Nancy Fjallbrant search process desribes in
article "Communication in Science and Technology"
Chapter 4.
The first stage of the retrospective information search, the
current awareness search and the factual search is to know what
you are looking for.
Having decided on a topic, you will need to make a more detailed
information search.
You do this in a series of
stages:
1. Formulate the search question in a clear and concise search
statement.
2. Analyse the search question into component aspects, which can
be represented by keywords or descriptors (search terms).
3. Develop and expand the search statement by means of synonyms,
broader terms and terms related to the descriptors, so that all
possible aspects are covered. Tools to be used in this
development process are dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopaedias,
handbooks etc. Known relevant articles and references can provide
valuable starting-points.
4. Limit the search to suit the purpose of the search (project,
application, thesis etc.), the subject area and the time span
required.
5. Choose the appropriate tools for information retrieval -
library catalogues, research reviews, secondary publications,
databases etc.
6. Search for the relevant information.
7. Evaluate the results of the search.
8. If necessary, modify and alter the search strategy.
Lack of precision in defining the real information need can lead
to poor search results.
Searching for information traditionally include information
retrieval in library catalogues, online databases, databases on
CD-ROM.
Computerised library catalogues contain the details of books,
reports, conference publications, periodical titles, etc. Library
catalogues do not contain details of individual journal articles.
It allows : check if a certain book is available at the library,
see which books are available on a specific subject, see whether
or not a book is currently available or out on loan.
In additional to the library catalogues, there are union
catalogues, which show the holdings of a number of libraries and
indicate where the given item is available. Today we are able to
access many library catalogues by the WWW.
Online information retrieval from databases the acquisition of
information from a distant computer via terminal or PC, involving
an interactive dialogue between enquirer and computer. The
computer handles a number of databases stored in electronic form:
journal articles, conference papers, reports, books etc.
CD-ROMs and WWW interfaces have been designed for end-users. They
are relatively user-friendly and the search software is self
explanatory.
The basic online search process is similar to that for manual
searching, namely definition and analysis of the search question
or topic, the identification of suitable search terms, the design
of the search strategy, choice of appropriate databases, and the
interactive online dialogue.
Searching on WWW requires to get minimum knowledge about search
sites - search engines.