How do I know the differences and uses of keyword versus subject searching in a database?

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How do I know the differences and uses of keyword
versus subject searching in a database?
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Searching Options Keyword versus Subject

• Most databases will give you the option of
  performing a keyword or a subject or thesaurus
  search.
• Here are the differences
• Keyword searching
• You use the words that appear in your search
  question.
• Subject or thesaurus searching
• - You search for the database specific subject
  term or terms that describe your topic.
• - Then use the subject term(s) to conduct your
  search.

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Basic information on Keyword searching

• Searches terms in several fields such as title,
  subject, or abstract.
• Use everyday language
• Can combine several topics in one search
• Finds only the word or words you searched, not
  other spellings or synonyms. For example, if you
  searched teenagers, it will not find
• records using adolescents or juveniles.
• Often finds results that are irrelevant.
• Generally broadens a search.
• Use Keyword searching when

• Searching a new trend or concept or a very
  distinctive topic
• Needing a quick search
• Searching a complex topic, with several key
  terms
• Subject term not known, search for keyword
  and look at assigned subject terms
• Excluding a concept from your search
• Subject searching not available in a
  database

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Basic information on Subject searching

• Searches only the subject heading field, using
  one key term or concept.
• Searches the subject guide or thesaurus for that
  database to identify appropriate subject heading
• Then uses subject heading to start a search.
  Often can combine subject headings in a search.
• Produces very precise and relevant results
• Can sometimes be difficult to figure out the
  subject term

Use subject searching when

• Searching a broad topic
• Searching an already established topic
• Trying to retrieve all items in the database
  on your topic
• Looking for information about someone,
  something, or a place.
• Want to retrieve very relevant records in
  your search.

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How to develop a subject or thesaurus search
statement

• Examine the key concepts of this research
  question
• What are the effects of drug use by college
  students?
• drug use college students
• What is the main key concept?
• drug use
• College students are the population group
• that you are researching.

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• In the subject or thesaurus search of the
  database, search or browse for the term/phrase
• drug use
• The subject term/phrase that the database uses
  may not be exactly what you entered.
• It may be drug use
• or
• drug abuse

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Each database may differ in how subject or
thesaurus searches are performed at this point.
For example
Build a Search You may be able to build a search
with the subject term to find articles. You can
limit your subject search by adding in the other
terms.
Subdivision List You may be given a list of
subdivisions provided by the database that will
give you articles for that term and the
subdivisions of that term such as Prevention
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Another method of finding what the subject
headings or terms are

• Do a keyword search in the database for the main
  concept.
• Examine the record to find the subject terms
  listed in the database record.
• Then, search that subject term in the subject or
  thesaurus search in the database or click on
  the term if it is hyperlinked.