GED/GSA 579  -----    Database Demonstrations
last update - 09/20/04

Angela & Seth - Lexis-Nexis   Sept 27

Jennifer & Lindy -  Business Source Premiere  Sept 27

Richard & Michele - ERIC  Oct 4

James & Maria - Teoma (search engine) http://www.teoma.com/   Oct 4

Coverage of Database Demonstrations:

A. Length: 20-30 minutes.  There is only one firm requirement in your database demonstration:  You should give an example search statement on a topic, and demonstrate the best approach to searching that topic within the assigned database.  Otherwise, you may fill the time in a number of ways.  Going through selected evaluation point, giving the class questions to answer, etc. 

B. You should have handouts for the class explaining the purpose of the database and "tips" on how to use it.  Handouts can cover the evaluation criteria of D.  Give background on the database or search engine found in journal articles or websites.

C. Have a handout that has 5 questions listed that the class could answer using your search index or search engine

D. Your demonstration should Evaluate the database by the following criteria:

Evaluating Periodical Indexes and Full Text Databases and Search Engines

1.  Who is the audience for this database? Purpose, why would a person use this database?

2.  Currency, what years are covered?

3   What Languages, Geographical coverage?

4.  What kinds of materials are indexed? (newspapers, journals, books, film reviews, radio transcripts, etc.)

5.  Access, how does one get to this database/where is it "located?"

6.  How do you use boolean/keyword operators (and, or, not).  Advanced/Guided searching?

7.  What are the truncation and wild-card symbols?

8.  Does the database provide a list of the journals (sources) it indexes?

9.  How do you search by fields?

10. How do you conduct phrase and proximity searches?

11. How do you bring up citations and abstracts of the computer record?  What is the quality of the written abstracts?

12. Are there Full-Text materials in the database? What percentage? Is the full text in image files (.pdf) files or text (ascii) files?  Is there a fee for accessing full text?

13. Is there a link to libraries that carry the journals or books?

14. Is there a link from search citations to SMC Interlibrary Loan?

15. How do you search by subject or descriptor terms? Is there a print/online thesaurus/subject headings list? What is the "quality" of the subject terms given to an article?  Does the database support "relevance" searching.

16. Evaluate the database for your needs: Were you successful in your searches?   Was it easy to use? Is it slow?  Give the good and bad points?

17. What institutions would you suggest should buy or use this database?

18. Are the help screens "helpful?"

19. Evaluate the interface?  What is the best method of searching for the beginner user?  What is the best method of searching for the expert user? 

20. Who publishes this database? What organization?  Find articles covering the database. 

21. Are the links to articles durable or persistent? Can you link to articles in the database from email or web pages?

22. Can a searcher restrict searches to only peer review, refereed or scholarly journals?  What other LIMIT functions apply?

23. Is citation searching possible in the database?

24. Is information given on how to cite articles?

25.  After a search - How are search terms "ranked?"

Internet Search Engines

Note:  An Internet search engine will have some additional or different evaluative elements to consider.  You may certainly add your own to the following list.  Look over pages 61-64 of your textbook Learning to use the Internet and WWW
1.  Is is a "Portal" site.  In other words does it provide email or web pages?  Can you customize the screen to view only what you choose?
2.  Does the site index Newsgroups? Can you limit a search to material type? (software, pictures, video, sound, etc)
3.  Can a searcher use a directory of subject choices to search (like Yahoo).
4.  Is there a filter that restricts content (mature, adult, children, etc)
5.  How many "hits" does the search engine find compared to other search engines
6.  Compare your search engine searches with another search engine.

Look over  the following for further evaluation points -- Search Engine Evaluation  Part I @ http://academics.smcvt.edu/sburks/basic_evaluation_of_search_engin.htm    and Evaluating Search Engine Part II -- Comparing Search Engines @ http://academics.smcvt.edu/sburks/ged_579_comparing_search_engines.htm 

***Remember, this is an informal demonstration.  You should consider that your audience (our class) will be seeing the database for the first time.  Make the demonstrations informative and practical for a novice group of users***