E N D
1. Current and Completed Research Projects Database (CCRPD) Advanced Search
2. 2 Current and Completed Research Project Database Introduction
Nexus home-page
Scope of databases
Benefits of the Current and Completed Research Project Database (CCRPD)
Search interfaces
Navigation
Basic search interface
3. 3 Nexus home-page Menu links to databases – next slide scope of each database
Go To
LinksMenu links to databases – next slide scope of each database
Go To
Links
4. 4 Scope of databases Current and Completed Research Projects
This database includes South African dissertations and theses. It provides information on all fields of science since 1919. English titles are given for projects not in English. It also includes abstracts. A limited number of records contains links to the full-text.
NRF Funded Projects
It contains NRF Funded Projects since 2000. This database contributes to knowledge generation for the support and promotion of research development. Forthcoming Conferences – databases
Forthcoming Conferences – databases
It facilitates access to 10 international databases that announce forthcoming conferences.
Professional Associations in South Africa
This database facilitates access to South African Professional Associations.
5. 5 Benefits of the CCRPD Facilitate access to bibliographic information on grey literature e.g. dissertations, theses and research projects
Assist students with the
Identification of gaps in a research field
Consultation of similar studies to assist with research methodology
Identification of recommended research included in the theses or dissertations that provides opportunities for further investigations
Evaluation and analysis of completed studies in order to arrive at new solutions, policies, etc. (Literature reviews)
Provide information to identify experts in a specific field of study
Stimulate research in neglected areas
Encourage networking and collaboration between researchers
Facilitate research capacity development
Facilitate informed decision making and strategic management
6. 6 Search interfaces Basic
It facilitates a quick method of searching with the use of indexes. Click on the HELP Button of the search screen to obtain detailed assistance on how to use the basic search screen.
Advanced
The Advanced Search facilitates searching according to various fields including the defining of relationships between terms and phrases using Boolean and/or Proximity operators. The list box in front of each entry box allows you to select the search field in to which you would like to execute the search you have entered in the entry box. You are given three entry boxes in which to enter your search terms which you may combine with appropriate Boolean and/or Proximity operators.Click on the HELP Button of the Advanced search screen for assistance on how to use the interface.
Professional
It is a command driven search interface. You can build your search line by line. Once you have built up your search, you can combine search lines with Boolean operators as illustrated in the saved search "NEXUS example 1". Click on the Recall Search Button and select NEXUS example 1 and click on the OK button.
7. 7 Navigation
8. 8 Advanced Search Interface How to enter a search
Search fields
Boolean and Proximity operators
Examples
Hit Count
Maximum number of records to display
Display search results
Report formats
Limit your search
Custom search
Use of indexes
9. 9 Advanced Search Screen
BRIEF overview – in-depth further discussions on next slides
Action buttons: Search and Display; Update Hit Count; New Search
Exit and Help
Context sensitive Help with search lines
Searchable fields
Entry box for keywords, etc.
Boolean / proximity operators
Limit search
Status of projects
Years
Subject codes
Research categories
Custom search
List of Institution codes
List of subject codes
IndexBRIEF overview – in-depth further discussions on next slides
Action buttons: Search and Display; Update Hit Count; New Search
Exit and Help
Context sensitive Help with search lines
Searchable fields
Entry box for keywords, etc.
Boolean / proximity operators
Limit search
Status of projects
Years
Subject codes
Research categories
Custom search
List of Institution codes
List of subject codes
Index
10. 10 Search fields
The searchable fields are grouped into 5 options.
Option 1 and 2
The first two options are word searchable and requires Boolean and Proximity operators between the search terms/words. e.g. medic* AND health*A phrase search requires the Proximity operator "adjacent" e.g. primary ADJ education
Option 2 includes searching in the abstract field and you may retrieve more irrelevant records.
Option 3
The option to search by Authors is field searchable and requires no operators between the surname and initials or names.e.g. maepa* OR smith* OR van der merwe aj OR february a*
Option 4
The option to search by Titles is word searchable and requires Boolean and Proximity operators between the search terms. e.g. skill* AND programme* AND child*A phrase search requires the Proximity operator "adjacent“ e.g. primary ADJ education
Option 5
The option to search by Institution Names is field searchable and requires no operators between the terms e.g. university of limpopo
The option to search by Institution Codes requires you to access the linkList of Institution Codes and determine the correct codes for searching.
Important: Truncation should be used for institutions when you are not searching for information of a specific department, e.g. 0101*
General information
You may string your search strategy into one line, e.g. (e ADJ business*) OR (technolog* AND business*) AND (johannesburg OR pretoria OR durban)
Enter HYPHENATED PHRASES as follows:Outcomes ADJ based ADJ education
The list box containing Boolean and Proximity Operators next to the search lines will also facilitates the combination of terms.
