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Understanding
Research
Finding
Books
 ODU
Library Catalog info
 OhioLINK
Library Catalog info
Finding
Articles
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What
is the Best Way to Begin My Topic Search?
 Keyword
searching is
often the best way to start searching for information on a topic. To do
a keyword search, simply type in the words that you want to use to look
for information on your topic. The catalog then searches for those words
in its item records.
Click
here for an example of a record identified through a keyword search.
The
advantages of a keyword search:
- Versatility:
You can use your own words in your search
- Flexibility:
You can combine words in your search, and use phrases, names, or parts
of words
- Maximizes
your possible number of results:
Your words will be searched in almost every place, or field, in the
system's records (e.g., title, chapter titles, subject headings)
The
limitations of a keyword search:
- You
need to be careful in your choice of search terms—the
system searches for only those specific words you use, no more &
no less
- You
need to be creative in your choice of search terms in order
to take full advantage of this type of searching—think of synonyms
or alternate wrods to use to describe the topic
- Irrelevant
results are possible, especially if a keyword has more than one common
meaning
Example: "lead" - Are you looking for the toxic mineral
or for something related to leadership? Articles on both meanings
will turn up if you use this word
Another
option is subject
searching. With subject searching, you search only the words
assigned to 1 field in the system's records: the subject heading field.
Click
here for an example of a record identified through a subject search.
The
advantages of a subject heading search:
- Precision:
The search can focus on items that you can be sure deal with the subject
term you have entered
- Manageable
number of results: You have fewer records to sift through than
with a keyword search
The
limitations of a subject heading search:
- Less
flexible: You cannot combine words or search for your own phrases
- Pre-defined:
You can't choose your own words, but must know or guess the exact
term or phrase to use—and that's the one provided in the catalog's
subject headings (a term from the official Library of Congress Subject
Headings)
- Less
versatile: Searches in only one field - Subject Headings; if the term
is not used as a subject heading in a system's records, the results
will be zero hits
- You
may not find as many relevant sources as you would with a keyword
search because it searches in only one field
While subject
searching has its advantages, most often a keyword search is still the
best way to start.
(2) Do You Know How?
Which is an advantage of a keyword search?
A. It searches for your terms anywhere in the records.
B. It uses official Library of Congress
Subject Headings
Read correct answer
Next:
How Do I Search by Keyword? |
