48 Further Enhancements - Search Tactics (Information Research)
Description
This article is from the Information Research FAQ, by David Novak david@spireproject.com with numerous contributions by others.
48 Further Enhancements - Search Tactics (Information Research)
Ranking and the ability to search multiple databases are some of the
further enhancements that select databases permit. There are also
advances that do not have a grand impact - like natural language.
Natural interpretation allows the searcher to phrase a question with
common sentence structure. The computer then interprets what you want.
In theory natural language is liberating but in practice the strengths
of Boolean, proximity and field searching far exceed the benefits of
natural language searching. Lastly, there are special techniques like
target searching available on a few systems that bear discussing.
Sorting allows you to shape the presentation of the information. When
applied to financial information, this is particularly valuable. Alerts
allow you to automatically repeat a previous search and have the
information sent to you. Multiple database searching allows you to
search a collection of databases concurrently. Ranking positions
certain information at the top. These techniques can be valuable in
certain circumstances.
These technical options improve the blunt system of simply asking for a
word. You will find most search functions allow for some of these
options and all commercial quality databases provide for numerous
functions. The good news is an experienced searcher can accomplish
wonders - collecting articles of 70%+ interest regularly on expensive
database. The bad news is most of the best of search technology is not
implemented on all the databases you will search and only occasionally
on databases free on the internet.
Continue to:
My Books
