Designing a Search Strategy Kettering College of Medical Arts Library Kathy Salgado, MLS

Designing A Search Strategy One of the keys to successful database searching is thoughtful design of a search strategy No database search will retrieve all the relevant resources on a topic while eliminate everything that is irrelevant The effectiveness of a search is depends on the search terms selected and the manner in which the search strategy is designed

Designing a Search Strategy The goal in designing a search strategy is to retrieve a significant number or relevant records and a minimum of irrelevant ones It is important to take time to select appropriate search vocabulary and to design an effective search strategy

Designing a Search Strategy Key considerations Use appropriately professional terms Avoid acronyms Don’t use too many search terms---the more terms you use the fewer results you will retrieve

Designing a Search Strategy Identify the keywords or subject headings to be used Identify the Boolean operator(s) needed to link multiple terms AND—each term must be present OR—any of the terms may be present NOT—term will be eliminated Nest terms as needed using parentheses

Identify Key Terms Start with your search question or statement: Is aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen more effective in treating back pain? Not all words in a question are important. Identify the keywords you need to use in your search:

Identify Key Terms Consider synonyms or relevant related terms Aspirin: acetylsalicylic acid Non-prescription drugs Analgesics, non-narcotic Do not use brand names for drugs Use acetaminophen NOT Tylenol

Keyword Searching Most search tools allow keyword searching Internet search tools retrieve items with all the search terms entered as well as the first term and at least one other term and finally items with just the first search term This makes Internet search results less focused Library search tools only retrieve items containing all the search terms entered

Keyword Searching Most search engines automatically insert AND between each keyword entered in the search box and search for each term independently of the other search terms. Search terms may appear anywhere in the retrieved record. To search for a phrase rather than separate words, enclose the words in quotation marks: “acetylsalicylic acid”

Boolean Operators AND OR NOT There are three terms you can use to link search terms: AND OR NOT

Boolean Operators Link terms using appropriate Boolean Operators: Aspirin OR acetaminophen: will retrieve materials containing either term Aspirin AND acetaminophen: will only retrieve materials containing BOTH terms Aspirin NOT acetaminophen: will eliminate all materials containing acetaminophen even those with aspirin

Boolean Operators Sometimes you may want to search for synonyms or other relevant terms in one search but not all the words need to be present in the records retrieved. You can link synonyms and other relevant terms with OR aspirin OR “acetylsalicylic acid” This will retrieve records that have aspirin, records that have acetylsalicylic acid, and records that have both

Nesting or Using ( ) Parentheses must be used to group terms linked by OR if another operator is also used This is to identify the order in which the terms are to be processed: (aspirin OR acetaminophen OR ibuprofen) AND “back pain” This is the same as order of operation and the distributive principle in math: a(b + c)= ab + ac

Subject Searching Library catalogs and most periodical databases provide an option to search by subject headings. Subject headings are a standardized set of terms used to identify a concept Subject headings retrieve all resources on the subject regardless of the terms used by the author

Subject Searching Subject searching is more focused and specific. Minimizes the need to consider synonyms Eliminates retrieval of items that have the keywords but are not relevant to the topic Generally retrieves fewer results than keyword searches

Identifying Subject Headings Do a keyword search then check the subject headings listed in the records of items that are relevant Access the Subject Headings search option within the database being searched Check the Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes Assigned to items in library catalog Used by some periodical databases

Subject Headings: in a Catalog Record

Subject Headings: in a Periodical Database Record

Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings Many databases provide an option to search for subject headings. At the database search screen click the link to access the Subject Headings.

Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings The subject search option will display. Enter a search term in the Browse box. Click Browse.

Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings A list of subject headings will display. Check to see if your term is listed. Cross-references to appropriate terms may also be provided.

Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings 2 To search by a subject heading, click the box to the left. A check will appear. Next click Add. 1

Subject Headings: Search for Subject Headings The subject heading will be added to the search box. Click Search to retrieve a list of articles with the selected subject heading. You can repeat the process to select and add multiple subject headings to your search.

Need More Information? Identifying key terms http://library.csun.edu/Guides/ResearchStrategies/SearchStrategy http://library.uncg.edu/tutorials/index.aspx?m=2

Need More Help? Boolean Operators http://www1.mville.edu/library/listutorial/module2/Module2-4.html http://libraries.cuny.edu/iltutorial/04_use/m4b3.html

Need More Help? Nesting http://lib.colostate.edu/tutorials/advboolean.html http://libtute.usq.edu.au/index.php?page=41 http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/content.php?pid=52898&sid=395801

Need More Help? Keyword v Subject Headings http://ccconline.org/Library_Resources/Article_Database_Tutorial/Keyword-Subject_Term_Tutorial http://libguides.mit.edu/content.php?pid=36863&sid=271371