #4What is the difference? • Subject / topic • Keyword • Full text When might you use each?
Subject headings or descriptors in databases Use the language and structure of the database to gather relevant material!
More about subject headings and database structure!
Some search engines also offer subject / topic cues or clusters
Search engine clusters help you find relevant documents and suggest search terms
STOP the insanity! Stop using stop words in your searches! in, of, the, a, to you, why, who, what, on, than, then, their, an, his, her, be
Using stop or noise words instead of a Boolean operator List of English “stop words”
Rockwell Schrock’s Boolean Machine http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean
Google doesn’t care, but your database does! Google ignores stop words and assumes an AND between words.
When do you really need OR? OR is generally used for synonyms or related words.
NOT as a refinement technique for problem words eagles NOT Philadelphia“Martin Luther” NOT King