Searching for an item in a database can be very difficult. These databases contain a number of different search options. Take a library database for instance. A single library can contain 4 different kinds of books, cd’s dvd’s, journals, tape recordings, newspaper articles, magazines, etc… And in this single library, there could be multiple thousands of each item. When you are electronically searching a single item, making minor mistakes can cost you the result that you time and proper results.. In short, you have to KNOW what you are doing when using databases. Knowing a few key terms will make your search a lot easier. These key terms are Synonyms, Truncations, and Limiters.
- Synonyms - A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language
- Truncation - To shorten by or as if by cutting off
- Limiters - A person or thing that limits something, in particular
In the world cat database these terms (or actions), when used in a search correctly, can narrow your search down to the most useful of results. Let’s say we are searching for books on Military. If you type in just army, a million hits will show. But if you type in Military or Army or Navy in a search, you will get hits with all of these synonyms in it. The truncation feature allows you to search all the forms of the word. When the trunk of history is typed in like this; histor*, the database will search history, historical, historically, and historic.
These few terms will make searching easy as taking candy from a baby, even though I hate that adage. Babies go hysterical when you take candy from them. There is nothing easy about taking candy from a baby. I guess that is a whole different blog topic.
Again, a great post. I see you have really understood the importance of these search techniques. You just have some writing edits:
ReplyDelete"These databases contain a number of different options to choose from." Don't end a sentence with a preposition. Rewrite it to: "These databases contain a number of different search options."
Delete the "In" and just start with "A single library...": "In a single library can contain 4 different kinds of books..."
"When you are electronically searching a single item, making minor mistakes can cost you the result that you are searching for" Again, don't end a sentence with a preposition. Rewrite it to "When you are electronically searching a single item, making minor mistakes can cost you time and proper results."
Change "with" to "will" in: Knowing a few key terms with make your search a lot easier."
Do these things, and then you'll be done with this post!