Databases and Searching

A CCC Introduction to Research

What is a Database?

Examples of Databases

• Telephone Books• Address Book• Census Bureau Data• Library OPAC• EBSCO • Gale• Hotel/ Airline Booking System

What’s The Difference Between a Database and a Website?

How to Pick the Correct Search Terms

• Keep your terms simple 2-4 terms• Add RELEVANT words to narrow down the

number of results you get!• Try words a teacher or website would use!• Use only important words.

What is Boolean Searching?

Boolean Search Operators• The Boolean search operator AND is equal to the "+"

symbol.• The Boolean search operator NOT is equal to the "-"

symbol.• The Boolean search operator OR is the default setting of any

search engine; meaning, all search engines will return all the words you type in, automatically.

• The Boolean search operator NEAR is equal to putting a search query in quotes, i.e., "sponge bob square-pants". You're essentially telling the search engine that you want all of these words, in this specific order, or this specific phrase.

Tips…

• Remember to use multiple search terms.• Don’t be afraid to use multiple

databases!• You can use the abstract to find most of

your citation information!• Too many results? – Add more search terms

• Too few results? – Take away or change your search terms!

How Does Google Get Their Results?

Things You Don’t Have to Do With Database Results

• Check for validity or credentials of article

• Search ENDLESSLY for dates, authors, and other citation information.

…Tricks

• Remember to copy and paste the URL of the article into a Word/Google Docs/email, file so you can return easily to your article

• Son of Citation Machine works great for Citation and Citation questions!

Improve Your Skills…

• Brush up on picking search terms with

Google-a-day!

• Start today’s challenge at– www.agoogleaday.com

Presented by:

Jenny Montemorano M.L.S.&

The Cayuga Community College Library Reference Staff

2012

Works Cited

• Video 1• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llD1AY5fsj

c• Video 2• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzRybXvdl

AA• Video 2• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luosi12zst

s&feature=related• Video 3• https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dc

bsfbvq_1079d74qtxcb&start=1&pli=1

Works Cited Images• Slide 2 Microsoft Clip Art• Spy vs Spy http://www.google.com/imgres?

um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1680&bih=875&tbm=isch&tbnid=MWhE58jCXF3gEM:&imgrefurl=http://phandroid.com/2008/11/07/verizon-dumping-google-for-microsoft/&docid=bmiNkR2oS1O0AM&imgurl=http://phandroid.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/google-vs-microsoft.jpg&w=640&h=389&ei=iBl3UIzZG-bv0gG_soCoAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=175&vpy=485&dur=1954&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=172&ty=77&sig=110195641179540360150&page=3&tbnh=122&tbnw=201&start=63&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:28,s:63,i:390

• Chinese Google Sign https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_1079d74qtxcb&start=1&pli=1

Google a Day Image Provided byhttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1680&bih=921&tbm=isch&tbnid=t99SrySo7Tgt4M:&imgrefurl=http://www.scoroncocolo.com/a-google-a-day.html&docid=-U5dGe7dgUTKzM&imgurl=http://www.scoroncocolo.com/Google-a-day.jpg&w=297&h=249&ei=6ip3UK2BCqf50gHDgoGwAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=180&vpy=146&dur=457&hovh=199&hovw=237&tx=127&ty=163&sig=111893578364711122167&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=156&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:74