If you understand the actual process behind database searching, you'll have a better chance of obtaining favorable results.

Why use Keyword Searching?

"Keyword searching" is a comprehensive and flexible method of searching that scans several fields in a database record looking for the keyword(s) you have entered which describe your topic.

This method is good to use if you are just beginning your search in order to maximize your chances of finding relevant documents.

Keyword searching looks for terms in these fields:


• Author
• Title
• Subject Headings
• Abstract

Why use Controlled Vocabulary Searching?

"Controlled vocabulary searching" is useful if you are retrieving too many irrelevant documents with a keyword search. In this method the computer looks in the subject or descriptor field only and the resulting documents are often more focused and relevant to your topic .

To use this method you must consult a list of subject headings that are used in the database or conduct a keyword search and look in the subject field for possible headings to use.