Mini slideshow for use in web pages at http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/research/findinginfo/

1. Computers
are stupid
Thinking about
your search
terms

2. Search terms
When you are searching a database or
website, in most cases your computer
will only search for what you tell it to
search for.

3. Search terms
When you are searching a database or website, in most
cases your computer will only search for what you tell it
to search for.
You need to consider…

4. Search terms
When you are searching a database or website, in most
cases your computer will only search for what you tell it
to search for.
You need to consider…
• Alternative terms

5. Search terms
When you are searching a database or website, in most
cases your computer will only search for what you tell it
to search for.
You need to consider…
• Alternative terms
• Terminology

6. Search terms
When you are searching a database or website, in most
cases your computer will only search for what you tell it
to search for.
You need to consider…
• Alternative terms
• Terminology
• Alternative spellings and word
endings

7. Alternative terms
Does the author call them
“mobile phones” or “cell
phones”?

8. Alternative terms
Does the author call them
“mobile phones” or “cell
phones”?
If you search for articles
which include the term
“teenager” will you miss
the article which only
refers to “adolescent”?

9. Terminology
The language used by different
information sources will vary
considerably.

10. Terminology
The language used by different
information sources will vary
considerably.
You will need to take this into
account in your searches.

11. Terminology
Think of the different terms
which may be employed by:

12. Terminology
Think of the different terms
which may be employed by:
• A broadsheet newspaper

13. Terminology
Think of the different terms
which may be employed by:
• A broadsheet newspaper
• A tabloid newspaper

14. Terminology
Think of the different terms
which may be employed by:
• A broadsheet newspaper
• A tabloid newspaper
• An official publication

15. Terminology
Think of the different terms
which may be employed by:
• A broadsheet newspaper
• A tabloid newspaper
• An official publication
• An academic journal article

16. Terminology
“motor vehicle” rather than ”car”

17. Terminology
“motor vehicle” rather than ”car”
“intoxicated” rather than “drunk”

18. Terminology
“motor vehicle” rather than ”car”
“intoxicated” rather than “drunk”
“homicide” rather than “murder”?

19. Terminology
Think about differences in
terminology between cultures or
how terminology changes over
time.

20. Terminology
“mental retardation”

21. Terminology
“mental retardation”
- started to be commonly used in
mid-20th century, replacing earlier
terminology no longer perceived as
acceptable.

22. Terminology
“mental retardation”
- started to be commonly used in mid-20th century, replacing earlier terminology no longer
perceived as acceptable.
- Now itself perceived as not
politically acceptable and being
replaced by terms including
“intellectual disability”.

23. Terminology
“mental retardation”
- started to be commonly used in mid-20th century, replacing earlier terminology no longer
perceived as acceptable.
- Now itself perceived as not politically acceptable and being replaced by terms including
“intellectual disability”.
- Still in use in the United States and
by the WHO sometime after the
phrase became less commonly
used in United Kingdom.

24. Terminology
Changes in terminology and
spelling especially important
when searching historic sources
such as newspapers, official
publication and pamphlet
collections.

25. Terminology
Many publications have their
own terminology and spelling
style guide.

26. Terminology
Many publications have their
own terminology and spelling
style guide.
Guardian : al-Qaida
Sunday Times : al-Qaeda

27. Variant spellings
Spellings vary – for example, think
about Americanised and Francophone
word spellings:

28. Variant spellings
Spellings vary – for example, think
about Americanised and Francophone
word spellings:
• colour or color

29. Variant spellings
Spellings vary – for example, think
about Americanised and Francophone
word spellings:
• colour or color
• centre or center

30. Variant spellings
Spellings vary – for example, think
about Americanised and Francophone
word spellings:
• colour or color
• centre or center
• licence or license

31. Variant spellings
Spellings vary – for example, think
about Americanised and Francophone
word spellings:
• colour or color
• centre or center
• licence or license
• organised or organized

32. Variant word stems
You also need to put yourself in the head of
the author. Spelling may depend on the
form of word used.

33. Variant word stems
You also need to put yourself in the head of
the author. Spelling may depend on the
form of word used.
• The police were accused of negligence

34. Variant word stems
You also need to put yourself in the head of
the author. Spelling may depend on the
form of word used.
• The police were accused of negligence
• The police were accused of acting negligently

35. Variant word stems
You also need to put yourself in the head of
the author. Spelling may depend on the
form of word used.
• The police were accused of negligence
• The police were accused of acting negligently
• The police were accused of being negligent

36. Journal Ranking
Usually, academic
databases will just
search for the terms
you tell them to.

37. Journal Ranking
Usually, academic databases
will just search for the terms
you tell them to.
They will not think
for themselves.

38. Journal Ranking
Usually, academic databases will just search
for the terms you tell them to.
They will not think for themselves.
So if your search isn’t
finding what you
want, think about
alternative
keywords, terminolog
y and variant

39. Image Credits
[Slide 1] Via Flickr Creative Commons, by Justin. Original available at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17964151@N00/1804061993/
[Slide 7] Via Flickr Creative Commons by Don Urban. Original available at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18565975@N07/3257999418/
[Slide 8] Via Flickr Creative Commons by Surian Soosay. Original available
at http://www.flickr.com/photos/76284765@N00/6027006776
[Slide 16] Via Flickr Creative Commons by @Doug88888. Original available
at http://www.flickr.com/photos/29468339@N02/3107120908
[Slide 18] Via Flickr Creative Commons by bs_gif. Original available at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36996450@N06/4165512530

40. Image Credits
[Slide 27-31] Via Flickr Creative Commons, by Didi. Original available at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11356857@N08/4500234472
[Slide 36-38] Via Flickr Creative Commons by JulyYu. Original available at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53953811@N00/311846814

41. Other Credits
This presentation is based upon a learning unit
created by the author (James Bisset) whilst
employed at the University of the West of England.
The original can be viewed in multiple
places, including at
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/library/resources/bus/learningunits/ibis/media/Thinking%
20about%20your%20search%20terms/Presentation_Files/index.html