Thinking about your search terms

Computers are stupid Thinking

about your search terms

Search termsWhen you are searching a database or website, in most cases your computer will only search for what you tell it to search for.

Search termsWhen you are searching a database or website, in most cases your computer will only search for what you tell it to search for.

You need to consider…

Search termsWhen you are searching a database or website, in most cases your computer will only search for what you tell it to search for.You need to consider…

• Alternative terms


• Alternative terms• Terminology


• Alternative terms• Terminology• Alternative spellings and

word endings

Alternative termsDoes the author call them “mobile phones” or “cell phones”?

Alternative termsDoes the author call them “mobile phones” or “cell phones”?

If you search for articles which include the term “teenager” will you miss the article which only refers to “adolescent”?

TerminologyThe language used by

different information sources will vary considerably.

TerminologyThe language used by

different information sources will vary considerably.

You will need to take this into account in your

searches.

TerminologyThink of the different terms which may be

employed by:


employed by:• A broadsheet newspaper


employed by:• A broadsheet newspaper• A tabloid newspaper


employed by:• A broadsheet newspaper• A tabloid newspaper• An official publication


employed by:• A broadsheet newspaper• A tabloid newspaper• An official publication• An academic journal

article

Terminology

“motor vehicle” rather than ”car”

Terminology


“intoxicated” rather than “drunk”

Terminology


“intoxicated” rather than “drunk”

“homicide” rather than “murder”?

TerminologyThink about differences in

terminology between cultures or how terminology

changes over time.

Terminology“mental retardation”


- started to be commonly used in mid-20th century,

replacing earlier terminology no longer perceived as

acceptable.


- started to be commonly used in mid-20th century, replacing earlier terminology no longer perceived as acceptable.

- Now itself perceived as not politically acceptable and being replaced by terms including “intellectual

disability”.


- started to be commonly used in mid-20th century, replacing earlier terminology no longer perceived as acceptable.

- Now itself perceived as not politically acceptable and being replaced by terms including “intellectual disability”.

- Still in use in the United States and by the WHO

sometime after the phrase became less commonly used

in United Kingdom.

TerminologyChanges in terminology and spelling especially

important when searching historic sources such as

newspapers, official publication and pamphlet

collections.

TerminologyMany publications have

their own terminology and spelling style guide.

TerminologyMany publications have

their own terminology and spelling style guide.Guardian : al-Qaida

Sunday Times : al-Qaeda

Variant spellingsSpellings vary – for example, think about Americanised and Francophone word spellings:

Variant spellingsSpellings vary – for example, think about Americanised and Francophone word spellings: • colour or color

Variant spellingsSpellings vary – for example, think about Americanised and Francophone word spellings: • colour or color• centre or center

Variant spellingsSpellings vary – for example, think about Americanised and Francophone word spellings: • colour or color• centre or center• licence or license

Variant spellingsSpellings vary – for example, think about Americanised and Francophone word spellings: • colour or color• centre or center• licence or license• organised or organized

Variant word stems

You also need to put yourself in the head of the author. Spelling

may depend on the form of word used.

Variant word stems



• The police were accused of negligence

Variant word stems



• The police were accused of negligence• The police were accused of acting

negligently

Variant word stems



• The police were accused of negligence• The police were accused of acting

negligently• The police were accused of being

negligent

Journal RankingUsually, academic databases will just search for the terms you tell them to.


They will not think for themselves.


They will not think for themselves.

So if your search isn’t finding what you want, think about alternative keywords, terminology and variant spellings.

Image Credits[Slide 1] Via Flickr Creative Commons, by Justin. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/17964151@N00/1804061993/

[Slide 7] Via Flickr Creative Commons by Don Urban. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/18565975@N07/3257999418/

[Slide 8] Via Flickr Creative Commons by Surian Soosay. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/76284765@N00/6027006776

[Slide 16] Via Flickr Creative Commons by @Doug88888. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/29468339@N02/3107120908

[Slide 18] Via Flickr Creative Commons by bs_gif. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/36996450@N06/4165512530

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17964151@N00/1804061993/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/76284765@N00/6027006776





Image Credits[Slide 27-31] Via Flickr Creative Commons, by Didi. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/11356857@N08/4500234472

[Slide 36-38] Via Flickr Creative Commons by JulyYu. Original available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/53953811@N00/311846814





Other CreditsThis presentation is based upon a learning unit created by the author (James Bisset) whilst employed at the University of the West of England. The original can be viewed in multiple places, including at

http://www.uwe.ac.uk/library/resources/bus/learningunits/ibis/media/Thinking%20about%20your%20search%20terms/Presentation_Files/index.html




Education

Thinking about your search terms