Databases

Databases:

For this compentency I was to search four different databases for my search query and apply at least four different search techniques. I decided to use LibLit, JSTOR, ERIC, and Project Muse. I used the following techniques: building block search, the most specific first search, the snowballing approach, and the successive fraction approach.

My search query: The evolving trends in children’s literature.

Search 1: LibLit Database , Building Block Search Technique
My three facet components include trends AND children AND literature.
S1-trends received 3499 results
S2- children received 21,819 results
S3- literature received 33,395 results

When I combined all three facets using the Boolean operator AND, I received back a very narrow list of 129 records. One of the records found was:

Freitas, D. (2008). The Next Dead Thing. Publishers Weekly, 255(46), 23-4. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.

I decided to narrow my search a bit further and change literature to non-fiction books.
This time my search returned only 12 records. Looking over each of the records they seemed all to be relevant to my search including:

Op de Beeck, N. (1996). The great gross-out. Publishers Weekly, (243) 34-5. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.

I decided that my results were to low and I needed more so I decided to try the following:
(Trends OR patterns) AND (children OR kids) AND (literature OR fiction books)

As a result I received 154 records. I found that I narrowed my search too much when I added fiction books. It helped when I added the additional search terms because then my search was broadened.

Search 2: JSTOR, The Most Specific First Approach
Breaking up my search terms I searched the most specific term first .

Fiction books AND trends AND children

As I suspected, fiction retrieved the least amount of hits with 5073 records founds followed trends with 16,771 records and children receiving 28,137 records including the following:

Taxel, J. (1986). The Black Experience in Children’s Fiction: Controversies Surrounding Award Winning Books. Curriculum Inquiry, 245-281. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from JSTOR database.


Search 3: ERIC, The Snowballing Approach
When I searched trends and children and fiction I received 59 records.

One of the articles suggested that I use children’s literature---history and criticism which gave me 4505 records. Of the records found, the 9th hit was relevant to my search:

Pavonetti, L. M. (2004). Children's literature remembered: Issues, trends, and favorite books. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited.

Search 4: Project Muse, Successive Fraction Approach
I began my search with the term trends. I received back an astounding 15,891 hits, not surprising since trends is a broad term.

I then tried trends AND children’s fiction and got back 1587 records.

I decided to narrow even further by trying trends AND children’s fiction NOT non-fiction. This time I got 1507 hits which helped narrow my search a bit more by excluding any records that dealt with non-fiction.

Miskee, J. & McGee, C. (2007). My Scars Tell A Story: Self-Mutilation in Young Adult Literature. Children’s Quarterly (32), 163-178. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from Project Muse database.

Conclusion:
After researching for records relevant to my topic I found that my terms when used together were very specific so I usually got a narrow list of records relevant to my search. If you know what you are looking for and use the right terms then you should have no problem finding records appropriate for your search query.