How to Search
Now that you know where to search, it's important to consider how to make the best use of these databases. Though you have already determined your keywords for searching by this stage, knowing exactly how to combine those keywords and enter them in a search box can make a big difference in the usefulness and relevance of your results. As discussed in the "Concepts & Keywords" section of this module, it is the responsibility of the searcher to perform their searches according to the functionality and the search language of whichever database they are using. Knowing how to effectively communicate to a database which materials will be relevant is an important--and often overlooked--skill, and it requires an understanding of how these search systems function.
The videos below will go a little more in-depth about the ins and outs of database searching.
This first video will introduce the following three search concepts, which will help you create and combine your keywords most effectively:
- Phrase searching
- Truncation
- Boolean operators
Using a Database Thesaurus & Subject Headings:
Many databases, including ERIC and Education Source, feature a subject specific thesaurus of subject terms that relate to content in those databases. The thesaurus allows you to browse for subject terms that you can then use to search the database. Subject terms are assigned based on article content, allowing you to create a targeted search.
To browse a thesaurus:
- To browse a thesaurus of terms available in the database, click the Thesaurus link at the top of the EBSCOhost screen. If you are searching multiple databases, several subject lists may be available. They will appear in the drop-down list.
- Select the thesaurus that you want to browse. A new thesaurus-specific Browse Screen is displayed. The thesaurus name appears above the Browse field.
This second video includes a demonstration for the use of a database thesaurus:
Note: Although quotation marks are useful when searching for a phrase on the search page of ERIC, they should not be used when searching in the thesaurus.
Reverse Engineering with Subject Headings
Subject terms allow you to do reverse engineering to find additional, related literature.
- Identify an article that is on target to your research question.
- Reuse the subject headings as part of the new search.
Citation Chaining:
You can also search for relevant scholarship by citation chaining, a process through which you use one information source (e.g. a journal article) to identify others by looking either backward or forward at citation references.
Backward chaining means looking at one source's reference list (or works cited or bibliography) to find other relevant research.
Forward chaining instead means determining where the article you are currently reading has been cited. This can be done by using the "Cited by" link in either Google Scholar or Summon (UBC Library General search tab).
In Google Scholar:
In Summon:
Your turn!
Go to the Education Research Guide and open the ERIC database. Open the database thesaurus and check some of your keywords to find out if there are subject headings that would be useful for finding scholarship your topic. Add any relevant keywords to your search planning template.