preview

Database Request Database Analysis

Decent Essays

Prior to searching the ProQuest database one must take some things into consideration in order to get the best retrievals possible for your informational needs. While searching on most databases patrons are allowed to use subject and keyword searches. “Natural language is the language people speak and write” (Chu 53). It is language that individuals use on a daily basis as opposed to programmed language. It is more common for individuals to use search terms of a natural language to search for items within the database. Chu states, that “Natural language allows the highest degree of specificity and flexibility in representing and retrieving information” (17).
When conducting any type of search ProQuest looks for what you enter in the search box and will search for any available abstract or full text or all documents in all selected databases. Whatever search term you type in even if spelled incorrectly you may ask yourself if the database will be able to still accurately interpret the intended search term and conduct an effective search if one or more of the search terms are spelled incorrectly? A test was conducted using the search term Mozart due to it being a common term that the database would be able to detect. When conducting the basic search of the correct spelling of the word Mozart in the search box ProQuest …show more content…

In several cases, even when using terms that are very close to the actual search term, little to no search results were produced. ProQuest does provide suggestions to help improve your search giving users related search terms to help find what you are looking for as you enter the search term in the search box. ProQuest benefits users who may or may not know exactly what they are in search of when finding articles and e-books by providing a great selection to choose

Get Access