Before you start using the different databases, get BACKGROUND INFORMATION from reference sources like encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.

• List down as many TERMS as you can that represent your topic or are related to your topic. Determine the relationship of the terms to each other.



• Look up Library of Congress Subject Headings.
• Refer to the thesaurus of each database you plan to use.
• Use the subject headings found in the catalog information printed on the copyright page of the books you found relevant to your topic.



• Determine the LIBRARY TOOLS to use. There are general and special indexes, print as well as electronic. Follow steps 4-6 for database searching.




Examples:

• General:
• Library Catalog
• WorldCat
• Dissertation Abstracts
• Special:
• Religion Index (Religion)
• ERIC (Education)
• PsycLit ( Psychology)
• Medline (Medicine)
• Follow these HINTS FOR DATABASE SEARCHING
• Be in the right the DATABASE.
• Know the types of MATERIALS INDEXED
• Use TERMS applicable to the database
• Apply the SEARCH TECHNIQUES
• READ instructions carefully
• Watch your SPELLING

• Do KEYWORD SEARCHES to find records relevant to your topic. A keyword search usually produces more records than a subject heading search.

• COMBINE concepts using BOOLEAN OPERATORS. Use the operator or to search for any of the terms; use and to search for all of the terms. Eliminate words with the operator no.

Examples:

staff development and education

adolescents or young adults

personnel management not hospital

• LIMIT searches to reduce the number of results by years, language, form, etc.

5. A SUBJECT HEADING search usually brings up less records and is more concise than a keyword search because an indexer or a cataloger has gone through the book, article, etc. being indexed or cataloged and has determined that what it is about.

Definition: A subject heading is a standard term in the controlled vocabulary of the database.

• SUBJECT LINK: Click on the subject headings of relevant records.



• SUBDIVISIONS: Note subdivisions of the subject headings used; they may be useful for narrowing the focus of your research.

Example:

Poverty

Poverty - Psychological Aspects

• "SEE" and "SEE ALSO" REFERENCES: Look up other subject headings recommended.

Examples:

Distance Running See Marathon Running

Continuing Education See Also Adult Education

6. Note CALL NUMBERS that appear frequently in a catalog search and do a numeric browse.

Example:

QC787.N8 S28

QC787.N8 H47

QC787.N8 G7

Try doing a numeric search for QC787.N8 or just QC787

Or go to the QC787 section of the library

7. BIBLIOGRAPHIES are useful for finding additional materials.

• Look up records that indicate that the book or article contains bibliographies. It usually appears as a note below the publication information on the screen



• Be on the look out for books that are bibliographies. Bibliography is a subdivision in the Library of Congress Subject Headings.



• Find bibliographies at the end of-

chapters in books

books

articles in general encyclopedias

articles in subject encyclopedias

journal articles

theses and dissertations

conference reports

• Keep accurate record of all REFERENCES used. Label photocopies made with accurate citations. The samples below illustrate the data that need to be included in the citation. Cthe data my be reorganized according to required style of writing.

Sample citations are given below:

BOOK:

Author/s. Title; Subtitle. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright date, Pages.

Seguin, Marilyn. The Perfect portoflio for artists and writers: how to put together a creative "book" that sells. Hawthorne, NJ: The Career Pres, 1991,

CHAPTER IN EDITED BOOK:

Author/s of chapter. "Title of Chapter." Editor/s of Book, ed. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright date, Pages.

McCormack, S. A. "The Generation of deceptive messages: laying the groundwork for a viable theory of interpersonal deception." Greene, J.E., ed. Message production: advances in communication theory. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997, pp. 91-126.

JOURNAL ARTICLE:

Printed:

Author/s of article. "Title of Article." Title of Journal. Volume no.( Issue no.):Pages, Exact date.

Merten, J. "Facial-affective behavior, mutual gaze, and emotional experience in dyadic interactions." Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 21(3):179-201, Fall 1997.

Electronic:

Author/s of article. Title of Article. Title of Journal. Volume no., Issue no. (Date): no. of paragraphs. Database Provider. Place accessed <URL>.

Myers, Norman. Pushed to the Edge. Natural History 108.2, (March 1999): 15 pars. EBSCO. James White Library., Berrien Springs, MI. 26 Sept. 2000 <http://www.

• For comprehensive research, it is advisable to have a HISTORY of searches done. Keep a record of terms used or not used in each database. Any other modifications to the search should also be included such as the use of major or minor descriptors, year or language limitations, etc.

By: Cynthia Mae Helms

James White Library

ch/search-strat-guide/wp8