RLO Transcript: Advanced Literature Searching
This is a transcript of the Reusable Learning Object (RLO) entitled "Advanced Literature Searching", online at:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/sonet/rlos/studyskills/lit_search_advanced/
Note to students: accessing CINAHL
This RLO uses 'screen movies' of the EBSCO version of the CINAHL database, which is currently in use at the University of Nottingham. Nottingham University users can access CINAHL in two ways:

a) go to http://search.ebscohost.com/ in your web browser, click on EBSCOhost Web, then choose CINAHL from the following list of databases;
b) go to the eLibrary Gateway (http://metalib.nottingham.ac.uk/, or via the Library tab after login to the University portal) in your web browser, and login with your university network credentials. You can then either browse for CINAHL under the Nursing & Midwifery sub-category of Medicine and Health Sciences; or you can click on the Titles tab and click C to get a list of databases starting with the letter, which of course includes CINAHL. 

For users outside the University of Nottingham, you will need to contact your library staff to find out how to access CINAHL in your institution. 
Choosing databases
Databases vary in the way that they organise their records, subject headings, and keywords, and they may use different keywords to describe similar concepts. The examples used in this RLO are based on the EBSCO version of CINAHL. 
Choosing appropriate search terms
Choosing the most appropriate search terms is not always easy, and poorly-devised terms may be too vague, or too specific, to retrieve the most relevant information. To help with this, many databases use a set of standard words, known as subject headings or thesaurus terms. Every article stored within the database is indexed using these terms. When you type in a search word, the thesaurus will try to match it to one of these standard terms. 
Subject/thesaurus term search

Let’s assume we are searching for information on backache.Type 'backache' into the search box [without the quotation marks], but untick the Suggest Subject Terms box. Now hit the search button.  How many results did you get?

Now repeat this search but this time check the Suggest Subject Terms box and hit the Search button. You can see that the database has matched the term 'backache' to 'back pain', their preferred clinical term.

Any articles that refer to either 'backache' or 'back pain' have been indexed against this term, so you can be sure that you will retrieve all of the appropriate information. 

Tick the box next to Back Pain and click on the Search Database button. How many results did you get now?
Expanding your search
If your search hasn't retrieved many results, you can choose to expand or explode your search. The database will now pick up both general and specific terms on this topic, and other articles in related subject areas. This will result in a greater number of records retrieved. 

This time, check the Explode box next to Back Pain, then click on Search database. How many results have you got this time? You have a few more, because the database has returned results for related subjects such as 'low back pain'. 
Focussing your search
Many databases allow you to narrow your search to include only those articles where the specific search term chosen is the key focus of the article. Focussing your search will result in fewer records retrieved. 

Let’s try this. Here you see the search page we had previously showing the thesaurus term 'back pain'  Click on Search Database. This time check the Major Concept box next to the word Back Pain and click on Search Database. This simply limits your search to articles where back pain is the main theme.  How many results do you have now?

Another way of focussing your search is to use subheadings. Let's try this. Here you see the search page we had previously, showing the thesaurus term Back Pain. Click on the term Back Pain and on the next search screen a list of subheadings appear under the heading Qualify subheadings. Tick the box next to Drug Therapy then click on Search Database. How many results does this retrieve?
Using Expand and Focus together
It is possible to use both the focus and expand functions together. This will retrieve articles where your subject is the main focus of the article, and references on related subjects which may also be relevant to your search. 

Try this now with our back pain search. Check both the Explode and Major Concept boxes and click on Search Database. How many results do you have now?

In most cases we would recommend both focussing and expanding your search to retrieve the best results. However, this will depend on the number of results retrieved. Now the search will be repeated using the heading 'Analgesia'.
Combining search terms
Having completed two separate searches, you now need to combine these together to retrieve articles which discuss both of these different subject areas. You can combine search terms by selecting the searches you wish to combine by clicking in the Add to Search boxes next to each term. Click on the Add button next to Combine searches with and. Your search will now appear in the search box above. Click on Search to retrieve the results. Try that here - how many results do you have now?
Taxonomic search
Within the thesaurus search terms are arranged in a hierarchy depending on the specificity of the term.   You can think of the thesaurus a bit like a tree.  Each search term sits somewhere within the branches. As you move up through the branches, terms become more and more specific, but as you move towards the trunk words describe groups or categories of the branches coming from them.

By allowing you to move up or down the tree from your original search term the thesaurus allows you to explode or focus your search in another way.

Lets look at where rubella sits in this particular "thesaurus tree". Drag the yellow line sideways to see the effect this will have on your search. 
Resources
The following resources (online and printed) contain further reading and material relevant to this RLO, which may help deepen your understanding of the subject matter. 

Title	Description	
How to conduct a literature search (RLO)	Practical examples of searching databases of journal articles (eg CINAHL, BNI).	
Referencing Books using Harvard (RLO)	This resource outlines the information that is required to accurately reference a book for the Harvard referencing scheme. It also outlines where that information can be found within a book.	
Referencing Journals using Harvard (RLO)	This resources outlines the information that is required to accurately reference a journal article for the Harvard referencing scheme. It also outlines where that information can be found within a printed journal.	
Referencing websites using Harvard (RLO)	This resource outlines the information that is required to accurately reference a website for the Harvard referencing scheme. It also outlines where that information can be found within a website.	
Referencing your work with Harvard (RLO)	Introduction to the Harvard style of literature referencing, incorporating an interactive referencing tool for students.	
Using databases to find journal articles (RLO)	An introduction to online databases of journals relevant to nurses (eg CINAHL, BNI).	
What are Journals? (RLO)	Introduction to academic, professional, general and subject-based journals for nurses.	
What is referencing? (RLO)	This RLO outlines the importance of referencing and how to refer to the work of others appropriately. Interactive tasks illustrate the range of materials that can be referenced and examples of plagiarism.	
Glossary
Rubella: A common viral infection characterised by a red macular rash.
Taxonomy: A hierarchical system of classification based on attributes.
Thesaurus: Compendium of terms, showing relationships one with another.

Document updated: 10/6/2008