This document discusses search strategies and refinement techniques for online databases. It outlines the steps to develop an effective search strategy, including formulating a clear query, brainstorming keywords, choosing appropriate databases, and combining keywords using techniques like Boolean operators, nesting, truncation and proximity searching. The document also discusses evaluating search results and refining searches by applying limiters and conducting field-specific searches. The goal is to retrieve the most relevant and accurate information through a systematic search approach.

1. Search Strategies and
Refinement Techniques in
Online Database
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

2. Introduction
 Due to information overload on Web a user sometimes may not be able to
retrieve the required information he is looking for.
 Therefore, good search results are not only based on the well organized
information, but also on the use of right search formulation.
 To get the required information, a proper strategy to be followed is vital aspect
to obtain the best search results.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

3.  Thus Search Strategy simply combines the key concepts of your search question
in order to retrieve accurate results.
 It allow us to find materials we want amongst huge number of online resource
available.
 Search strategy is the systematic tactics to be followed in finding the relevant
information with high precision and low recall.
Introduction
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

4. Search Strategy (steps)
Query
formulation
Brainstorm
for
keywords Choose
database
Combine
keywords
( using different
techniques)
Conduct
search
Evaluate
results
Refine if
needed
Search
Strategy
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

5. Query formulation
 Be clear about the topic/area.
 Write down exactly what you are interested in
Example:
Does soft drink consumption increase the risk of obesity in children?
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

6. Brainstorm for keyword
 The search terms (keywords) you use are extremely important!
 Consider all possible words or phrases (referred to as keywords) that might be used to
describe your subject. These might include
 Related terms.
 Variations in word endings (e.g. Singular, plural, adjectives).
 Synonyms.
 Alternative terminology and spelling (USA & UK).
EXAMPLE:
Soft drinks: Soda ,beverages, cola
Obesity: over-weight, fat, plumpness, bulkiness
Children: child, juvenile, youngster, adolescent
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

7. Choose Database
Pick databases that matches the subject matter
Databases can be multidisciplinary or they can specialize in specific subject areas
Search more than one database for a comprehensive search on a topic
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

8. Combine Keywords
In order to retrieve relevant information you need to be able to link
concepts/keywords together . Following are some of the techniques through which
we could combine keywords for retrieving efficient search results:
 Boolean Operators
 Nesting
 Truncation
 Proximity searching
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

9. Boolean Operators
AND: Use this operator to search for documents where you'd like both terms to
appear, narrowing a search
e.g. Soft drink AND Obesity AND Children
OR: Use this operator to include synonyms, particularly where there are several
terms or names used for a topic, or you would like to broaden a search.
e.g. Children OR Adolescent. Obesity OR Bulkiness. Soft drink OR Soda.
NOT: Use this operator to exclude terms, particularly when your search terms have
more than one meaning. It increases the specificity of the search
e.g. Children NOT Adolescent . Soft Drink NOT Soda
Soft
drink
Soft
drink
soda
Soft
drink
obesity obesity
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

10. Nesting
 In order to make even better use of Boolean operators, we can use parentheses to nest
query terms within other query terms.
 Example:
obesity
soda Soft
drink
Obesity
soda
Soft
drink
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

11. Truncation
 Truncation, also called stemming, is a technique that broadens
your search to include various word endings and spellings.
 To use truncation, enter the root of a word and put the truncation symbol at
the end. The database will return results that include any ending of that root
word
 Truncation is a search facility whereby a search can be conducted for all the
different forms of a word having the same common root. (*,?,$,!).
Example :
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12. Proximity searching
Proximity searching is a way to search for two or more words that occur within a certain
number of words from each other.
It is a way of narrowing your search results using different techniques. It allow you to search
for documents where:
 Two search terms should occur adjacent to each other.
 One or more words occur in between the search terms.
 The search terms should occur in the same paragraph irrespective of the intervening words, and so on.
Example:
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13. Refine Searches
Searching is very much a trial and error process. You will probably revise & refine your searches
several times based on each search's results
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

14. Field Specific Search
 You can tell the database where to search for a certain word in the record.
 A search can be conducted on all the fields in a database, or it may by restricted to one or
more chosen fields to produce more specific results.
 Common fields include:
 Author
 Subject
 Title
 ISSN
 Journal title
 Affiliation etc
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

15. Limiters
 Most databases allow you to narrow your search results according to certain criteria.
 Search limiters (sometimes called Filters) are powerful ways to focus your search results so
that you don’t have to look through lots of irrelevant items to find what you’re looking for.
 Common limiters include:
 Full-Text or abstract available
 Institution
 Open access or subscription based
 Publication Date
 Publication Type
 Language
 Geographic area
 Publication (i.e. specific journal/s)
 Peer reviewed
Dr. Irfan ul Haq

16. Dr. Irfan ul Haq