Competency 6: Database Search 1: Books in Print using Successive Fractions

Naïve Question: How does the education obtained from a public school education compare to a private school education?

Introduction: I choose to use Books in Print for my first database search because I had a difficult time using it with my previous search. I want to feel successful using a variety of databases. I am definitely a novice and know that with practice I will gain confidence and a better understanding of how to use Books in Print to my advantage. I also thought my query might result in a book instead of just articles and this database produces book, audio, and video results. I have used the successive fractions search strategy.

Organization Table:

Facets	School	Public and Private	Education	compare
My initial terms	Schools secondary primary	state funded	learning curriculum	pros & cons likes & differences compare & contrast

Subject (all) search for individual facets:

Education = 322,923 results

School* = 50,253 results

Public AND private = 415 results

Compar* = 0 results

1^st Search- using the facet "education"

Since successive fractions searching focuses on beginning with the facet that retrieves the largest amount of results. I started with "education". I used the word in different forms to see how the results compared.

Education = 322,923 results

Education* = 327,569 results

All used Subject (all) search

I choose to continue with the 1^st facet "education" and add a 2^nd facet "school*.

SS1: education AND school* = 45,356 results using subject (all) search

I was really feeling successful as the number of results began to decrease. After perusing the books there were some that pertained to my query, but I decided to add a 3^rd facet "private AND public".

SS2: education AND school* AND (private AND public) = 58 results using subject (all) search

The results are still too broad as many of them do not focus on my query. So, this time I am going to add the word compare and use truncation "compar*".

SS3: education AND school* AND (private AND public) AND compar* = The subject (all) search had 0 results, so I changed "compar*" to keyword in title and received 8 results

It felt terrific to narrow down my search from 322, 923 results to simply 8 and even better from the 8 results I found a book that might have information pertaining to my query.

RESULTS:

Baker, David, et al, How Different, How Similar?: Comparing Key Organizational Qualities of American Public and Private Secondary Schools

I decided to try one more search to see if I could retrieve more accurate results. I used the first two facets as done previously and changed the third one to "differ*".

SS4: education AND school* AND (private AND public) AND differ*= 1 result (keyword in title for differ the first two facets were subject (all) search)-The keyword in subject search had 0 results.

RESULTS:

I was even happier with these results. The books seem a little more relevant to my query. My question is broad which at times may hinder my results but this time it proved to be helpful because the books I found compare public and private education as a whole and then dedicate chapters to each specific area or subject.

Hall, GK, Benveniste, Luis, Carnoy, Martin, & Rothstein, Richard. (2002). All else Equal: are public and private schools different?. United States: Routledge.

Baker, D, Han, M, Keil, C, & Broughman, S. (1998). How Different, how similar?: comparing key organizational qualities of american public and private secondary schools. United States: DIANE Publishing Company.

Out of curiosity I am going to complete another search and change the word choice between the facets. I would like to see if I receive any additional and useful books.

SS5: (school* OR education) AND (private AND public) = 72 results (subject (all) search)

After reviewing the results I did not receive anything new or different from previous results. I think I could try different facet combinations for awhile because as silly as it seems it is like a game and the more successful results I find the better I feel. It is fun! I am not going to continue because I have exhausted my facets and the results continue to be the same.

Reflection:

After completing the successive fraction search within Books in Print, I have a better understanding of the database and the tools provided to help users. I like the search strategy and think with further practice I won't have to constantly refer to my notes or the textbook to confirm if I have completed the search correctly. I like using successive fractions in a database because I get the opportunity to test the database to see if my facets are hits and if so are there enough to continue searching for answers to my query. I was successful in finding relevant materials pertaining to my question. I am confident the information I need will be provided by the books I have selected.

References:

Perryman, C. Four basic search strategies [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Module 6 notes Basic Search Techniques: http://online.twu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_204485_1%26url%3D