CLICK on MORE EXAMPLES in the HELP facility.The searchable fields are grouped into 5 options.
Option 1 and 2
The first two options are word searchable and requires Boolean and Proximity operators between the search terms/words. e.g. medic* AND health*A phrase search requires the Proximity operator "adjacent" e.g. primary ADJ education
Option 2 includes searching in the abstract field and you may retrieve more irrelevant records.
Option 3
The option to search by Authors is field searchable and requires no operators between the surname and initials or names.e.g. maepa* OR smith* OR van der merwe aj OR february a*
Option 4
The option to search by Titles is word searchable and requires Boolean and Proximity operators between the search terms. e.g. skill* AND programme* AND child*A phrase search requires the Proximity operator "adjacent“ e.g. primary ADJ education
Option 5
The option to search by Institution Names is field searchable and requires no operators between the terms e.g. university of limpopo
The option to search by Institution Codes requires you to access the linkList of Institution Codes and determine the correct codes for searching.
Important: Truncation should be used for institutions when you are not searching for information of a specific department, e.g. 0101*
General information
You may string your search strategy into one line, e.g. (e ADJ business*) OR (technolog* AND business*) AND (johannesburg OR pretoria OR durban)
Enter HYPHENATED PHRASES as follows:Outcomes ADJ based ADJ education
The list box containing Boolean and Proximity Operators next to the search lines will also facilitates the combination of terms.
CLICK on MORE EXAMPLES in the HELP facility.
11. 11 Boolean operators
Boolean operators
GuidelineExampleANDAll terms joined by the this operator must be present in the recordhealth AND substance AND abusefinds records where all three terms are present in the same field in any orderORAny or all of the terms separated by the operator must appear in the record.medic* OR pharma*finds records in which either medic* or pharma* is present in the same field in any orderNOTThe term that follows the operator must not be present in the record(medic* OR health) NOT pharma*finds records in whic either medic* or heatlh is present but do not include pharma*Proximity operators
GuidelineExampleADJThe terms separated by the operator must appear in the same field and will be next to each other (adjacent).human ADJ scienc*finds records in which both terms are next to each other in the same field in the specified orderNEARThe terms separated by the operator are usually within one to five words of each otheragric* NEAR councilfinds records in which both terms appear within one to five words from each otherW/0 (zero)Equivalent to the adjacency operation with the distinction that in this case the order of the terms is not important. Term A is within zero words of term B.animal* W/0 farm*finds records in which both terms appear next to each other in any orderW/nwhere n is any numeric digit, e.g. W/3 means that term A is within 2 words of term Benglish W/2 second ADJ languageBecause ADJ has a higher order of preference than the W/2 operator. The system will perform the second ADJ language part of the search first. Having retrieved these records the system will then refine this search by retrieving those records that have the word english within two words of this phrase.W/SMeans that term A is in the same sentence as term BAids W/S educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same sentence as the word educationW/PMeans that term A is in the same paragraph as term BAids W/P educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word educationW/FMeans that term A is in the same field as term BAids W/F educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word educationW/OMeans that term A is in the same occurence of the same field as term BAids W/O educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word education The default order of preference is:
ADJ or W/0 (within zero words) - These are the two adjacency operators, in the same order, or either order
W/n (within "n" words)
W/S (within the same sentence or subfield)
W/P (within the same paragraph)
W/O (within the same occurrence)
W/F (within the same field)
Wildcards and Truncation
Truncation - A search technique which allows for the retrieval of multiple words which share the same initial root-word, but have different endings. The asterisk (*) symbol is used to indicate a search of this type.The asterisk (*), question mark (?) are called wildcards because they can be included in a search term to represent unknown characters. The asterisk (*) stands for any group of characters (multi-character) or no characters. The question mark (?) represents any single character. GuidelineExampleWildcards may be used inside a search term and at the end, but not at the beginning.You may use any number of wildcards in a single term, including different wildcards in the same term.Use the asterisk to replace the end of a word when you want to search for all possible endings of a given root.The asterisk wild card must be preceded by at least three letters.employ* finds employ, employee, employer, employed, employable, employmentwind? finds wind, winds, windyen?oblast* finds endoblast, endoblasts, entoblast, entoblastsbiolog* finds biology, biologist, biologists, biologicalBoolean operators
GuidelineExampleANDAll terms joined by the this operator must be present in the recordhealth AND substance AND abusefinds records where all three terms are present in the same field in any orderORAny or all of the terms separated by the operator must appear in the record.medic* OR pharma*finds records in which either medic* or pharma* is present in the same field in any orderNOTThe term that follows the operator must not be present in the record(medic* OR health) NOT pharma*finds records in whic either medic* or heatlh is present but do not include pharma*Proximity operators
