1 Smart Searching Techniques Fall 2006 the Library

2 Objectives 1.Break down your topic & identify search terms 2.Create and refine searches using AND, OR, NOT… 3.Select appropriate resources to search 4.Set up a RefWorks account 1.Break down your topic & identify search terms 2.Create and refine searches using AND, OR, NOT… 3.Select appropriate resources to search 4.Set up a RefWorks account After this session, you should be able to:

3 Example Topic Write a 10-page paper on what happens to hazardous waste in Canada. Focus on a particular current issue.

4 Background Research Read overviews on your topic to get –An orientation in the area –Insight into relevant concepts and individuals –An exposure to terminology Read overviews on your topic to get –An orientation in the area –Insight into relevant concepts and individuals –An exposure to terminology

5 Background Research (cont’d) To find Overviews, check Research Starting Points and the Library’s e- reference collection.

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7 Breaking down your Topic Imagine the title of the ideal book or magazine article –The Disposal of hazardous waste in Canada Identify key concepts –Disposal / Hazardous Waste / Canada Think of synonyms or alternate search words Imagine the title of the ideal book or magazine article –The Disposal of hazardous waste in Canada Identify key concepts –Disposal / Hazardous Waste / Canada Think of synonyms or alternate search words

8 Identifying Search Terms Dumping Cleanup Recycling Treatment Management Toxic waste Radioactive waste Industrial waste Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, etc. North America DISPOSAL HAZARDOUS WASTE CANADA

9 Basic Searching Techniques Boolean Operators –AND (to include both/all terms/concepts) –OR (to include at least one term) –NOT (to exclude terms) Boolean Operators –AND (to include both/all terms/concepts) –OR (to include at least one term) –NOT (to exclude terms)

10 Basic Searching Techniques AND, OR & NOT disposal OR hazardous waste disposal AND hazardous waste disposal NOT hazardous waste disposalhazardous waste 104 Hits 35 Hits 42 Hits

11 Basic Searching Techniques Phrase Searching –Instead of hazardous waste –Try “hazardous waste” or (hazardous waste) Truncation Symbols –Instead of disposal –Try dispos* or dispos? Phrase Searching –Instead of hazardous waste –Try “hazardous waste” or (hazardous waste) Truncation Symbols –Instead of disposal –Try dispos* or dispos?

12 Basic Searching Techniques Field Searching –title, author, subject, descriptor, anywhere Setting Limits –language, date Field Searching –title, author, subject, descriptor, anywhere Setting Limits –language, date

13 Basic Searching Techniques – Putting it all together Dispos* OR Dump* OR Clean* OR Recycl* “Hazardous waste” OR “Toxic waste” OR “Industrial waste” NOT “Radioactive” Canad* OR Quebec OR Ontario OR “North America” AND AND

14 Basic Searching Techniques – Putting it all together (Dispos* OR Dump* OR Clean* OR Recycl*) AND (“Hazardous waste” OR “Toxic waste” OR “Industrial waste”) AND (Canad* OR Quebec OR Ontario OR “North America”) NOT Radioactive (Dispos* OR Dump* OR Clean* OR Recycl*) AND (“Hazardous waste” OR “Toxic waste” OR “Industrial waste”) AND (Canad* OR Quebec OR Ontario OR “North America”) NOT Radioactive

15 Basic Searching Techniques To find FEWER results, –Search in specific fields (title, abstract, subjects/descriptors, etc.) –Add or change search limits (date, language, etc.) –Add more search terms (using AND) –Use phrase searching instead of AND To find FEWER results, –Search in specific fields (title, abstract, subjects/descriptors, etc.) –Add or change search limits (date, language, etc.) –Add more search terms (using AND) –Use phrase searching instead of AND

16 Basic Searching Techniques To find MORE results, –Use truncation or wildcard characters (* or ?) –Include more synonyms (use OR) –Search “anywhere” rather than in specific fields –Remove search limits (e.g. date, language, etc.) –Use AND instead of phrase searching To find MORE results, –Use truncation or wildcard characters (* or ?) –Include more synonyms (use OR) –Search “anywhere” rather than in specific fields –Remove search limits (e.g. date, language, etc.) –Use AND instead of phrase searching

