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Search
Strategies for the ERIC Database at UST: A Brief Guide and Worksheet
Search
Strategy
It’s important to
approach database searching systematically. ERIC is a very large
database, and unless you can be specific about what you want, it will
return too many irrelevant results. Follow these steps for the best
results:
1. The initial step
is to write down your topic statement. Include all desired aspects of
your research topic.
Topic
Statement: I’d like to research how self confidence affects
academic performance in elementary students.
Write your
topic statement here:
2. Next, extract
the primary or key concepts from the topic statement.
Key
Concepts (for statement above): self confidence, academic
performance, elementary grades
List your key
concepts here:
3. Select
appropriate search
terms. In order to do this, you need to log in to the database. (See the ERIC
database search guide for further info) Once in the database, click on
the Search Tools tab at the top, then on the Thesaurus
tab. You can then type in the concepts for your search
to find the "descriptors" (i.e. official subject headings)
used by the database in indexing, and perform searches under those terms. The
thesaurus is a valuable tool for avoiding jargon, and helps
you target your search.
ERIC
Descriptors for the key concepts above:
for
"self confidence," the ERIC descriptor is self
esteem
for "academic performance," the ERIC descriptor is academic
achievement
for "elementary school," the ERIC descriptor is
elementary education
4.Here
are a few other suggestions to
remember when using ERIC:
The ERIC database
uses boolean search operators. This means that searches are combined using
the primary operators of and, or, and not.
When
should you use the
operators to combine your searches?
- Use
OR
to combine lines in your search history that refer to the same concept or
similar concepts. OR means that you create a new
set that includes at least one of the search components, but that
they do not all need to be present in the same record. OR
broadens your search.
Sample search: self confidence or self
concept
- Use
AND
to get a set which contains only the references that include both/all of
your concepts. AND narrows your search to just
the intersection of the sets.
Sample Search: self confidence and academic
achievement and elementary education
If you
utilize the ERIC thesaurus and boolean operators, the result should be a
well-focused search. If you get too many or too few results, check with a
librarian about how you can refine your search.
-
Use NOT when you want to eliminate a term from
your search. This is the least used operator.
Sample Search: computers and networks not television
(this removes articles about television networks and focuses
the search on computer networks.)
Another
Sample Search:
#1 self
confidence or self concept
#2 academic achievement
#3 elementary education
#4 #1 and #2 and #3
in this case, the searcher
has conducted a search on three separate topics, and created
sets of results (#1 and #2 and #3). In search
statement #4, he has combined them using and to
complete his search and show results with all three ideas
included. We recommend keeping each search statement
simple (i.e. one concept per search). This will give
you maximum flexibility when it is time to combine your ideas.
See a graphical depiction of
Boolean searching
This is
meant as an brief planning guide to ERIC research. For further assistance, please contact the Keffer
Library reference desk at 651 962-4664, or call Maura Smyth (651-962-4661) or Donna
Nix (651-962-4662). Walk-in reference assistance is
available during all library hours. Individual consultations
for in-depth instruction or assistance can be set up by
calling or e-mailing Donna or Maura.
Donna
Nix / Maura Smyth / Mail #MOH206 / Opus Hall./ Minneapolis/ MN /
55403
mtsmyth@stthomas.edu
denix@stthomas.edu
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