Layton’s Researching 101 Tutorial

Planning the Search

Boolean Logic

Searching the Internet

Using EBSCO host

Quiz

Let’s get started!

Next

Planning the Search

Print out the following Topic Worksheet and fill it out to get started.

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/form.pdf

There are some great examples with suggestions for searching on this link:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Strategies.html Home

(Lock, S., 2002)

Boolean Logic/Search Terms

Boolean Logic is a method of advance searching within an engine for the most beneficial results.

The words “and,” “or” and “not” are used to narrow your search field.

HomeNext

More Boolean Logic

For a great interactive tutorial on advanced searching visit the following link:

http://erweb.gbrownc.on.ca/lrc/boolean.html

Home

Searching the InternetBe sure to vary your search terms and use multiple search engines

Don’t forget to try subject directories and databases*Here’s a link for a great

subject directory on the fifties decade Yahoo Search Directory

NextHome

(Brandt, D.S., 1996)

Searching the InternetCheck the reliability of sites:

The primary approach to objectively verifying Internet information is similar to that used to review print materials. An evaluation checklist derived from The Savvy Student's Guide to Library Research mentioned above is available at http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/~techman/eval.html. For the most part, it emphasizes checking: reliability and credibility by verifying the author, his or her affiliation, date, and the source of publication; check perspective by assessing biases presented in the information or its source; and check the purpose by determining its scope, coverage, and level. Even more specific to the Internet, there are certain places to look and points to touch on in evaluating Web information. Ann Scholz, in the guideline she put together for Purdue Libraries as part of the Information Strategies course , emphasizes first checking a Web page for its critical elements -- the header, body, and footer -- to determine the author and source. In addition, consider the following: Check to see whether the source is a moderated or an unmoderated list, or an anonymous ftp site.

• Check online directory sources for affiliations and biographical information. • Check and compare this source to other sources, both similar and different ones. • Check archives of online lists for other works by this author. • Check reviews of online lists to assess the scope and purpose of this one.

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.htmlHome

Using EBSCO host

1. Access Digital Prairie

http://www.odl.state.ok.us/prairie/index.htm

2. Select EBSCO host

3. Enter the school password. Go On

Select the database source you want. Read the abstracts for

details.

Next

Use your advanced search skills to

yield the best results.

Next

Example

Great results that can be

narrowed even further!

Home

Are you ready to search???

Let’s see! Take the quiz to see if you’re ready to go on to the next phase.

Go back through this tutorial if you are confused or ask for assistance.

Go to Quiz

I’m not

Ready!

Return

Home

Quiz

1. To come up with a list of search terms one way to get started is to

A. Find someone who did this topic last year and borrow their notes.

B. Create a list of associated words like: synonyms, abbreviations and broad terms that go along with my topic.

C. Sit and stare at the wall waiting for an epiphany.

The answer is B, of course!

Quiz continued…

2. If you are seeking an overview on a broad topic, it is a good idea to

A. Try a subject directory

B. Use Google, always Google

C. Just go ask grandma

Yep, the answer is A!

Quiz continued…3. If you wanted to find a timeline of major events in

America, which of the following Boolean searches would be most helpful?

A. American and HistoryB. America or American and historyC. Timeline of major events in American history

B is correct! Boolean Searches contain

the words “and,” “or” and “not.”

Quiz continued…4. Which of the following Boolean searches would be most

helpful if you still wanted a timeline of American history, but you wanted to eliminate all the teacher lesson plans your search yielded?

A. American History, no lesson plansB. America or American and history not “lesson plans”C. Teacher lesson plans on American history

It’s B again! Don’t forget that you can

put phrases in quotation marks to ensure

the words are found together in the site.

Quiz continued…5. To check the reliability of your Internet sources you should

A. See archives of online lists for other works by the author.

B. Compare the site to other sources on your topic.

C. There is no need to check reliability; if it’s on the web, it must be valid.

Tricky, tricky! Both A and B are

correct. If you chose answer C go back

to slide 6.

Congratulations!

You’ve made it through the tutorial, and now you have the world at your fingertips!

Think of yourself as an investigator of facts and get started!