Tag Archives: databases

Library Database Search vs Internet Search

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For my research topic finding relevant, current and accurate information is challenging, I have to filter carefully all researched literature.
I used the Citi Tech library database and Google Scholar for information on my research topic. Using Citi Tech’s database was relatively easy but the amount of information I gathered pertaining to my research topic was limited; I began by typing in “Instagram” in quotation marks and without quotation marks more information were produced without the quotation marks.
The internet search engine that I used was Google Scholar searching the same key word in the same manner I used in searching Citi Tech library database; the key word from my topic came up with a lot of useful information directly relating to my topic. In my opinion Google Scholar produced the best results.

Scholarly Browsing

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This is my third year in college and I have done multiple research papers and have never used Google Scholar for researching topics for any of my multiple papers. Today in class, using Google Scholar was very helpful. I was able to successfully find relevant information for my topic for the research paper, information that I never found when using other search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. Using Google Scholar produced so much more important and relevant information relating directly to my topic; making it different but not difficult from using the other search engines I used previously.

o hail the library databases!

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I was not present in class, so I am not certain of what was talked about exactly. However, I have read Badke’s Chapter 5 on research strategies and have been in attendance to one of the library’s presentation on research. Some people are scared to use library databases because they seem too complicated. But believe me…when you have multiple research papers to write and your professors want peer reviews, and they want recent studies and they want all these other knick knacks, library databases can be your friend. One that I frequently use is EBSCO. I believe it’s very friendly and has different methods of searching. You can search keywords as you would in Google, or you can use Boolean search, which is what we recently talked about. You can filter out results, as well as add keywords to narrow down your topic. Another thing you can do is select the option to only show peer reviewed articles/journals. In fact, let’s say you are looking for an e-book, you can filter only those results. Once you play around with it, and work your way around it, it’s not difficult at all. Believe me, it’s my third year using it… and it has made these research projects a tad bit easier.

Badke Chapter 3

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From beginning to end of chapter 3 in the book “Research Strategies by William Badke” I was in absolute awe as I kept reading. I have been searching databases for a very long time; I also knew that the use of “keywords” are very important when searching databases. But from reading this chapter it took it to a whole new level. Badke imparted so much information in this chapter that will be  very helpful to me especially as college student.

I do researches regurlarly  and never knew that I was actualy doing it incorrectly, especially when searching for  information pertaining to a specific research topic; In fact, most of the times I usually just google the information needed using a lot of keywords. It never occurred to me that keyword must be very specific and words such as AND, NOT and OR plays a huge part in getting much better and specific results when searching databases.

In this chapter I think Badke was extremely thorough  in divulging valuable, resourceful information that will help me and many other students.

Search techniques

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I must admit I never gave any real thought to the inner workings of search engines even as a student of computer science. The reading of chapter 3 by Badke reveals technical details in reference to search engines and how they work. Half way through the chapter where Badke talks about how Boolean logic can be used with keyword search reminded me of a statement reiterated in a few of my CST classes. This statement said that, “A program is only as smart as its programmer.” In this situation database searching using kewords requires applying proper logic for maximum efficiency, as it is a algorithmic program tool. I must admit, it’s really easy to forget this when it comes to Google. Google spoils us when we interact with Google search as if it’s human. The stunning thing here is that it actually provides useful information relevant to us most times. So when Badke says,  “Garbage in, garbage out” is not exactly true outside the realm of database search. Because so many people use Google I believe the search engine links certain questions such as, “How do I cook a bowl of rice?” to pages or websites where someone actually answers this question through its data processing.

Metadata wrap-up, and reading/blogging for Wednesday, March 11

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Today we discussed metadata in many forms and structures: hierarchical taxonomies, user-generated folksonomies, subject-specific thesaurii such as MeSH, and the revealing patterns created by analyzing our personal metadata, such as that generated by emails. On Wednesday, March 11 we’ll discuss the mechanics of searching, including how search engines work. We’ll also address databases: what they are and what’s in them.

For Wednesday, please read the following:

Badke Ch. 3, “Database Searching with Keywords and Hierarchies”
Liddy, How a Search Engine Works
Your blogging assignment is one reading response blog post.

~Prof. L.