Tools that Every College Student Researcher Needs

Booleans are data type within computer language which allow operators to ask for different variables. Most operators know booleans as AND, OR, and NOT, which gives the data type they are requesting one of two values, either true or false. Booleans are used during Internet and database searches to eliminate or include certain verbiage. An operator can connect two words with a boolean to achieve search results that include both words. However, there are several boolean and other tactical ways to access databases to receive the precise information you are looking for.

Within Suzanne Bell's article "Tools Every Searcher Should Know and Use," she discusses the different tactical ways to which a searcher to help themselves while research particular topics. While the Internet and research databases are designed to have a catalogue, using certain techniques to limit information supplied or gather more information for building the topic can be utilized by a searcher with great affect. Bell describes seven different tools to which searchers can use in pretty much any database to ensure the proper information is acquired.

Not being one to have the greatest of luck understanding or utilizing these tools, I decided to make it my mission to completely understand and overly misuse the tools set forth in the article. It was finally a moment for me to capitalize on my maturity and knowledge of researching. However, despite many attempts to understand the article, I set forth in the ever-expanding world of searching.

My first difficulty came when OhioLINK did not recognize my library card, which I have been trying to straighten out, so that I can use the library properly. This prohibited me from finding the article quickly, since I could not log in to view the results. So I turned my attention to the Internet to find the article, which had I read the article prior to searching for it, I would not have wasted three hours trying to find the full article, nor would I have had ill-fitting article returns because I did not limit the search simply to the article title. This would have been a proper time for someone to have taught me about Booleans and limiting concepts prior to this, but as I was not comfortable with the concepts, there are now three hours of my life gone. The irony is overwhelming.

Once I found the article in another library, I had to read it several times to fully understand the concepts. While I am not lost to technology, the terminology sometimes confuses me. Booleans and truncation? I'm lucky that I half understand binary code, but past that, I'm a bit confused but what things are called. But after the fifth time of reading the article, it finally made sense. So I attempted to put to good use the knowledge handed to me so neatly by Bell in her article.

I must admit: I am enamored by the truncation device. I feel as if I have wasted a great portion of my life writing out things in my search, and if I could, I would request that time back. Booleans still evade me to a certain extent, but I'm growing more comfortable with them as I use them more. I did several searches, each using one of the seven tools set forth in the article. The truncation was by far the most interesting to use, because of the sheer amount of information that can be pulled by using a partial word. I did a search with info* and the entries returned to me were fascinating. I received anywhere from groups that utilized info in their name to the entire word information. I then tried my name in multiple searches, and discovered that there are a lot of 'me' out there. I am particularly proud that there is a woman with my name who does cartoon voices.

Now that I am familiar and comfortable with these techniques, I feel I can successfully pass on the information to students without hesitation. I will definitely have to continue using the tools in every day searching, so that I don't forget, but this is most definitely an article I will share with students when they begin their own database searches.