KEYWORDS
Searching "by keyword" means that you are searching the
database for the words or phrases you've typed. |
- keyword searches can be very flexible, and search words, parts
of words, phrases, names, or combinations of all of these
- any words you might use to describe your topic can be used as
keywords
- keyword searches can retrieve many results that aren't at all
relevant to what you really wanted
- keywords are often called "uncontrolled vocabulary,"
because they are not pre-defined
|
SUBJECT
HEADINGS
Searching "by subject" means that you are
searching very specific, pre-defined terms and phrases. |
- subject searches require that you know (or are
able to guess) subject headings -- meaning, the exact
terms and phrases used by the database you're in to describe a
particular topic
- subject headings may not be the words or terms you might
naturally use to describe your topic
- if you get the subject heading wrong, your search results may
be inaccurate or fail completely
- because subject headings are pre-defined, they are often
called "controlled vocabulary"
|
HOW
DO YOU FIND
KEYWORDS?
Think about your topic and how it's described in your classes or
by people you know.
|
- in general, any words that describe your topic can be used as
keywords
- be flexible, and think of synonyms or alternate words to use to describe
the same topic
- start simple and use just a few terms; the more terms you
add, the more you narrow your possible results
|
HOW
DO YOU FIND
SUBJECT HEADINGS?
Research library catalogs in the U.S. tend to use Library of
Congress Subject Headings (LCSH); individual databases may define
their own subject headings. |
- catalogs and databases often provide lists (either published
or browsable online) of the subject headings they use; some
databases may call this list their "thesaurus"
- Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
are published in a multivolume set that can be found in most
libraries; ask your local Reference Librarian for help
- individual database records will include their subject
headings; these may be called "subjects" or
"descriptors"
|
EXAMPLE
Say you want to find information on African American cultural
traditions. Many searches are possible. |
- possible keyword search:
african american cultural traditions
- possible subject search:
afro-americans--social life and customs
- Quick quiz: In this example, which of these searches do you think
will retrieve more results in ISU's Library
Catalog?
Keyword Search Subject search
|
WHEN
DO YOU USE KEYWORDS?
Keyword searching is flexible, and can be an easy way to start
your search. |
- when you know don't know the full title or full author name of
a particular work, but remember a few words
- when you're not sure how to get started, or what the real
subject heading for your topic might be
- when you want to find everything in the database that
uses those specific words; note that this is not the same
as everything in the database on your topic
|
WHEN
DO YOU USE SUBJECT HEADINGS?
Subject searching is comprehensive, and so it's
ideal for research.
|
- when you want to find everything in the database on
your specific topic
- when you need to know all the resources in an area
- when you need to select the most important, or most
current, or most representative material on your topic
|
RESEARCH
TIP
Use keyword searching along with subject searching
to maximize your results. |
- start with keyword searching, using terms that describe your
topic
- take a look at your search results, find some relevant
records, and check to see what are their subject headings
- use those subject headings for a subject search, to make sure
you've found everything useful on your topic
- finding everything in the database on your topic can
help you make an informed decision on which items best suit your
need
|
