Keywords & boolean searching
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The document discusses keywords and Boolean searching for research projects. It recommends defining keywords by brainstorming related terms from sources like thesauri and content pages. Keywords can be categorized by subject, related terms, broader terms, and synonyms. Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT are used to combine keywords and exclude unwanted terms. Phrases should be searched with quotation marks. Truncation and wildcards can help find variant word endings and spellings. Proper citation and referencing of sources is also important.
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Keywords & boolean searching
- 1. Keywords & Boolean Searching Adapted from University of Gloucestershire
- 2. The Research Process Define your keywords Find the relevant information for your project using books, journals, websites etc Critically evaluate the information you have retrieved Cite and reference any sources used in your project correctly
- 3. Keywords - what and why? Define the topic Success of search dependent upon key words “Brainstorm” initial keywords to think of related or alternative terms Use thesauri, dictionaries, index or content pages from relevant books TRUNCATE & WILDCARDS
- 4. categorise your keyword terms, e.g. motivational management techniques Subject Related Broader Synonyms terms terms terms work commitment, em ployee motivation/al, m morale, employe otivate(s), work/e e organisational mployee awards, performa behaviour, nce related inspire, encourag incentive(s), moti human resource pay, empowerme e(ment) vational nt, management, management/the personnel leadership ory, work, emplo management yee(er), job Herzberg, McGregor, Maslo w, Lawler
- 5. Bized (2003) Motivation Mind Map [online] [cited 21 Jul 2004] Available from http://www.bized.ac.uk/educators/16-19/presentations/business/2003_4/271003_map.htm
- 6. BOOLEAN OPERATORS….. AND – looks for two terms in a the same result, i.e. both recruitment n On-line d OR – looks for either of two candidates O applicants terms, not together R NOT – excludes a terms recruitment NOT redundancy
- 7. TIPS & TRICKS for Better Results •Brackets – grouping search instructions (recruitment OR selection) AND disability •Phrases Search for a whole phrase by using speech marks “Recruitment policies for disability” •Truncation or wildcards • * After a stem will look for all variant endings Child* (child, children, childish, childhood, childbirth etc.) •Wildcard • ? In the middle of a word looks for variant spellings m?n (men, man, )
Editor's Notes
- For example, if you were looking at the development of practices in human resource management over the past thirty years, your search would have to include both the terms 'personnel' and 'human resource management'. In the 1970s, 'human resources management' was not a recognised term. If you were searching for literature at that time you would need to use the term 'personnel management'. In the same way in education the term dyslexia replaced word blindness as the commonly used term.
- Some people may find it helpful /easier to make a mind map of the key words and concepts – this one is on the same topic – motivational management theorists. Is everyone familiar with the idea of mind maps? Does anyone use them? I do – especially when writing an assignment or report.
- Brackets or parentheses are used to group sets of related keywords together in a search string. Brackets are placed around the keywords, separated by OR, to instruct the database to process this part of the search first. The database will then combine this result with the second part of the search.(recruitment OR selection) AND disability = recruitment OR selection AND disabilityN.B. The effect of removing the brackets from the search string would be to search for articles about recruitment or about selection and disability: ‘recruitment” OR “selection AND disability”By using a symbol, frequently an asterisk (*) at the end of the words this enables the database to search for alternative word endings ('impact *' will therefore search for articles contain the terms 'impact, impacts, impacting'). This technique is called truncation and it is used to broaden your search and so retrieve more articles.