Experienced Searchers Research Articles

Cold War Eastern Europe

Cold War Eastern Europe (CEE) provides access to files from the political departments of the U.K. Foreign Office, including embassies and consulates, located within countries of the Former Soviet Union. CEE consists of three modules, that together, cover the years 1953-1975 and include approximately 13,700 source files. CEE contains historical essays written by its editorial board; a timeline and facts files on communism and key people supplement content. The CEE platform is intuitive for users who have background in searching other Taylor & Francis collections such as the Secret Files from World Wars to Cold War; less experienced searchers may require training and assistance with certain features. Pricing was not available at the time of this review.

Library resource discovery.

Library resource discovery.

Scaffolding in information search: Effects on less experienced searchers

This study aims to investigate how expert scaffolded training could help, from novice postgraduate students’ point of view, and foster development of information search ability among postgraduate students. Using a quasiexperimental design over a year and a half, eight doctoral students (novice searchers) participated in a series of five sessions with an expert searcher who was an information professional. A novice-expert comparison examined the differences between novices and experts in information searching; and the effect of scaffolding sessions in which the expert information searcher helped novice information searchers was examined. Findings showed differences existed between the novice and the expert searchers in use of complex formulation of query statements, choice of keywords, and operators. Scaffolding sessions with the expert searcher resulted in self-reported and observable improvement in information searching among the novice searchers. The paper concludes with a discussion of the design of information retrieval systems and recommendations for library programmes to support the continued development of research students’ information literacy skills.

The comparative recall of Google Scholar versus PubMed in identical searches for biomedical systematic reviews: a review of searches used in systematic reviews

BackgroundThe usefulness of Google Scholar (GS) as a bibliographic database for biomedical systematic review (SR) searching is a subject of current interest and debate in research circles. Recent research has suggested GS might even be used alone in SR searching. This assertion is challenged here by testing whether GS can locate all studies included in 21 previously published SRs. Second, it examines the recall of GS, taking into account the maximum number of items that can be viewed, and tests whether more complete searches created by an information specialist will improve recall compared to the searches used in the 21 published SRs.MethodsThe authors identified 21 biomedical SRs that had used GS and PubMed as information sources and reported their use of identical, reproducible search strategies in both databases. These search strategies were rerun in GS and PubMed, and analyzed as to their coverage and recall. Efforts were made to improve searches that underperformed in each database.ResultsGS’ overall coverage was higher than PubMed (98% versus 91%) and overall recall is higher in GS: 80% of the references included in the 21 SRs were returned by the original searches in GS versus 68% in PubMed. Only 72% of the included references could be used as they were listed among the first 1,000 hits (the maximum number shown). Practical precision (the number of included references retrieved in the first 1,000, divided by 1,000) was on average 1.9%, which is only slightly lower than in other published SRs. Improving searches with the lowest recall resulted in an increase in recall from 48% to 66% in GS and, in PubMed, from 60% to 85%.ConclusionsAlthough its coverage and precision are acceptable, GS, because of its incomplete recall, should not be used as a single source in SR searching. A specialized, curated medical database such as PubMed provides experienced searchers with tools and functionality that help improve recall, and numerous options in order to optimize precision. Searches for SRs should be performed by experienced searchers creating searches that maximize recall for as many databases as deemed necessary by the search expert.

A pragmatic critical appraisal instrument for search filters: introducing the CADTH CAI

To identify or develop a critical appraisal instrument (CAI) to aid in the selection of search filters for use in systematic review searching. The CAI is to be used by experienced searchers without specialized training in statistics or search filter design. Through extensive searching and consultation, one candidate instrument was identified. Through expert consultation and several rounds of testing, the instrument was extensively revised to become the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) CAI. The CADTH CAI consists of ten questions and can be applied by experienced searchers with a moderate knowledge of search filter methodology. The CADTH CAI provides experienced searchers with a means of selecting the search filter that is most methodologically sound.

The extreme searcher's Internet handbook: a guide for the serious searcher

An essential guide for anyone who conducts research on the internetincluding librarians, teachers, students, business professionals, and writersthis fully revised handbook details what users must know to take full advantage of internet search tools and resources. From the latest online tools to the new and enhanced services offered by standbys such as Google, the major search engines and their myriad of possibilities are thoroughly discussed. This revamped fourth edition also features chapters on fact-checking sites and popular social networking sites as well as a collection of up-to-date screenshots for visual reference. For those with little to moderate searching experience, friendly, easy-to-follow guidelines to the world of Web research are provided, while experienced searchers will discover new perspectives on content and techniques.

