Part 8: types of Information: Forus on Search Engines and Web Sites

I had no idea how many search engines existed in the web.  I think that so many of us are programmed to use Google or Yahoo because it is easy and on our homepage, but are we getting the information that we need?  Now that I have learned the tools of using search techniques coupled with search, meta-search, and subject directory search tools I feel more knowledge then ever when it comes to online research.   I wish that I had possessed these tools when taking English 101 and 102, my papers would have contained more in depth information, and I would have learned more on my subjects as well.

After viewing the lists on the Southern Oregon University library website I decided to research Lycos when using Search tools.  The Lycos website is very much like a Google, but easier on the eyes.  I was able to use the Boolean  techniques, " ", as well as anding concepts.  I did find quite a few websites, a few videos, but not much in the form of imagery,  or news.  These areas of may require a more general search term like censorship rather than "censor* in America*.  Using a search tool enables you can take advantage of features specific to a particular search tool to enhance your search.  When digging into what is unique about Lycos is that not only does it has its basic Internet search, but it also has the ability to to parallel searches within its own web page called HotBot, plus it also has a white pages type of search as well for contact information. 

Within the meta-search tools I decided to explore the mamma.com website.  This was an amazing website very easy to use and actually received more hits using the "censor* in America" than in other websites.  Like in Lycos, I was also able to use truncating, censor*, and " " in the search area.  Mamma.com is very much more geared to getting you to other websites that possess your needed information, not so much on the news front, or image arena.  Meta-search tools search multiple tools simultaneously.  Mamma.com will search multiple websites and base their relevancy of the source.  I would definitely use this site again.  Having the relevancy of sourced information already done for you would save a lot of time when researching a topic.  I did not see any specific information on search tips within Mamma.com, but I asked it for search tips and it linked me to a Google web page. 

A subject directory is maintained by librarians to give the researcher good information.  I was able to play around with the ipl2 website, and this by far was where the best information was found regarding censorship in America.  I was able to search using Censor* in America.  All of the articles were directly related to censorship in America, like banned books, comics, coalitions against censorship, and historical references regarding censorship.   The easiest search engine by far has been the ipl2 website.  It actually gives search help like wild card characters, Boolean operators, advance searches, and range searches.  As for the most complete search engine I would get those most out of the subject directory type of search engine. 

I am really impressed with the web and how informational it really is.  I had no idea that search engines were catered to specific needs, like mamma.com website that bases their posts on relevancy of the source, or a subject library that is maintained by professional librarians.  When it comes to research librarians are the at the forefront of Internet research.  Our ways of researching subjects have changes so much over the last 10 years, and the research that we have been doing in this class over the last 8 weeks, have really opened my eyes to all that is obtainable on the web. 

Megan Fletcher

Part 7, Finding Articles in Periodical Indexes

After reading through your comments left of the prior assignment.  I was a little confused on the " " marks and where to place them, but I feel that I have a good understanding of how us use the Boolean search tools.  I did play around with the " " placement and received more results.  I will only use the " " when looking for a specific keyword.  

Here are the 3 articles that I found based on Censorship in America:

The successful search term that I used was "Censor*" and "America"

Magazine article:

Adam Phillips.  "Publisher Who Defied US Censorship Laws Dies at 89. " Voice of America News / FIND  24 Feb. 2012: Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  25 May. 2012.

This would definitely be an article that I would use because it has a great historical back round on censorship in America.  Barney Rosset a free-speech activist worked his whole life defying the odds.  According to Rosset "I feel that if people don't have the right to express themselves, first of all, they are not going to be happy, and secondly, they aren't going to develop the creative abilities they have, as scientists, as bankers, as anything," said in an interview to VOA in 2009. 

Scholarly article:

"is it legal? broadcasting. " Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom  56.1 (2007): 27-30. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  25 May. 2012. 

Here is another great article that I would use in my research paper.  This article talks about how the FCC determines what should be censored and what shouldn't be.  Billboard awards are being censored for the same things being said on the Today show, yet the Today show is not being censored.  The FCC is determining what is indecent and what is not, yet both shows spoke on the same subject. 

Since I was unable to determine if this was scholarly, so I found another article.  

"What Johnny Shouldn't Read: Textbook Censorship In America. " English Journal  85.1 (1996): 80-81. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  25 May. 2012.  

This article is older but worth putting into an research paper.  It is based on the censorship of books in schools in America.  What should we censor from our children, and who should determine this censorship? This article is written regarding a book "What Johnny Shouldn't Read", and its influences in the teaching community. 

