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Suggestions
for Efficient Electronic Searches
Am I prepared
to search an electronic database?
Is this a
database that covers my subject?
How often is the
database updated?
Does the database
provide the kind of information
I require?
Does it cover
the time period I am interested
in?
What terminology
is required?
Is the article
cited appropriate to my research
assignment?
Help
Online computer searching is often faster
and more efficient than searching in
printed indexes. Most electronic search
systems allow you to specify two or more
terms to produce references or information
on a specific topic. The computer offers
more "access points" than print sources.
For example, in an electronic index you
may be able to search an abstract and
keywords, language codes, and document
type all at once. A single database search
can cover many years at a time.
Computer searching is not foolproof,
however. Success depends on the quality
of the indexing, database accuracy and
comprehensiveness, your knowledge of
the database, and your ability to define
your topic precisely. Browsing printed
indexes can lead to serendipitous discoveries,
whereas computer searching may only retrieve
exactly what you have requested. In addition,
indexes covering certain dates, subjects,
and viewpoints are not available electronically.
Ask yourself these questions before
you use an electronic database:
- Am I prepared to search
an electronic database?
Before searching online, do some preliminary research
to narrow
your topic, and make a list of words or phrases
(titles, names, authors, synonyms, key words or
phrases, etc.) to search.
- Is this a database
that covers my subject?
All indexes have much in common, but each covers
different subjects, periodicals, and document types
(e.g., conference proceedings, research reports,
dissertations, book reviews, government reports,
etc.).
- How often is the database
updated?
New citations may be added more often than in print
indexes. Depending on the database, new records
may be added daily, monthly, or quarterly.
- Does the database
provide the kind of information I
require?
You may be searching for sources for statistics,
whereas the database treating the topic emphasizes
descriptive and analytic sources.
- Does it cover the
time period I am interested in?
Many databases emphasize the most current information.
Electronic databases are limited in terms of how
far they go back in time, as well as how current
they are. For example, Biological Abstracts is
searchable online only from 1969 onwards, but the
print version extends back to 1927.
- What terminology is
required?
The information you need may often be hidden from
you because you have the wrong search terminology.
Many databases have their own thesaurus of terms.
Many database manufacturers create new subject
headings to keep up with topics and issues in the
current news. If you miss the correct form of a
word, the search will not find the information
you need. For example, should you look under rainforest
or rain forest? Check to see whether the database
you are interested in has its own thesaurus of
terms, and use it -- see a librarian for assistance.
- Is the article cited
appropriate to my research assignment?
Look carefully at the article's title. Is this
what you need? It is important to judge the relevance
of the article to your information need. Notice
what subject headings have been assigned to this
article. It might be useful to search by these
subject headings in this or another database. Read
over any additional clues, especially abstracts
that the index offers.
Help
Remember that the person on duty at
the Reference Desk is acquainted with
the indexes available and can help you
in your choice and use of the various
indexes.
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