UPC0004 Week 3

Summary

Lecture

In today's lecture we were informed about the use of online libraries and databases and their advantages and disadvantages. One advantage would be the fact that it is up to date, and a disadvantage being that some library sites and databases require subscription before accessing.

Tutorial

Searching Database Hints and tips

• Check the Also search for related words box whenever unsure of name or international spellings.
• Use quotation marks to search one or more words that are found together.
• Converting your search into other language may improve search results.
• Using the 'not' command will exclude ads which contain the specified word (e.g. Journalist not Magazine).
• Using the 'or' command or comma will return ads which contain either of the words specified (e.g. Television or Journalist).
• With the 'and', '&' or space command, keywords separated by this will return ads containing both words (e.g. Television and Journalist, Television & Journalist, Television Journalist).
• Use brackets when searching for subsets or words when also using other words.
• Using the asterisk will return ads containig words starting with the keyword used (e.g. Tele* will give the result Television, Telephone, Telesales and Telemarketing).
• Use truncation in order to expand words.
• When searching for articles use references to locate the actual article.

I believe that the medline website www.medlineplus.gov would be used buy people who are worried about various symptoms and wish to have confirmation of the diagnosis before seeking professional medical help.

Reading 1 - Finding What You Want on the Web

This article is by Bill Thompson, a technology analyst, who is attempting to find a way in order to search information without needing the use of a search engine such as Google. He then write about how he has found a guide on how to choose the best search for information requirements thus coming to a conclusion that good online searches can't just be found by typing a few words.


Reading 2 - Bare Bones Lesson 7: Basic Search Tips


The site http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/lesson7.shtml provides tips on various method we can use when typing keywords into search engines for more concentrated results such as the use of the minus sign (-) to exclude certain topics from the search thus providing better search results.