GuidelineExampleADJThe terms separated by the operator must appear in the same field and will be next to each other (adjacent).human ADJ scienc*finds records in which both terms are next to each other in the same field in the specified orderNEARThe terms separated by the operator are usually within one to five words of each otheragric* NEAR councilfinds records in which both terms appear within one to five words from each otherW/0 (zero)Equivalent to the adjacency operation with the distinction that in this case the order of the terms is not important. Term A is within zero words of term B.animal* W/0 farm*finds records in which both terms appear next to each other in any orderW/nwhere n is any numeric digit, e.g. W/3 means that term A is within 2 words of term Benglish W/2 second ADJ languageBecause ADJ has a higher order of preference than the W/2 operator. The system will perform the second ADJ language part of the search first. Having retrieved these records the system will then refine this search by retrieving those records that have the word english within two words of this phrase.W/SMeans that term A is in the same sentence as term BAids W/S educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same sentence as the word educationW/PMeans that term A is in the same paragraph as term BAids W/P educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word educationW/FMeans that term A is in the same field as term BAids W/F educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word educationW/OMeans that term A is in the same occurence of the same field as term BAids W/O educationfinds records in which the word Aids is in the same paragraph as the word education The default order of preference is:
ADJ or W/0 (within zero words) - These are the two adjacency operators, in the same order, or either order
W/n (within "n" words)
W/S (within the same sentence or subfield)
W/P (within the same paragraph)
W/O (within the same occurrence)
W/F (within the same field)
Wildcards and Truncation
Truncation - A search technique which allows for the retrieval of multiple words which share the same initial root-word, but have different endings. The asterisk (*) symbol is used to indicate a search of this type.
12. 12 Boolean operators
13. 13 Proximity operators
There are more advanced proximity operators explained in the HELP.There are more advanced proximity operators explained in the HELP.
14. 14 Example 1
15. 15 Example 2
16. 16 Example 3
17. 17 Hit Count Your search results are displayed at this point by clicking on Update Hit Count in the action navigation line after you have entered your terms
It will facilitate the refinement of your search strategy before displaying the search results
You may also directly click on Search and Display action after you have entered your search topic.
Hit count
Maximum number of records to display
When the Internet is slow you may decide to display for example only 50 records. You need then to limit you topic search by years to retrieve all the records on the database.Hit count
Maximum number of records to display
When the Internet is slow you may decide to display for example only 50 records. You need then to limit you topic search by years to retrieve all the records on the database.
18. 18 Display search results It displays the records in sets of 25 of 500 items per page
Click on RETURN to SEARCH if you prefer to refine your search
You may click on Select All to select all the records retrieved or select individual records
It is important to select records before you use the e-mail facility
Browse options:
Click on the title hyperlinks to view the full record
Select records and click on the DISPLAY SELECTIONS
Change the report format in the LIST BOX
A few records contain hyperlinks to full-text
It displays the records in sets of 25 of 500 items per page
Click on RETURN to SEARCH if you prefer to refine your search
You may click on Select All to select all the records retrieved or select individual records
It is important to select records before you use the e-mail facility
Browse options:
Click on the title hyperlinks to view the full record
Select records and click on the DISPLAY SELECTIONS
Change the report format in the LIST BOX
A few records contain hyperlinks to full-text
19. 19 Display search results It displays the records in sets of 25 of 500 items per page
Click on RETURN to SEARCH if you prefer to refine your search
You may click on Select All to select all the records retrieved or select individual records
It is important to select records before you use the e-mail facility
Browse options:
Click on the title hyperlinks to view the full record
Select records and click on the DISPLAY SELECTIONS
Change the report format in the LIST BOX
A few records contain hyperlinks to full-text
It displays the records in sets of 25 of 500 items per page
Click on RETURN to SEARCH if you prefer to refine your search
You may click on Select All to select all the records retrieved or select individual records
It is important to select records before you use the e-mail facility
Browse options:
Click on the title hyperlinks to view the full record
Select records and click on the DISPLAY SELECTIONS
Change the report format in the LIST BOX
A few records contain hyperlinks to full-text
20. 20 Display search results You can change your report format in the LIST BOX
View a specific record by clicking on the title
Select the records to view and then click on the “Display selections”You can change your report format in the LIST BOX
View a specific record by clicking on the title
Select the records to view and then click on the “Display selections”
21. 21 E-mail search results Select the records before e-mailing the results.
