Shari Wickline EDT 715 Summer 2011 Week One Assignment = Pre-Test Assessment

Please answer the following questions using your own knowledge or experiences. The following are examples of terms used in research basics, particularly in online (electronic) searching environments. Please define the terms and give examples of how they might be used or impact searches when conducting online research. 1. Electronic Organizational Structures a. Fields this structure allows searching to be done within a specific perimeter. (some examples of the way searching can be done using fields is by subject, title, author) b. Records break the information in a database into workable sections. (used to divide large amounts of information into smaller units that can be easily searched) c. Databases structures that hold a vast collection of information on a particular topic that are arranged into smaller sub-groups. (an example is using an academic database to gather multiple articles on a particular topic) 2. Research Tools a. Library Catalogs provide information on all the print and non-print resources in a library collection. (this can be used to search for print and non-print materials that relate to the topic being researched) b. Union Catalogs provide information on all of the print and nonprint resources available through inter-library loaning. (this is useful when students need materials that cannot be found in their building library) c. Indexes lists of words that correlate to specific information. (allows for material to be searched at a quicker rate) d. Subscription Databases databases that are content specific can be purchased through yearly subscriptions from publishers. (the information found on a subscription data base can positively impact

a students research by providing multiple resources that are topic specific) 3. Electronic Search Options a. Natural Language Searching words that simulate the way an individual would speak or ask about something. (allows for easier searching but sometimes results in unnecessary resources) b. Controlled Vocabulary Searching words that are predetermined and limit how information is obtained. (give a specific subject or set of words that must be searched under) c. Keyword Searching uses words from a topic or from a question to search. (is a good way to start a search when using a basic search) d. Boolean Logic a way to search that allows multiple words to be searched at the same time using words such as and and or. (this is useful when using advanced search features on databases) e. Truncation adding symbols before or after words to help refine a search. (are database specific) f. Wild Card Characters a symbol that takes the place of a word or character. (can be used with specific databases to refine a search) g. Proximity Indicators shortens the amount of words that are found between keywords in a search. ( gives resources that contain more of a phrase or multiple keywords) h. Quotation or Phrase Searching a way to search for an exact phrase by putting the phrase in quotation marks (can be used when needing to find resources that contain an exact phrase) i. Sorting a feature that sorts the resources by type, relevance or date. (is useful when a large amount of information has been suggested for review) Limits vary by databases, but allow where and what types of resources found to be limited. (some of the ways the search can be limited is by date, how they have been reviewed and language)

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4. Search Engines a program that has been designed to allow multiple documents, sites and resources to be searched using keywords. (are useful when searching for basics about a topic, but usually result in a high number of non-authoritative sources for a research project) Give examples of the following:

5. Library Catalog where the entire collection of a building library can be searched. (Dunbar Library Catalog) 6. Union Catalog where library collections from multiple building libraries (or public libraries) can be searched at the same time for resources. (searching all of the Dayton Metro Library collections at one time) 7. Print Index list of periodicals in a journal collection. 8. Electronic Index EBSCOHost 9. Subscription Database Teen Health and Wellness by Rosen (really nice site, used during INFOhios t trial period in February) 10.Search Engine - Google 11.E-book aggregator (free & for purchase) ibooks by Apple