"What Johnny Shouldn't Read: Textbook Censorship In America. " English Journal  85.1 (1996): 80-81. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  25 May. 2012. 

Newspaper article:

Amir Efrati.  "Twitter's Censors Provoke Backlash. " Wall Street Journal (Online)  28  Jan. 2012,ProQuest National Newspapers Core, ProQuest. Web.  25 May. 2012. 

A newspaper article based on Twitter, and American based company that is being censored in countries overseas based on its contents.  I liked this article because it talks about the freedoms that American have with their speech, but other countries are demanding a censorship of their citizens.  As American we have to respect what other countries have mandated for their citizens. 

For me this was a more difficult search.  I wrongfully assumed that since I have heard so much about censorship that it would be an easy area to find research, but it took me a while to find these few articles.  I didn't have to revise my search very much, but found that what i wanted to write about a history paper on censorship the articles may be older than I would like them to be.  

Megan Fletcher

Part 6: Database Feature and Searching Techniques

Part 1

Here are the 5 questions that I choose to use Boolean operators on:

1. Is a vegetarian diet healthier than a meat-based diet?
-"Vegetarian diet" and "meat diet"
-"Vegetarian health" and "Omnivore health"
2. Is the current lack of sunspot activity affecting global warming?
-"Sunspot activity" and "global warm*"
-"Sunspot activity" and "global warm* effects"
3. Does anti-smoking advertising by the tobacco industry lead to increased smoking among youth?
-"Anti-smoking advertising" and "increased youth smoking"
-Advertising and youth smok*
4.  How much more can a college graduate expect to earn over someone with a high school diploma?
-"College graduate earnings" and "high school graduate earnings"
-"How much college graduate earn*" and "how much high school graduate earn*"
5.  What breeds of dogs make good therapy pets?
-"Therapy dogs"
-"Therapy dogs" or "Therapy pets"

Part 2

So one of my research questions was, Does censorship infringe on Americans 1st amendment?

When I placed this entire statement into EBSCOhost I received 0 results.  
I placed 1st Amendment and censor* and received 56 results.
I placed Censor* and America and received 732 results.
I placed "Censor*" and United States I received 4712 results.

By using the Boolean search statements I was able to broaden my search tremendously.  I will definitely use these searching techniques when writing my next research or persuasive paper. 

Thank you,
Megan Fletcher

Digging into databases and books

2.a. Cannell Library Book Catalog

- music censorship

- Rosenthal, Beth. Should music lyrics be censored?. Detroit, Greenhaven Press. 2001.

- Rap music censorship.

- Circulating Book

- ML3918.R37 S56 2012  

- Author is published in scholarly journals, many cited sources, and reference material.  Has written a number of opposing viewpoint books.  

2.b. 

-Censorship in America

-Foerstel, Herbers. Banned in the USA: a reference guide to book censorship in schools and public libraries. Westport, Conn. Greenwood Press. 1994.

- Public Schools Censorship, Textbook Censorship, Literature Censorship.

- WSU Vancouver Z658.U5 F64 1994  

- The author has written numerous books on censorship in America.  A large works cited page referenced at back of book.  

- Material that came up first was subject encyclopedias instead of books.

 

2.c.

I had no idea that this type of database existed.  IT Pro was very easy to navigate through, and gave so many different ways to search for data.  I don't know if I would use it for all my research because I prefer to hold and feel my books, rather than reading online.  I did find information on my research topic of censorship, but it was very focused on Internet filtering.  I would probably not use this search for a research paper on censorship unless my paper strictly focused on Internet censorship.  

The search I used was the advance search with a subject of Censorship, in the additional fields I choose full text that contained the word music.  So far it was the easiest of the databases to search, but looks like the information might be limited. 

2.d.

- I had to refine my search a number of times to find a creditable book.  I searched under Freedom of Speech Censorship.

-Green, Jonathan. Encyclopedia of Censorship. New York, New York. Facts of File. 2005.

- Due to the nature of this book there was a ton of work sited, and reference material.  I would have no problem using this book for a research paper.  

To summarize this unit I would have to say that using the Summit Catalog, and the Cannell Library Catalog were that most useful.  At least I felt my search was done easier than on Google or IT Pro.  Summit Catalog is a college database, so you are going to get the most bang for your buck.  Almost all the books were subject encyclopedias or scholarly journals.  I would feel more that comfortable using the Summit database to obtain research information for a paper.  Also Cannell Library has so many other databases like opposing viewpoints that I also find very helpful when writing a paper.  It helps weed out the bias information, and give you a well rounded perspective on your topic. 

Thank you,

Megan Fletcher