SWG520: Research and Advocacy
Related Page: Recommended Search Tools
Pre-Searching Preparation · Techniques to Improve Results · Professional Associations
Pre-Searching Preparation
- Realize that the majority of what has been published to date is not online and available for "free." Also keep in mind that the majority of what is online for "free" is not of sufficient quality or scholarship to be considered appropriate for graduate-level research.
- When trying to narrow your research topic, keep in mind that the Library purchases specialized print Encyclopedias and Dictionaries. Titles like the "Encyclopedia of Social Work" and "The Social Worker's Desk Reference" are excellent sources for background reading because they contain hundreds of entries written by credentialed social workers on social work issues. The entries will explain the historical development of an issue, summarize key events or individuals and relate the topic to the overall practice of social work. Additionally, the entries generally include a brief bibliography of recommended sources for additional information.
Pre-Searching Suggestions:
The following suggestions are offered to encourage you to think about your research project prior to going online:
- Make sure that you have a good sense of what you are looking for prior to beginning your searching.
- Take time to plan your search process (until you can write-out a topic sentence and identify your major search concepts, you have not developed a solid search strategy).
- Focus your topic. Stating your assignment topic in a single sentence will help you to focus on main ideas and keywords (which you can then use to generate additional synonyms and related terms).
- By using keywords and appropriate search connectors (AND, OR, NOT), you can develop an effective search strategy that the electronic databases can "understand". This will improve the relevancy of your search results and save you time.
- When you begin collecting information, it is important to analyze and evaluate the data in relation to the purpose of the assignment and your original topic sentence.
- When you find a good/useful source, consult its works cited/references/bibliography for other recommended resources.
- Keep a journal or log to track which resources (databases, books, web-sites) you have searched and which search strategies you used within those resources/tools (most of the library-supplied journal indexes automatically keep track of your "Search History" and will allow you to include that information when you e-mail, print or save).
- Research requires intelligent pre-planning, critical thinking and decision-making about resources throughout the process as well as the use of numerous appropriate search tools. Research is planned effort. Simple keyword retrieval, on the other hand, is largely unplanned and impulsive activity.
- Your ultimate goals should be to synthesize the different points of view you encounter in your research and to expand upon these findings by including your own logically-based conclusions.
Techniques for Improving The Relevancy of Your Search Results:
- When using a tool for the first time, either read its "Help" page or ask a librarian for assistance. Even most of the "free" search engines have a help or tips page.
- Keyword searching vs. Subject Headings/Descriptors/Controlled vocabulary
- When searching one of the library's journal indexes (article databases), most users only use the default search screen and therefore limit themselves to keyword searching. Keyword searching is an imprecise technique and does not take advantage of the database's structure and organization.
- Understand that a database is a collection of records. Each record in a library database is comprised of numerous searchable fields; you can instruct the database to restrict its search to fields you specify. This allows you to have much greater control over your results.
- Know that the key to uncovering matches for your topic is the DE (Descriptors) field.
- Search Connectors/Boolean Operators/Logical Operators
- AND ("AND" restricts by requiring more of each and every result)
- OR (use "OR" Use OR for more results; OR broadens)
- NOT ("NOT" excludes; Example: Dolphins NOT Miami; Tigers NOT Woods
- If you use a database's Advanced search option, you can easily make use of the search connectors.
- Limiting & Revising Your Search Results
- The limits made available by databases vary, but some of the most useful and common types include limiting by language, limiting by type of document (ex. journal articles; book chapters), limiting to scholarly/peer-reviewed, limiting by year of publication, etc.
Professional Associations
- Associations Unlimited
- Professional associations usually publish trade literature or maintain web-sites that contain useful information about issues within a profession. Use this database to identify relevant associations and their web-sites.
- Associations Unlimited is the online equivalent of the printed Encyclopedia of Associations.
- The printed book is shelved at the Reference Desk [call number AS22.E53 2001] (catalog record)
You may also use the Social Work Associations web-page to connect to the most well-known social work organizations.
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