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ENG 102- Schneider - 2024 Spring

Basic Keyword Search Techniques

 

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Keyword searching is used by internet search engines, databases, and the library catalog, although there are some differences in how such searches function. Keep in mind that the search will find matches for specific terms, not concepts. 

Most search engines' algorithms take into account the term order.  Library databases do not!  Databases also have much more advanced searching--including subject searching.  A database search will search for EXACT character string matches (PubMed is an exception.)

Check out the menu "sub-page" buttons under Search Strategies for some basic search functionalities common to library resource keyword searching.  We will look at these more fully in the recommended databases.


IMPORTANT:  Databases search the database record of the article (title, abstract, authors, etc.). Most do not search within the full text of the articles.

 

St. Louis Community College Libraries

Florissant Valley Campus Library
3400 Pershall Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135-1408
Phone: 314-513-4514

Forest Park Campus Library
5600 Oakland
St. Louis, MO 63110-1316
Phone: 314-644-9210

Meramec Campus Library
11333 Big Bend Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-5720
Phone: 314-984-7797

Wildwood Campus Library
2645 Generations Drive
Wildwood, MO 63040-1168
Phone: 636-422-2000