1.
Which of the following are effective strategies for choosing search terms? Choose all that apply.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Write out a few detailed sentences about your topic.
B. Create a list of related keywords and pHrases.
C. Brainstorm a list of synonyms for your keywords.
D. List abbreviations and alternate spellings of words.
E. Brainstorm for broader and narrower terms.
Explanation
Effective strategies for choosing search terms include writing out a few detailed sentences about your topic to identify key words and phrases, creating a list of related keywords and phrases to expand the search, brainstorming a list of synonyms for your keywords to capture different variations, listing abbreviations and alternate spellings of words to account for different terminology, and brainstorming for broader and narrower terms to explore different levels of specificity. These strategies help to ensure comprehensive and targeted search results.
2.
Which statement about research databases is false?
Correct Answer
C. Research databases only include items owned in print by your library.
Explanation
Research databases do not only include items owned in print by your library. Research databases can include a wide range of materials, including articles, books, journals, and other resources that are not physically owned by your library. These databases provide access to a vast amount of information from various sources, making it possible to search for articles by subject, find specialized databases for specific subjects, and access citations, abstracts, and full texts of articles.
3.
What kind of catalog search would you use to search for a term in the title, abstract, and subject heading fields?
Correct Answer
D. Keyword search
Explanation
A keyword search would be the appropriate catalog search to use when searching for a term in the title, abstract, and subject heading fields. This is because a keyword search allows for a broader search, searching for the specified term in various fields, rather than limiting the search to a specific field like a subject search or title search would do. It ensures that the search results include any relevant information related to the term in any of the specified fields.
4.
Which of the following is the best research database to use when searching for studies about internet addiction?
Correct Answer
D. A psychology database, such as Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Resource Center
Explanation
A psychology database, such as Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Resource Center, would be the best research database to use when searching for studies about internet addiction because it focuses specifically on psychology and behavioral sciences. This means that it is more likely to have a comprehensive collection of research studies and articles related to internet addiction, compared to other databases that may have a broader focus.
5.
Imagine you are searching a research database for articles about college students' jobs. Which of the following search strings would be the most effective?
Correct Answer
B. College and students and work
Explanation
The most effective search string would be "College and students and work" because it includes all three keywords and uses the "and" operator to narrow down the search results. This means that the articles retrieved will specifically focus on college students and their jobs, rather than just any combination of the keywords.
6.
True or false? Combining search terms using OR will give you more results than combining terms using AND.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Combining search terms using OR will give you more results than combining terms using AND because OR broadens the search by including any results that contain either of the search terms. This means that even if only one of the search terms appears in a result, it will still be included in the search results. On the other hand, combining search terms using AND narrows the search by only including results that contain both of the search terms. Therefore, using OR will give you a larger pool of results compared to using AND.
7.
If you had this citation for an article, how might you go about finding the actual article? Choose all that apply.
Thomas, Susan Gregory. "Capitalists on campus: Students with computer skills cash in." U.S. News and World Report 7 Sept 1998: 82.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Search the library catalog for the magazine title, U.S. News and World Report
D. Search Journal Search for the magazine title, U.S. News and World Report
E. Search the research databases for the article title, "Capitalists on Campus"
Explanation
To find the actual article mentioned in the citation, you can search the library catalog for the magazine title, U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, you can search Journal Search for the magazine title, U.S. News and World Report. Lastly, you can search the research databases for the article title, "Capitalists on Campus". These methods will help you locate the specific article mentioned in the citation.
8.
Which is true about call numbers?
Correct Answer
D. The are organized by subject
Explanation
Call numbers are organized by subject. This means that items with similar topics or subjects are grouped together on the shelves. Call numbers provide a way to locate and retrieve specific items in a library or other collection. They are typically assigned to books, but can also be used for other types of materials such as journals or audiovisual materials. The call number system helps to maintain order and facilitate efficient browsing and retrieval of items.
9.
What was the most important thing you learned in this module on Searching for Library Resources? (There are no right or wrong answers, we just want to know your thoughts.)