Mental models of information retrieval systems

Mental models of information retrieval systems

Information-seeking on the Web: Effects of user and task variables

This study investigates how cognitive style (field dependence vs. field independence), online database search experience (novice vs. experienced searchers), and task type (known-item vs. subject search tasks) influence users’ search behavior on the Web. Forty-eight undergraduate students participated in this study. The participants were divided into four groups according to cognitive style and online database search experience. Each participant searched for information on a university Web site to complete two differing search tasks. The time spent and the number of nodes visited in retrieving information were used to measure users' search performance. The choice of navigation tools was examined to determine users' search and navigational style. It was found that online search experience and cognitive style interacted and influenced search performance, as well as navigational style. Online search experience also interacted with task type to influence navigational style and the number of nodes visited. The article concludes with suggestions for improving Web interfaces and Web-user training programs.

Understanding Preferences for Search System Interfaces and the Role of Emotive Forces: A Research Challenge

Information professionals have observed that Web-based search interfaces simplify database searching and are preferred over other interfaces. A further anecdotal observation is that their features, in comparison to other interfaces, enhance the quality of search sessions, resulting in better outcomes. One explanation is that Web interfaces ease the negative emotive forces searchers experience with other interfaces. This paper examines the challenges in designing a research method to test the validity of these assumptions and observations. Although Web interfaces may provide a more supportive search setting, particularly for less experienced searchers, there is no evidence they contribute to better search outcomes.

One, Two, Three…Infinity: A Computer Assisted Learning Package for First Time Users of Silverplatter CD-Roms

ABSTRACTAt the start of the academic year reference staff are hard pressed to provide sufficient assistance to first-time users of CD-ROMs, who have missed bibliographic instruction classes, or who need more guidance before searching. The literature on CD-ROMs was reviewed, and a survey conducted to estimate the training needs of searchers. We found 100% of the inexperienced searchers required assistance while searching, and 50% of their search strategies were later rated as poor. More than half the experienced searchers also needed the librarian's assistance, and 31% of this group demonstrated a poor understanding of searching techniques. The survey findings were incorporated into CDIntro, a computer assisted learning package designed by the authors.

Factors Affecting Students' Use of MEDLINE

MEDLINE search transcripts by a class of third-year medical students were analyzed. The 184 students were divided into three groups according to their search experience in terms of the number of sessions logged at the time of a search assignment. A Strong relation was found between the level of search experience and the frequency of use in the subsequent 5 months. Over 80% of the students were able to retrieve a few useful items for an emergency clinical situation. More experienced searchers were able to retrieve more relevant items than less experienced searchers. However, no relation was found between search effectiveness and clinical knowledge as indicated by two scores derived from the University of Michigan's Comprehensive Clinical Assessment examination and Part II of NBME. Similarly, clinical knowledge also did not appear to relate to MEDLINE search experience. More exposure to MEDLINE during medical school could play an important role in developing effective literature searching skills for lifelong learning, which is essential for today's health professionals.

An examination of the relationship between searching behavior and searcher background

Five groups of searchers each performed two of four pre‐selected searches on the DIALOG system using ONTAP, the 1975 subset of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database. The groups were novices, moderately experienced searchers without ERIC experience, moderately experienced searchers with ERIC experience, very experienced searchers without ERIC experience, and very experienced searchers with ERIC experience. Data were collected on the education, online training, online experience, institutional setting, and personal characteristics of the rearchers. Variables that describe the search process (e.g. number of commands used) and variables that describe the outcome of searches (e.g. recall) were measured by examination of the search transcripts. The results showed that, compared to the experienced subjects, the novices performed surprisingly well. Although, as a group, they searched more slowly than the experienced subjects and scored lower on most (but not all) outcome measures, the differences were not as great as might be expected. Three meaningful patterns were identified among the experienced subjects' searches: (1) the group with the greatest overall experience and the greatest ERIC database experience achieved the highest recall and had the highest values of a subset of search process variables designated ‘search effort’ variables (e.g. number of commands and descriptors, connect time); (2) in general, the moderately experienced searchers with ERIC experience performed the briefest, most cost effective searches (when cost effectiveness is measured in terms of time per relevant reference retrieved). This pattern is attributed to the fact that 75 percent of this group work in academic libraries that charge individual users for online connect time. In this situation pressure to keep costs low appears to be great; (3) the subjects with ERIC experience used more thesaurus terms than the subjects without ERIC experience. The subjects without ERIC experience tended to prefer free text to thesaurus terms. In regard to outcome, only slight evidence was found to support the hypothesis that ERIC database experience leads to greater success in searching.