A. Effective search strategies: Truncation and phrase searching (3:47 minutes)
This video introduces you to using truncation and phrase searching to create an effective search for sources. As you watch this video, think about how you can shorten words to broaden your search and use quotation marks to narrow your search.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this video, you will be able to:
- Use the asterisk * to truncate a search term in order to use synonyms for your key concepts.
- Use quotation marks to create phrases that can be used in a search.
Make a prediction before watching the video
- Truncation is a strategy that allows you to use the root of a word to find synonyms (yes or not).
- Quotation marks all you combine words for a more effective search (yes or no).
B. Test your knowledge: Take this short quiz see if you can define truncation and phrase searching and identify whether these strategies broaden or narrow your searches.
C. Do a structured search
Searching online is made easy because we can use everyday language to find information. For example, we can put a question such as “Where do I buy paprika in Ottawa?” and get relevant results.
Searching in library databases can be more complicated because using everyday languages is not always the best strategy to identify appropriate and relevant sources. Instead, we need to structure our search to find our sources using some tools including truncation and phrase searching.
D. Summary
Revisit your prediction after watching the video
Truncation is a strategy that allows you to use the root of a word to find synonyms (yes or not).
Quotation marks all you combine words for a more effective search (yes or no).
You now have two more strategies for doing a structured search: Using the asterisk * to truncate a search term in order to use synonyms for your key concepts; and using quotation marks to create phrases that can be used in a search.
E. Ask a librarian
You can email Martha if you have questions: martha.attridgebufton@carleton.ca.
