doing research in the andersen library, uw-whitewater
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Martha Stephenson Reference & Instruction Librarian. Doing Research in the Andersen Library, UW-Whitewater. Keyword search tips. Andersen Library databases are used to find mostly articles. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
DOING RESEARCH IN THE ANDERSEN LIBRARY, UW-WHITEWATER
Martha StephensonReference & Instruction Librarian
KEYWORD SEARCH TIPS
ANDERSEN LIBRARY DATABASES ARE USED TO FIND MOSTLY ARTICLES
WHAT IS A DATABASE?An database is an online index of citations, sometimes containing complete articles or other full text.Examples:
Academic Search Complete (EbscoHost)JSTORLexisNexis
TIPS TO SAVE YOU TIME: FIND INFO FAST
THESIS STATEMENT, ISSUE, QUESTION How have cell phones effected social
interaction between teenagers?
cell phones
social interacti
onteenager
s
cellphones social aspects adolescents
cellular telephones
young adults
mobile phones children
BRAINSTORM
KEYWORD TIP #1: USE AND AND
Use to connect different concepts
Both concepts will be in the results
Narrows search (finds fewer, more on target results)
phonesFinds=4053
cell AND phonesFinds=1775
KEYWORD TIP #2: USE OR OR
Use to connect similar concepts At least one term will be in the
results Broadens search (finds more
results, is more thorough) Saves time by doing several
searches in one
cell Finds=2474 cell OR cellular
Finds=3343
KEYWORD TIP #4: PHRASES Quotation Marks “ ”
Use when words often or always occur in a specific order
All words inside the quotes will be in the results, in the exact order used
Narrows search (finds fewer, more on target results)
cell AND phones Finds=1775 “cell phones”
Finds=1223
KEYWORD TIP #3: USE TRUNCATION Truncation
Use to find various endings of a word Place symbol at the end of the root word Broadens search (finds more results) Symbol varies among databases Be careful of placement!
phone* = phone, phoned, phones, & 30 other words
cat* = cat, cats, catatonic, catalytic, catastrophic, & 250 other words
KEYWORD TIP #5: COMBINATIONS Nesting in Databases
Use to assure search runs correctly when using both ANDs & ORs
Like in algebraic equations Place OR/synonym part in parentheses
(“cell phone*” OR cellphone*) AND teen*
any questions?