Literature Searching
Outline
- What is literature searching?
- Background of literature searching
- Types of publications
- Search tools
- Stages in searching
- Tips for effective searches
What is literature searching?
Literature searching is an exhaustive search for published information on a subject conducted systematically using all available bibliographic finding tools aimed at locating as much existing material on the topic as possible, an important initial step of any serious research project.
Background of literature searching
- Availability of various types of academic/scientific publications that support learning teaching and research activities.
- These publications are growing enormously over years in line with the advancement of information and communication technology.
- Literature searching is one of core academic skills that students and academicians as learned societies need to master to help in learning, doing research projects or other academic tasks.
Objectives of literature searching
- To introduce search tools used in literature search
- To introduce scientific publications available locally at the library and show how to access and locate them.
- To introduce information on the internet (online resources) and how to access them
- To practice searching.
Types of publications
Scientific/academic/scholarly
- Text or reference books
- Journals
- Research reports( paper, capstone designs, dissertations)
Non-scientific
- Fiction books (novels, comics etc.)
- Magazines
- Newspapers
Scientific publications
- Written by and aimed at academic community(students, lecturers, researchers, experts)
- Disseminate research findings
- Articles cite resources and are peer reviewed
- High quality and reliable information
- Slow to be published to review process
- Access is often fee-based
Nonscientific publications
- Entertaining, relaxing
- Readable and light weight
- Current, popular issues/topics
- Not always reliable (H-Metro)
- Transient, easily replaced by newer issues
Challenges of literature searching
- Growing quantity of publications may cause in searching and browsing(recall vs. precision)
- Quality of information (unreliable for some reasons)
- Availability of information needed
- Constraints in access due to various reasons (technical, economical, policy).
Skills in literature searching
- Able to identify various kinds of publications
- Able to know and use various search tools
- Able to conduct efficient and effective searches and implement relevant search strategies
- Able to evaluate the quality of information.
Search Tools
- Catalog (Catalog)
- Web search terms
- Subject terms
- Subject headings
- Boolean operators
- Wildcard / Truncation
- Nesting
- Limits
Catalog (Catalog)
- A comprehensive list of books, periodicals, maps and other materials in a given collection, arranged in systematic order to facilitate retrieval (usually by author title and/or subject)
- The M3 Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is a flexible, multilingual search interface that enables the patron to search for records using three different search methods. The patron can then work with the search results in a variety of brief and expanded record formats.
The three available search methods are:
- Standard Search – A basic keyword search method that recognizes Boolean logic, truncation, and phrase searches, and allows index browsing.
- Enhanced Search – A more advanced search method that offers search flexibility and options. Patrons can enter simple or complex keyword search queries, and use index browsing.
- Visual Catalog Search – An easy point-and-click graphical search method. Patrons click colorful buttons to narrow their searches from broad topics to more defined sub-topics, ultimately reaching search results.
Web Search Engine
- A web search engine is a tool to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list of results and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/web-search-engine)
Search Terms
- Search terms are sometimes also referred as keywords. They can be a subject, topic, or any distinct word used as a point of access.
- Using appropriate search terms is essential in the process of searching.
- Thus, before conducting a search it is necessary to brainstorm for possible search terms that represent our search queries.
Subject Headings
Subject Headings are a list of controlled language commonly used to classify library material housed in the collection. They represent the key topic of a publication.
Boolean Logic
- Boolean is a system of logic developed by the English mathematician George Boole(1815 – 64) that allows the user to combine word or phrases representing significant concepts when searching an on line catalogue or bibliographic database by keywords. At HIT Library Boolean Operators are in the Enhanced Search facility as shown above.
- Logical commands or “operators” commonly used in searching are AND, OR and NOT.
Grouping/Nesting
Nesting, represented by symbol ( ) is a technique of searching that considers similar concepts, indicated by logical command OR and expressed in different terms, as a single term.
Limits /Filters
Most databases offer limit functions to help users limit search results that are too broad or too many.
Limits are commonly specified according:
- Date of publication
- Type of publication (book, journals news, etc.)
- Age group
- Language
- Sex
- Types of files
Stages in searching
- Define search topics
- Choose appropriate search terms/keywords that represent the topic
- Decide where to search /which sources to use (e.g. library catalog, online databases)
- Develop search strategy by optimizing search tools
- Observe search results
- Revise the search as necessary.
Tips for Effective Searches
- Plan your search – identify the words that represent the topic of your search
- Avoid using too broad or general terms, use specific terms instead to get limited but relevant results.
- Use limit/filters functions as necessary.
- Create an account. Most online databases allow you to sign up for an account or personal folder in their databases that helps you manage searches, search results or references, setup preferences, alerts, and many others.
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