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Successful Search Strategies. How to search effectively in any database. Introduction. Designing an effective search strategy Databases are all different However Principles of searching are the same …………………… usually. Boolean Operators. AND OR NOT/AND NOT
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Successful Search Strategies How to search effectively in any database
Introduction • Designing an effective search strategy • Databases are all different However • Principles of searching are the same …………………… usually
Boolean Operators • AND • OR • NOT/AND NOT • Purpose: to broaden or narrow your search
AND • ie. all terms must occur in the search result • eg. Quality AND Service AND 1998 • Purpose: narrows search
OR • ie. either or both terms appear • eg. Hotel OR Motel • Purpose: broadens Search
NOT / AND NOT • eg. Performance AND appraisal NOT 1998 • Purpose: narrows search, first term appears but not the second
Truncation • Wildcards such as * or ? at the end of a word • Eg. * • comput* retrieves computer, computing, computerized etc
Wildcard Operators • Wildcard operators within a word • Eg. wom?n • retrieves woman and women
Field Searches • Limits the searches to chosen fields • eg. Au = Mintzberg, H • eg. Co = Marks & Spencer • eg. Jn/So = Economist
Thesaurus • Use to find narrower, related or broader terms • eg.quality • related: accuracy • narrower: total quality
Noise Words • Common words are not searchable in most databases unless specified as a phrase • eg. or • on • a • at • …………….. And many more
And in conclusion • Plan your search strategy before logging on • Use on-line user manuals • Think laterally • And: • Sometimes, success means finding little information
Finally • Old Chinese Proverb: • Give a man a fish and he will eat today • Teach him how to fish and he will eat forever