Guide to Searching

Guide to Searching: The Basics

The purpose of this guide is to offer tips and techniques for efficiently finding information and resources within the library's expanding collections of eBooks, eJournals, and Streaming Videos.

Library databases and discovery interfaces share similar structures and features. Therefore, mastering the search process in one database will enable you to apply these skills to other databases as well.

In this section we will go over the following:

• Choosing where to search

• Identifying main concepts or ideas

• Identifying keywords

• Creating a search strategy

• Evaluating searches and search strategies

Choosing Where to Search

Students, faculty and staff have a few different options when it comes to deciding where to start their search as there are 2 separate libraries available to patrons!

Patrons have access to Latourette Library and Digital Theological Library. Depending on what institution you are affiliated with, either William Carey International University or Providence Christian College, will dictate what options you may choose from.

• William Carey International University patrons have access to Latourette Library and Digital Theological Library

• Providence Christian College patrons have access to Latourette Library and Digital Theological Library Open Access.

What is the different between Latourette Library and Digital Theological Library?

Latourette Library

Latourette Library is a shared library between WCIU and Providence. Both institutions have access to EBSCO through Latourrette Library but only Providence has access to the physical collection located on Providence campus. And both WCIU and Providence have access to the physical collection at the Ralph D. Winter Research Center so long as they can physically go to the research center.

NOTE: Despite the fact that not everyone has access to all of these depending on your institution and where you are physically located, all of these resources can be search for in Latourette Library’s WorldCat Discovery. Because of this it is important to understand how to properly search WorldCat Discovery. For information on how to do this, visit the Using WorldCat Discovery section of this guide!

Digital Theological Library

DTL is a library that is separate from Latourette Library and requires a membership in order to have full access to its resources. Since it is separate from Latourette Library, you cannot search for its resources in Latourette Library’s WorldCat Discovery. Instead, you much search for DTL’s resources directly through their website. For more information on DTL, visit our DTL page!

NOTE: WCIU is a member of DTL however Providence is not. With that being said Providence is still able to make use of DTL Open Access!

WorldCat Discovery or Databases

WorldCat Discovery

WorldCat Discovery is the search tool found on the home pages of both Latourette Library and DTL. It is an excellent starting point for research because it searches across multiple collections simultaneously. Please note that you need to search Latourette Library’s and DTL’s WorldCat Discovery separately. For information on how search through WorldCat Discovery, visit the Using WorldCat Discovery section of this guide!

While WorldCat Discovery is a great starting point, it does have limitations:

• It has limited advanced searching capabilities

• Due to the way that searching works, you may receive a long list of irrelevant results

Databases

Using library databases is an excellent option for more in-depth research or finding specialized information. Databases can be multidisciplinary or focused on specific subject areas like Theology, Education, Business, and more.

Watch the video by University of Michigan Library that explains what a database is, why you should use one, how it is different than searching for resources on the internet and the 2 main types of databases

Tutorial: What is a Library Database and Why Should I Use One? - umnLibraries

Identifying Main Concepts

Now we are going to go over choosing keywords for your search. Assuming you have a research topic, you will need to break this down into key concepts. The concepts will later be turned into your search strategy.

Example research topic and Key Concepts breakdown:

NOTE:

• A good research topic typically contains 2-4 concepts.

• Less than 2 will produce too many irrelevant results

• More than 4 is too specific and will limit your result list

• Databases cannot handle sentences or long phrases and will typically result in no or disappointing results.

Identifying Keywords

Databases are word for word matches, so if the author uses a different term from the one you are using, the item will not show up in your result list.

Because of this, it is important to identify key terms that have the same or related meaning of your initial key concept. Basically, you need to locate synonyms or related terms. It may help to ask yourself, "What other words could the author use to describe this concept?”

A list of additional key terms can include:

• Synonyms

• Spelling Variations

• Acronyms (remember that you must spell out acronyms as well!)

• Narrower terms

• Broader terms

• Provide specific examples of a generalized term

Example research topic and Key Concepts breakdown with related terms:

Creating a search strategy - University of Arizona Libraries

Creating the Search Strategy

There are 2 primary ways you can create your search strategy.

1. Nesting: This refers to the use of parentheses in order to organize a search strategy. An example of this would be:

   (NGOs OR “Save the Children” OR “Doctors without Borders”) AND (Education OR learning OR school) AND (“Third World Countries” OR “Developing country” OR “Underdeveloped Nation”)

   As you can see each key concept and its related terms are housed in parenthesis and separated by the Boolean Operator AND.

2. Advanced Search: This refers to the use of an Advanced Search function that the majority of databases and searching platforms come with. This allows you to break up each key concept with their related terms into separate boxes. An example of this would be:

Now that you have key concepts and key terms for each concept, it’s time to connect them into a search strategy. This is done using Boolean Operators and advanced searching techniques. For indept information on each of these, visit their sections in this guide!

Evaluating Searches and Search Strategies

When starting your research, remember that your initial searches are based on a guess of how the author described the topic. Your goal is to match your keywords to theirs. Steps you can take for creating the most effective search strategies include:

1. Run exploratory searches: Use different keywords from your list.

2. Browse your results: Click on titles to read abstracts in most databases.

3. Find relevant articles.

4. Check for subject headings: Databases often assign subject headings to articles, which indicate the main topics. Use these headings in your searches if they match your concepts.

5. Identify additional keywords: Look in the details or abstracts of relevant articles for more keywords or subject headings.

6. Revise your searches: Evaluate your results and refine your keywords or use subject headings based on what you find.

Setting Up the Search

1. Start broad: Begin with wide searches and then narrow down after identifying the best keywords/subject headings. Focus on two core concepts first.

2. Use multiple search boxes: Enter each core concept separately. If you don't see individual search boxes, use the Advanced Search option.

Refining Searches

If you get too few or too many results, refine your searches:

Too many results?

• Use more specific terms.

• Add more keywords to refine the search.

• Apply limiters like date or subject.

• Avoid using OR, which broadens the search.

• Specify where to search (title, subject field).

• Narrow your topic focus.

Too few results?

• Try a specialized database.

• Broaden your topic.

• Use broader or related terms.

• Use fewer keywords initially and add more as needed.

• Remove some limiters to expand the search.

• Check your spelling.

• Use OR with synonyms.

• Utilize wildcard (?) or truncation (*) to include variations of your search terms.