POWER SEARCHING Goals Learn difference between internet database

POWER SEARCHING!

Goals • Learn difference between internet & database searching • Use Boolean search operators that net better results • Learn Power search tips and tricks

Internet Searching • Most search engines search by keyword, or using “natural language. ” • Google & Bing search by keyword • Will find results by pulling important keywords out of complete sentences • Still need to choose results wisely. Avoid sites like Yahoo Answers, & Wiki Answers.

Let’s try this… In Google, let’s type this question: When can I return to school after the flu?

Let’s try this… In the Student Resources in Context database, let’s try typing the same question: When can I return to school after the flu?

Database Searching • More specific search criteria. Not usually natural language. • Check databases for default setting: – Subject: searches general topics in title & description. Results highly specific. – Keyword: good when you don’t know exactly the specific term to search. More results, less precise. – Within Document: searches every paragraph in document for words, not just title/description.

Try this… Search influenza - in Google - in Student Resources in Context (in ‘entire document’, keyword, subject) - Both will get you results, but the SRC has more ACADEMIC answers.

When to use Quotes? • Use quotes when you want to find the EXACT phrase in your results, esp. titles and names. • EX: “Of Mice and Men”; “Esther Hoffner”, or “The final scene between George and Lennie is suffused with sadness, even though Lennie retains his blissful ignorance until the end. ”

Using AND, OR, NOT • AND requires ALL words appear in results • OR requires ANY of the words to appear • NOT prevents certain words from appearing – Especially helpful in searching DATBASES • In search engines, can also use + and – signs directly before word – Ex: eagles -Philadelphia

What’s with the *? • Using an asterisk in your search is called “truncation. ” – It searches words that include those letters Ex: Teen* will search for teens, teenagers… – Also good for when you’re not sure of spelling Ex: Bosnia Herz* (for Herzegovina)

Using Advanced Search… • If you’re not happy with the results of your search, always check out the Advanced Search feature – Allows for all kinds of combinations of searches – Usually exists in both search engines & databases