Subject Searching in Databases.avi

How to employ the power of subject searching in the library's databases.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• JCKL
• databases
• subject_headings

[TheKKueck]

KKueck

My essay topic is religion. I used EBSCOhost for my database search. I began with researching "Second Life." 1,331 results appeared. I then specifed my search to the keyword "religion." This brought me down to 62 results. My next keyword was "sermons," which only brought me 2 results. I found a lot more articles that focus on religion in Second Life through EBSCOhost than I did with the first database we used in class. EBSCOhost will be more helpful to me.

[arabicsmith]

@TheKKueck You'd think Central Search, the tool we covered in the first QuickTip, would yield more results as it is a tool that covers many databases. But that's not the case! Also try searching our religion databases. I recommend ProQuest Religion database. Try searching on these two terms: "virtual reality" and "religion". Or terms related to religion, as you did in your EBSCO searching.

[nicucm15]

NickUCM15 I'm doing my paper on the clubs that Second Life has to offer. When I first searched "Second Life" 1,331 articles appeared. After clicking the subject term thread for Second Life (game), my results dropped to 360. However, I could not find any article about the clubs that Second Life has to offer. I tried "second life" clubs, "second life (game)" party, and various other searches.

[arabicsmith]

@nicucm15 I agree - not many results for you in EBSCO Academic Search Complete. Come seek me out and we can try some different databases. And "club" is a challenging word, since it can refer to other types of clubs!

[jessiewatkins78]

My topic is Social Interaction. I looked up "Second Life" and I recieved 1,331 results. I then chaned it to "Second Life" "Social Interaction" I then recieved 1 result.

[arabicsmith]

@arabicsmith oops - that is, talk to Anubis JCKL. I'm the librarian for the 8:00am section. :-)

[arabicsmith]

@ShooterMcGavn12 Try the following search modifications:

1. Search "Second Life" as a subject term, vs. just a keyword. I'll cover this in class on Feb 14.

2. Try searching for different specific sports, vs. the broader term of sports.

But I'll admit - you may not find very many results in this database for sports. Try searching in LexisNexis. Come find me during class and I can talk you through this, if you'd like.

[arabicsmith]

@courtcornell1 Two suggestions to improve results:

1. Per the QT#2 video, search "Second Life" (within quotes) as a subject term vs. just a straight keyword. I'll cover this in class on Feb 14.

2. Entertainment is a very broad term, one that not all articles may include even if discussing a form of entertainment. You're doing the right thing, playing with different terms like shopping and "night life". Keep trying more keywords in conjunction with "Second Life as a subject term).

[arabicsmith]

@KatieD914 Here's how to get better results:

First field: "Second Life" [as SU Subject Term]

Second field: education [as SU Subject term]

This is a perfect example to share with the entire class - I hope you don't mind if I use it on Tues, Feb 14!

[arabicsmith]

@kimberlydwalters Glad you found a good article - it sounds perfect. Try searching this way:

First field: "Second Life" [as SU Subject Term]

Second field: health OR science [as keyword]

[arabicsmith]

@khant14 Did you try searching "Second Life" as a subject term vs. a keyword (per the video)? If not, you're not alone in the class. I'll cover this on Tues, Feb 14.

What other terms might you try besides architecture?

I have a tip for you that I'll cover in class on Tues, Feb 14.

[arabicsmith]

@JakeLoew22 Lol re your Google comment! Hey, even librarians will admit there's lots of good stuff on the open web. We just want to open your eyes to subscription database searching for academic research. Suggestions: try searching Second Life as a subject term. I'll cover this in class on Feb 14. But it sounds like you found at least one good source - excellent.