Comments on: Why Advanced Search?

By: Cindy Martin

Cindy Martin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:39:08 +0000

I really like your end of session survey question, I am always looking for ways to engage Law Clerks in my training sessions.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:13:23 +0000

Brava. I almost always teach Boolean (though I never call it that) and am completely unashamed to admit it. How the heck else are they supposed to find remotely relevant results on a topic like reducing juvenile delinquency through after-school sports programs without Boolean operators?

I mean, yeah, if all you need is stuff on frogs, by all means go right ahead. But this is college, kids, we expect better of you now.

By: Iris

Iris — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:08:31 +0000

Yes, I think advanced search screens may not be necessary every time, but when you’re first opening a new database they can help orient you to the capabilities, possibilities, and priorities of a given database. So I teach that in my “here’s how you’d teach yourself a new database” types of classes.

Ah yes… if only the MLA International Bibliography had anything remotely as consistent as MeSH… I’d be a very happy girl.

By: Martha

Martha — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:04:34 +0000

THANK YOU. Also, I often show students the advanced search screens. Why? Because it helps them to structure how they are searching. Having separate boxes to fill in rather than just one big, empty, nebulous box means they are nudged to figure out the individual concepts inherent in their search question. It encourages them to be more specific about what they want and need.

Oh, yeah, and I love subject headings and want to marry MeSH. There, I’ve said it.

By: Colleen Harris

Colleen Harris — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:02:22 +0000

Agreed! I always taught advanced when doing instruction. Because it’s one thing if you’re doing a “good enough” search – which I occasionally do – and you *know* what functionality you’re missing out on. The problem is that a lot of the time we’re now teaching students *only* the “good enough,” and the reason they don’t use advanced functionality isn’t because it’s not useful to them, but because it’s usually hidden and they don’t know why they *should* occasionally use it. At least if you teach them, they’re making an informed choice.