Tricks in database searching for concept analysis terms.

INFOTRAC examples

BACK TO: STRATEGIES BASED ON DATABASE
BACK TO: FIELD LABELS
BACK TO: PROXIMITY SEARCHING
BACK TO: SYNONYMS and TRUNCATION
BACK TO: The goal of the literature review

INFOTRAC: 
Includes Health Reference Center

 

TRUNCATION
(WILDCARDS):

PROXIMITY
(replace nn with a number)

LOGICAL OR

INFOTRAC

*

Nnn

OR

 

Perform a Keyword Search:
(LOVE N5 CONCEPT*) OR (LOVE N5 DEFIN*) OR (LOVE N5 UNDERSTAND*) OR (LOVE N5 CONCEIVE*)

FIRST: Click for Keyword search
SECOND: Paste full search phrase
THRID: Click SEARCH

If no references are retrieved, go broader and use the logical AND instead of a proximity search.

If too many articles are retrieved, the search can easily be modified. Consider adding the concept word to be searched in the abstract or title fields. You could also search for disciplines (art, sociology, computer*) as additional terms.

However, even when searching for disciplines, all terms probably have synonyms. 
I tend to add the phrase (Relig* or Theol* or Spirit*) when searching for religious items.

 

Go to: EBSCO examples

Go to: OVID examples

Go to: FIRSTSEARCH examples

Go to: SCIENCEDIRECT examples

Go to: ACADEMIC UNIVERSE examples

Helen Hough, Health Sciences Librarian, University of Texas at Arlington. This page covered by all applicable copyright laws.