9/2004
Keyword and Subject Searching
In an electronic database, keyword and subject searching are two different ways to find items on your topic. There are important advantages to both methods, and knowing how to use them can make you a more effective searcher.
Keyword Searching
Keyword searching is the broadest and most flexible method. Keywords can be combined with AND, OR, and NOT to change the scope of a search. Searches may result in too many, too few, or irrelevant items. When you don’t get the results you expect, you may need to try a new approach:
- Too many items? Strategies to consider:
Try a narrower term
Add concepts to your search using AND, e.g. adolescents and smoking
- Not enough items? Strategies to consider:
Try a broader term
Combine similar terms using OR, e.g. (adolescents or teenagers or youth) and smoking
Use an asterisk * to find words beginning with the same letters (a.k.a. truncation),
e.g. instruct* will find: instruct, instructs, instruction, instructing, instructor, etc.
- Irrelevant items? Strategies to consider:
You may need to find completely different terms to describe your topic -- the term you’ve tried may be too obscure, too vague, or have several meanings.
In certain cases, it may be appropriate to use NOT to exclude unwanted words,
e.g. Martin Luther not King
Subject searching may yield more relevant results than keyword.
- Need help? Please ask a librarian for assistance!
Using keywords is often a good way to start your search process. This can be a useful approach when you don’t know the subject heading, subject heading is too broad, or no subject heading seems appropriate to describe your topic.
A keyword search can be the first step to finding subject headings. When you do a keyword search, identify one or two relevant items in your results. Look at the subject headings assigned to those resources. Using those subject headings in another search can result in a more relevant list of items.
Subject Searching
When you search by subject heading (a.k.a. descriptor), you’re searching only the subject field in a library catalog or research database. The subject field is the field within each record that contains the categories or topics that describe the content of a book or article. Each database establishes the set of subject headings applied within their records. This controlled vocabulary allows for consistency of terms throughout the database.
Finding the Right Subject Heading
Many databases include a thesaurus or subject guide that lists the subject terms established by that database. In the thesaurus, subjects are often listed with broader, narrower and related subjects. Using the database’s thesaurus will help you identify effective search terms. Different databases may use different terms to describe similar concepts, so check for the correct term in each database you use.
To search by subject, the words you enter must match the controlled vocabulary of the database you are using. The library catalog, TOPCAT, uses Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). This means that a subject search in TOPCAT must use the proper LCSH term, e.g. United States History Civil War, 1861-1865, which can be quite different from keywords you would use.
When in doubt about subject headings, start with a keyword search instead or ask a librarian for assistance.
Overview:
|
Keywords |
Subject Headings |
|
Any significant words or phrases that you use to describe your topic |
Controlled vocabulary used within a database terms taken from the database’s subject guide or thesaurus |
|
Results may include irrelevant items; less focused than subject headings |
Results include very relevant items; more focused than keywords |
|
Words that appear anywhere in the record (title, subject, abstract, notes, etc.). |
Terms that appear in the subject/descriptor field of a record |
|
Can be combined many different ways; any form of a word can be entered. |
Wording entered must match term in the subject list or thesaurus for the database |
|
Appropriate for use across databases; not database-specific |
May differ from database to database |
Additional Resources:
Library of Congress Subject Headings, Volumes I-V
Location: CUW Library Research Assistance Desk; Call Number: Z695.Z8 L524
When searching TOPCAT or other library catalog, this five-volume resource can help you identify relevant subject headings for your topic. Using the appropriate subject heading can result in a more focused search and a greater number relevant items.
Successful Keyword Searching: Initiating Research on Popular Topics Using Electronic Databases
Location: CUW Main Collection; Call Number: ZA4460 .M33 2001
This book provides lists of keywords organized by topic. It covers144 different topics, with effort to include those most often researched by students. Keywords within each topic can be a useful starting point for your research.
"Using TOPCAT" tutorial [Electronic Resource]
Go to TOPCAT homepageclick TOPCAT Tutorial link at bottom of screen
"Finding Articles" Tutorial [Electronic Resource]
"Finding articles"
These two interactive modules are interesting ways to learn about using the library catalog and finding journal articles using a database.