Choose a format, e.g. pdf, html or ASCII
Kindly use ASCII, if your clients receive any ‘funny’ text with html. Remember that mathematical symbols and diacritics will be displayed in codes when using the ascii format. Select the records before e-mailing the results.
Choose a format, e.g. pdf, html or ASCII
Kindly use ASCII, if your clients receive any ‘funny’ text with html. Remember that mathematical symbols and diacritics will be displayed in codes when using the ascii format.
22. 22 Report formats The system provides the following reports:
Short report format
Full report format
More report – click on title (hyperlinks)
Print friendly report
E-mail report in plain text (ascii format) or html or pdf format
It is important to select the records before you use the e-mail facility E-mail report
ASCII format will display mathematical symbols in ascii codes. Ascii reports as attachments will not be block by firewall set-ups.
PDF and html formats will display mathematical symbols. HTML attachments are sometimes block by firewalls or display ‘funny text’ due to MAPPI compliancy issues.
E-mail report
ASCII format will display mathematical symbols in ascii codes. Ascii reports as attachments will not be block by firewall set-ups.
PDF and html formats will display mathematical symbols. HTML attachments are sometimes block by firewalls or display ‘funny text’ due to MAPPI compliancy issues.
23. 23 Limit your search Status of projects
All
Current
Completed
Current projects: Year from
Completed projects: Year from
Subject codes
To limit a topic to a specific broad field, e.g. psychology, legal aspects, medical aspects
Research categories
All
Masters studies
Doctoral studies
Non-degree research projects
24. 24 Example 4 Doctoral studies on “Transformation” at UNISA during 1994 until 2007 in the field of management.
25. 25 Example 5 Energy studies completed from 2000 until 2005
26. 26 Example 6 Masters study completed by “Sithole”
27. 27 Custom search This search line allows “command driven searching” by field names.
Click on HELP next to search line to access the names of the fields and an example
The INDEX next to the entry box facilitates browsing, selection and display of records within a particular index.
28. 28 Custom search – Example
29. 29 List of Institution Codes
Search with 1201* to retrieve all projects from the Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology)
Use of the “see also”
To retrieve all projects of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology – you have to use the following codes and limit your search by year
e.g. 1201* OR 1208* limited by the year of merger onwards.
Search with 1201* to retrieve all projects from the Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology)
Use of the “see also”
To retrieve all projects of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology – you have to use the following codes and limit your search by year
e.g. 1201* OR 1208* limited by the year of merger onwards.
30. 30 Example 7
31. 31 List of Subject Codes
32. 32 List of Subject Codes
33. 33 Searching by Subject Codes All “agriculture” research
1. Add asterisk to broad subject code to retrieve all the projects on a subject1. Add asterisk to broad subject code to retrieve all the projects on a subject
34. 34 Searching by Subject Codes All “agricultural engineering” projects
1. Add asterisk to broad subject code to retrieve all the projects on a subject1. Add asterisk to broad subject code to retrieve all the projects on a subject
35. 35 Help facilities General Help on each screen
Context sensitive Help in front of search lines
General HELP covers the whole search screen
Context sensitive HELP covers the particular search lineGeneral HELP covers the whole search screen
Context sensitive HELP covers the particular search line
36. 36 Use of indexes Each search line has its own index. Click on the link to access the specific index. You will be provided with a searchable index that will allow you to paste the selected terms from the index into the search line.orClick on the index terms to display the records linked to a specific index term.
Help is provided with each index as explained below:
Browse the index by entering a term into the "List terms" entry box.
Click on the "Show near button" to execute the search.
Select terms by clicking in the select box alongside the terms.
Click on the "Paste button" for searching with selected terms. The selected terms will be pasted into the specific search line.
Optional: Click on the index terms to display the records linked to a specific index term.
The Basic index includes the words in titles, subjects, aims and abstracts.
Each search line has its own index. Click on the link to access the specific index. You will be provided with a searchable index that will allow you to paste the selected terms from the index into the search line.orClick on the index terms to display the records linked to a specific index term.
Help is provided with each index as explained below:
Browse the index by entering a term into the "List terms" entry box.
Click on the "Show near button" to execute the search.
Select terms by clicking in the select box alongside the terms.
Click on the "Paste button" for searching with selected terms. The selected terms will be pasted into the specific search line.
Optional: Click on the index terms to display the records linked to a specific index term.
The Basic index includes the words in titles, subjects, aims and abstracts.
37. 37 Thank you http://www.nrf.ac.za/nexus
nexus@nrf.ac.za