SEARCH TIPS
GENERAL SEARCH TIPS
Identify key concepts in research statement or question
Build search strings using Boolean Operators (and other search tools)
Choose which database(s) to search If you need assistance, Ask-a-Librarian
Set Limits to narrow your results Contact a librarian if you need help!
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
What effect does nutrition have on learning?
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
What effect does nutrition have on learning?
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
I’m looking for articles on hyperhidrosis (aka excessive sweating or perspiration).
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
I’m looking for articles on hyperhidrosis (aka excessive sweating or perspiration).
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
I need articles on epidural and subdural hematomas but not subarachnoid hematomas.
STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO STEP 1: SELECT KEY CONCEPTS TO BUILD SEARCH WITH.BUILD SEARCH WITH.
I need articles on epidural and subdural hematomas but not subarachnoid hematomas.
STEP 2: BUILD A SEARCH STRING STEP 2: BUILD A SEARCH STRING
AND—OR—NOT & other search tools
The AND Operator
Measles:20,604 Results
Mumps:7,900 Results
Measles AND Mumps:3,665 Results
PubMed search results 06/29/09
The OR Operator
Measles:20,604 Results
Mumps:7,900 Results
Measles OR Mumps:24,838 Results
PubMed search results 06/29/09
The NOT operator
Measles:20,604 Results
Measles NOT Mumps:4,234 Results
Mumps:7,900 Results
Note: Beware of using NOT because you can “not” yourself out of good search results!
PubMed search results 06/29/09
Use other search operators such as:
• Quotation marks to search as a phraseex. “heart attack” searches as a phrase
and not for individual instances of the words heart or attack
• Truncate wordsex. “inject*” searches injects, injected,
injecting, injection, etc.
CONSTRUCTING THE SEARCH STRINGS
What effect does nutrition have on learning?
• nutrition AND learning
• (nutrition OR diet) AND (learning OR education)
CONSTRUCTING THE SEARCH STRINGS
I’m looking for articles on hyperhidrosis (aka excessive sweating or perspiration).
hyperhidrosis OR ((sweat* OR perspir*) AND (excessive OR abnormal OR profuse))
CONSTRUCTING THE SEARCH STRINGS
I need articles on epidural and subdural hematomas but not subarachnoid hematomas.
((epidural OR subdural) AND hematoma) NOT subarachnoid
Note: Beware of using NOT because you can “not” yourself out of good search results!
STEP 3: SELECT A DATABASE STEP 3: SELECT A DATABASE (AND/OR (AND/OR CAREFULLY CAREFULLY SEARCH THE SEARCH THE
INTERNET).INTERNET). Select a database by:
Asking a librarian for help Going to the Databases and
Resources page: http://www.uab.edu/lister/tools/
and/orCAREFULLY search the internet
Items to consider when evaluating internet based information
Who runs the site?
Clear ownership by reputable organization
How is the site funded?
Conflict of Interest?
What is the purpose of the site?
Clear statement of purpose and mission
References clearly listed
Where does the information come from?
How is content selected?
Clear statement on selection and inclusion/exclusion of information
How current is the information?
Date posted or last update displayed
Does the website provide contact information?
In this case, by online form
And with what we just went over in mind …
Wikipedia:
A great place to start…
…but not the place to finish.
Anyone (essentially) can edit a Wikipedia entry
From the revision history of the Universal Health CareWikipedia entry
Wikipedia entries often have links to credible and scholarly resources
References section from Wikipedia Universal Health Care entry
STEP 4: SET LIMITS
In the process of searching, introduce limits:• Publication Dates• Language(s)• Discipline (nursing, medicine, etc.)• Type of article (opinion, clinical trial, review, etc.)• Free full text• Etc.
Limits can have great impact on searches:Use them wisely; Start with a broad search (Don’t “limit” yourself out of good resources)
Seek the help and assistance of a
Lister Hill Library Librarian!http://www.uab.edu/lister
Ask-a-Librarianhttp://www.uab.edu/lister/qpask/
Nursing Liaisonshttp://libguides.lhl.uab.edu/son