Post on 19-Jun-2015
description
Advanced Search Basics:Conducting basic searches using ProQuest Newsstand, Google and
Factiva
Katie ThompsonSJSU-SLIS, Fall 2012
LIBR 244 – Online SearchingTraining Packet
Key Terms
Truncation Ability to
retrieve different word endings, same root word:
IE: nurs* retrieves nurses, nursing, nurse
Controlled Vocabulary
Use terms already found in the database
Helpful for discovering synonyms, broad and specific terms, based on the need.
Fields Restricting
results to specific fields
IE: subject, title, author, publication, type
Building Blocks
Listing terms by “AND”-ing them, then narrowing down the concepts based on results retrieved.
Pearl Growing
An easy way to retrieve similar documents by looking at what has already been retrieved, modifying the search based on key terms seen in other results.
Requires multiple iterations...
Lawn Mowing
Starting out broad and narrowing down results by modifying your search terms.
How to Plan Your Search Searching doesn't have to be hard, it just requires planning and using the right tools...
Evaluate the question...what resource would be most appropriate?
What keywords should I search? Are there multiple concepts in the
reference question? If so, break them down to the key terms most applicable.
Also, are there synonyms for the terms used? Be sure to think about how the database you're using will break down the query.
Your Search Tool Belt
Boolean Operators: AND OR NOT Used to connect or distinguish
terms Grammy AND Adele Adele NOT Grammy
Proximity Operators: Varies by database or search
engine Used to locate terms within a
proximity of words IE: Grammy NEAR/5 Adele would
retrieve documents with Grammy within 5 words of Adele
Formulating Your Search
Now that you have identified your key terms, think about tools to use to maximize your results, remembering that the first query will not always be the best...
Would a simple Google search find you the quickest results?
Are those results adequate for the question?
Would a reference database provide “better” info?
ProQuest Newsstand
Search Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News and other local and major newspapers.
Salt Lake Tribune – from 1990
Deseret News – from 2003
ProQuest Newsstand
Useful Components: Vast newspaper archive, including
local publications Obituaries section with simple
search form
Google Advanced Skills
How to Search: Good Things To Know Quotes are best used for proper
nouns, phrases or famous quotes, book titles, and lists
“To be or not to be”, “Rock and Roll Heaven”
AND OR Quotes around proper nouns or
phrases is equivalent to placing AND or + between words
OR assists in retrieving results that contain each or all words
Bicycle OR cycle OR bike
Google Advanced Skills
How to Search: Good Things To Know Use an asterisk, *, if you are
unsure of a specific word in a phrase or title
“To * a Mockingbird”, “the way the * crumbles”
Google Advanced Skills
Use AROUND to find words or phrases near each other (proximity operator)
Grammy AROUND Adele AROUND operator can be used to
search words or phrases within a certain proximity
Google Advanced Skills
Shortcuts Find stock prices quickly by using
the stock symbol and entering the symbol in the search box
Google = GOOG Apple = AAPL
Google Advanced Skills
Shortcuts Find definitions quickly by typing
“define” before the word in question
Define astrology
Google Advanced Skills
Filter image results by color! Depending on your information
need, filter your image results by clicking on the “search tools” button below your search box, click “any color” and filter your results
Factiva
Factiva hosts business information and news articles from thousands of sources.
A powerful research tool that requires an understanding of the database design and the use of your search tools.
Factiva
When To Use: Business
Information Stock Quotes
and Information
Newsworthy events and people
Research articles, journals
Find up to date stock info by looking at the “Companies & Markets” page.
Factiva
Company Snapshot provides an overview of a company with latest news, key developments, financial results and reports.
Helpful in providing credible overviews of companies and markets.
Factiva
Searching Factiva: KEEP IT SIMPLE! Use proximity operators Be aware of date delimiter Search for photos, too!
Get the most out of Factiva by using the Search Builder, formulating your search, using proximity operators, and looking at the controlled vocabulary terms, called Intelligent Indexing.
Factiva
Sample Search: A patron is interested in finding out about somewhat recent articles written about bed bugs and public libraries
Before we begin the search, let's think about our strategy...
Key Terms: libraries and bed bugs Proximity operators would be useful
in specifying that we need to find info about bed bugs in libraries, not just the two concepts...
Factiva
Sample Search continued... Use truncation to ensure you're
retrieving both library and libraries in your search
Use the “near” operator, n#, to specify proximity between terms
Factiva
Sample Search Results: 19 articles retrieved Ranked in order of relevance
Factiva
These results can be narrowed down even further based on the patron's needs
Narrowed by date, source, publication, company
If the patron felt that too few articles were retrieved, broaden the search to widen the word gap between libraries and bed bugs.
“Librar* near20 bedbugs”
Key Take-Aways Remember that where you search is just as important as what you search.
It's not practical to use Factiva or ProQuest Newsstand for a word definition, the same way Google is not always the best resource for finding out published information about libraries and bed bugs.
Create a search strategy before you begin your search...not only will you save time, but you will solidify what it is you are trying to find.
Key Take-Aways
Remember that you won't always find the answer with the first search; step back, refine your terms and strategy, and try again!
Utilize the tools available, such as proximity operators, controlled vocabulary terms, tutorials and help guides provided by the search engines and databases.
Now that you have your tools, search away!