17 Basic Searching Techniques To find more RELEVANT results, –Use NOT to exclude unwanted terms –Search specific fields (title, abstract, subject/descriptor, etc.) –Use AND instead of OR To find more RELEVANT results, –Use NOT to exclude unwanted terms –Search specific fields (title, abstract, subject/descriptor, etc.) –Use AND instead of OR

18 Questions?

19 Selecting Appropriate Resources 1.Why are you searching? 2.What type of information do you need? 3.Which search tool will find this information? 1.Why are you searching? 2.What type of information do you need? 3.Which search tool will find this information?  - Opinions (not worried about accuracy)? Look on the Web – use an Internet search engine (free!)  - Introduction? Look for books – use the Library catalogue  - In-depth information? Look for journal articles – use a journal index or database (the Library pays for these)

20 Web Resources Useful for finding information on the Web For each web site, ask yourself: –Who wrote this? –Are they an authority on the topic? –Why did they write it? –Might the information be biased? –When was it last updated? Example: Google – Advanced Search Useful for finding information on the Web For each web site, ask yourself: –Who wrote this? –Are they an authority on the topic? –Why did they write it? –Might the information be biased? –When was it last updated? Example: Google – Advanced Search

21 Web Resources

22 Web Resources

23 Web Resources

24 Even Better…Google Scholar! scholar.google.com Indexes “scholarly” material from books, academic journals, conferences, etc. Some links go directly to free full text access Other links require a search of the source in the library catalogue – ie) to see if we have the journal We will have Google Scholar linked on our Research Databases page very soon scholar.google.com Indexes “scholarly” material from books, academic journals, conferences, etc. Some links go directly to free full text access Other links require a search of the source in the library catalogue – ie) to see if we have the journal We will have Google Scholar linked on our Research Databases page very soon

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28 Questions?

29 The Library Catalogue (TRELLIS) Use when searching for books, journals, government publications, conference proceedings, etc. Books can give a good introduction to your topic Note: UW Librarians select the books added to the Collection, providing a certain degree of quality assurance Use when searching for books, journals, government publications, conference proceedings, etc. Books can give a good introduction to your topic Note: UW Librarians select the books added to the Collection, providing a certain degree of quality assurance

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34 Limits

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36 Questions?

37 Indexes & Databases Use when searching for journal articles Journal articles contain very specific information NOTE: Some journals are “peer-reviewed,” meaning they have been checked for accuracy by another authority in the field. Information is generally more trustworthy. Use when searching for journal articles Journal articles contain very specific information NOTE: Some journals are “peer-reviewed,” meaning they have been checked for accuracy by another authority in the field. Information is generally more trustworthy.

38 Indexes & Databases

39 Indexes & Databases

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41 Indexes & Databases

42 Indexes & Databases

43 Indexes & Databases

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45 Questions?

46 Evaluating Information Always check a variety of sources to verify information Look for biases, authority, and dates of publications Always check a variety of sources to verify information Look for biases, authority, and dates of publications

47 Evaluating Information

48 In Summary… To be a Smart Searcher, –Search in the right place for the type of information you need –Break down your topic and find alternate search terms –Create and modify your search using AND, OR, NOT, phrases, truncation, limits, and search fields –Evaluate what you have found – Think critically –And… To be a Smart Searcher, –Search in the right place for the type of information you need –Break down your topic and find alternate search terms –Create and modify your search using AND, OR, NOT, phrases, truncation, limits, and search fields –Evaluate what you have found – Think critically –And…

49 For further assistance and information… Contact your Liaison Librarian, a subject specialist who can help you make the most of your time!

50 RefWorks A personal bibliographic software management system Accessible from anywhere (connect via the Proxy Service if off-campus) Create bibliographies easily and quickly in over 200 citation styles Export references directly from databases, import references from text files, or manually input references Maintain multiple folders with an unlimited number of citations A personal bibliographic software management system Accessible from anywhere (connect via the Proxy Service if off-campus) Create bibliographies easily and quickly in over 200 citation styles Export references directly from databases, import references from text files, or manually input references Maintain multiple folders with an unlimited number of citations

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59 Questions?