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Subject searching uses the language of the
database to describe a topic. Instead of describing your topic using your
own words, you need to describe your topic using the words of the database. When a
new source is entered into a database, it is given subject headings to describe
the topics covered in that source. Each database has its own language or
vocabulary, sometimes called controlled vocabulary. So, for example, a
database might use the phrase "motion pictures" in place of the terms "movies" or
"films".
Subject searching works best when your topic is
broad or when you are using ambiguous terms. The one drawback with subject
searching is determining what "headings" a particular database
uses to describe a topic. Many databases will guide you by using what is
known as "cross references." These work by referring you to the correct
heading. So, if you type in movies, the database might say "see motion
pictures."
Once you know the correct subject heading to describe your
topic, subject searching can be a very powerful search method because it will
pull together all of the sources about your topic regardless of different
terminology used within the sources themselves.
Often however, it works best to first do
a keyword search. From your results, find a source that looks promising and look at the
subject headings assigned to that source. Then go back and search using
those subject headings. This can be a very effective way of using both
keyword searching and subject searching to get the best results.
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Subject Searching