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Searching

When searching, first search for each of the aspects separately, then combine the queries into a final search query. In this case, you will start with the aspect air quality.

Use the database Web of Science for the exercise in the right-hand column*:


http://webofknowledge.com/wos

* Access to "Web of Science" is limited to the IP-range of the TU Delft campus. In order to gain access from outside the campus, you need to download and install the VPN client software: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/it-manuals/vpn-openvpn/

1

Search in Web of Science for the aspect "air quality". Don't forget to use synonyms as well (see the table below).

How many results did you find?

a)
b)
c)
d)

That is a good result.

A good search action would be: "air quality" OR "air pollut*" OR "air purificat*" OR "environmental pollut*" OR "gas emissions" OR "vehicle emissions" OR "exhaust gas"

You will then get approximately 180.000 results (2019).

This is not the best result.

A good search action would be: "air quality" OR "air pollut*" OR "air purificat*" OR "environmental pollut*" OR "gas emissions" OR "vehicle emissions" OR "exhaust gas"

You will then get approximately 180.000 results (2019).

Less than 175.000?

You probably did not use enough search terms.

You will then miss important literature.

More than 250.000?

You probably used search terms that are too general.

Or you forgot to keep the phrases together with quotation marks. For example, "air quality" instead of air quality.

You will then get too many irrelevant results.

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In the exercise above, a good search action will yield many results. Perhaps more than you would like! Don't panic, because:

  • The research topic consists of three aspects. Combining the three aspects will bring the number of results down considerably.
  • After combining the aspects, you can limit the number of results based on, for example, the year of publication or discipline.


Have a look at this video about combining searches in Web of Science from 2014.

Evaluating your search

M:\ud\lib\productteams\Opleidingen\2013 herziening IV2\icons\Engelse icons\evaluate your search.JPG

2

Let's say you haven't found many search results. So what do you do? (tick all correct answers)

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
That is correct. The other answers yield fewer results.

That is not (entirely) correct.

Using more specific search terms or fewer synonyms will yield fewer results.

To get more results, you can:

- apply truncation to search for more different word endings

- search in another, more suitable information source

- combine the synonyms with OR instead of AND (rule of thumb: synonyms are always combined with OR)

- correct spelling or typing errors

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