Intro to Research Methods Dos and Don’ts

Search Systems vs. Databases Search System: a Web interface or platform developed by a vendor with various features for searching a database Databases: subject-specific depositories of information, sometimes contained in search systems and sometimes free standing

Search System: a Web interface or platform developed by a vendor with various features for searching a database

Databases: subject-specific depositories of information, sometimes contained in search systems and sometimes free standing

The Shopping Analogy You can go to the Coach store & buy a purse OR You can go to Saks & buy a Coach purse

You can go to the Coach store & buy a purse OR

You can go to Saks & buy a Coach purse

The Shopping Analogy DATABASES (CINAHL, MEDLINE) are like brand name items SEARCH SYSTEMS are like department stores

DATABASES (CINAHL, MEDLINE) are like brand name items

SEARCH SYSTEMS are like department stores

Therefore… The next time you need to ‘shop’ for some articles, remember, there are different ‘stores’ to browse. available in available in

The next time you need to ‘shop’ for some

articles, remember, there are different ‘stores’ to browse.

Constructing a search Identify your search topic-what do you need? “ I need articles about stuttering and assessment” Break your search into simple phrases stuttering / assessment Connect your phrases with Boolean Operators stuttering AND assessment http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html Apply limits date ranges, research articles, age groups, full text Scan & mark the articles you want for later CLIPBOARD (PubMed) & Folder (EbscoHost)

Identify your search topic-what do you need?

“ I need articles about stuttering and assessment”

Break your search into simple phrases

stuttering / assessment

Connect your phrases with Boolean Operators

stuttering AND assessment

http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html

Apply limits

date ranges, research articles, age groups, full text

Scan & mark the articles you want for later

CLIPBOARD (PubMed) & Folder (EbscoHost)

Other tips Consider using TRUNCATION Shortens a keyword so that it will match with all terms starting with the same stem. librar* will match with library, libraries, librarian, librarianship, etc. Ebsco & PubMed truncator: * (asterisk) Truncation handout: http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/services/reference/truncation.pdf Keep away from sentences and prepositions! Databases & search systems don’t like the words ‘in, to, for, by’ etc. – Try AND OR NOT instead

Consider using TRUNCATION

Shortens a keyword so that it will match with all terms starting with the same stem.

librar* will match with library, libraries, librarian, librarianship, etc.

Ebsco & PubMed truncator: * (asterisk)

Truncation handout:

http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/services/reference/truncation.pdf

Keep away from sentences and prepositions!

Databases & search systems don’t like the words ‘in, to, for, by’ etc.

– Try AND OR NOT instead