Tips for Using AgeLine's Advanced Subject Search

Policy & Research

Tips for Using AgeLine's Advanced Subject Search

In this type of search, information is retrieved by inputting keywords from a predetermined list of subject keywords. Each AgeLine record has been assigned 6-15 subject keywords to describe its focus. These keywords provide a controlled vocabulary to help ensure that similar items are indexed using the same words. The Advanced Subject Search screen allows you to pair two or more subject keywords using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) between the separate search boxes and to perform Boolean OR (using a semicolon) within a search box. Although this search offers the most precision in searching the AgeLine database, it also requires more up-front time to determine what keywords are available that are appropriate to your search.

For more information, see Search Help topic Using Boolean Operators to Search.

When you search using subject keywords, you are taking advantage of information added to AgeLine records to facilitate retrieval of appropriate results. Subject searching is particularly helpful for topics that bring up hundreds of records (for example, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Long Term Care, Retirement Planning), resulting in a need to pull out only those with a major focus on the topic.

All of AgeLine's 2,000+ subjects can be viewed online by clicking the BROWSE SUBJECTS button to the right of each search box on the Advanced Subject Search screen.

The keyword subjects come from AgeLine's Thesaurus of Aging Terminology, 6th Edition, and the AgeLine Identifier List of the newest keywords to be added to the next revision of the Thesaurus. The print version of AgeLine's Thesaurus contains scope notes (definitions and scope) of most of the main terms within an alphabetical listing of broader, narrower, and related terms. It also offers a Rotated Terms section that helps locate individual words alphabetically within subject phrases and a separate listing of all Geographical Terms (states, provinces, countries, and regions) used in AgeLine.

To order the print version of AgeLine's Thesaurus of Aging Terminology, 6th Edition, click Thesaurus to retrieve and print an order form. Orders must be prepaid ($10.00 for shipping and handling).

Searching, Browsing, and Selecting Subject Keywords Online

To use the online subject index, click on the BROWSE SUBJECTS button below a subject box in the Advanced Subject Search screen. This takes you to an alphabetical listing of all of the subjects used to date in the AgeLine database.

The search function of the subject index allows you to key in a letter, word, or phrase to jump to that point in the alphabetically arranged subject index. The browse feature of the subject index allows you to move up or down a page in the subject index by clicking on the UP or DOWN buttons. The number in the parentheses to the right of each subject indicates how many records contain that subject. This is useful information when crafting your search query.

To select a particular subject keyword, click your mouse in the box to the left of the term you want.
To deselect a subject, click in the box again. Once you have pasted a subject into a subject search box on the search page, deselect using the delete key on the keyboard.
Click paste to add the selected term or terms into the search box on the previous page.
Selecting and pasting more than one subject keyword will automatically place the multiple subjects in the search box above the BROWSE SUBJECTS button you clicked while on the Advanced Subject Search screen.
A semicolon will automatically separate multiple subjects in one search box. Each semicolon operates as a Boolean OR (that is, the search query will ask the search engine to look for records that have at least one of the subjects selected).
If you want to search and paste a subject or subjects into the second or third search boxes, you must click the BROWSE SUBJECTS buttons below each of those boxes.

Alternatively, you may browse the Thesaurus of Aging Terminology and key the subjects directly into the search box(es).

Choosing Boolean Operators to Connect Search Boxes

The search system defaults to an automatic Boolean AND between each search box unless you change it by clicking on the radio buttons for OR or NOT. The system first searches all of the items in Search Box 1 (including any items that are separated by a semicolon) before pairing the search query with that in Search Box 2. It searches for subjects in Search Boxes 1 and 2 before pairing the results with subjects in Search Box 3.

Boolean AND

AND searches for the overlap between the subjects in the search boxes. Records that fit the search requirements in all of the search boxes are the only ones you will retrieve. A Boolean AND search between subjects retrieves fewer records than a Boolean OR search between the same subjects.

Boolean OR

OR is useful for stringing together and retrieving similar subjects before pairing with another subject or string of similar subjects. A semicolon will automatically separate multiple subjects in one search box, and each semicolon operates as a Boolean OR. There is no limit to the number of subjects that can be strung together with semicolons within one search box, even though the search box space is limited in terms of viewing your selections. You may also use the radio buttons to activate an OR search query between two or more search boxes.

Boolean NOT

NOT allows you to exclude one or more subjects from your search results as a way of retrieving records that more precisely fit your information needs. Use the NOT operator carefully, only after a review of your search results indicates the need to eliminate specific subjects in order to give you a relevant result.

For some people, it may be easier to understand Boolean operators by simply trying a number of searches and reviewing their results each time. Once you become familiar with subject searching, you may find that it saves time overall because the records retrieved are more targeted and relevant.

For more information, see the Search Help topic Using Boolean Operators to Search.

Examples of Good Subject Searches

Subject:	aarp publications; aarp research
	AND
Subject:	baby boom generation
	This search retrieves all of those AgeLine records describing AARP publications or AARP research documents that also focus on the baby boom generation.
	Note: The AgeLine subject term is Baby Boom Generation, not Baby Boomers. However, searching Baby Boomers in an Advanced Search or Basic Search is still successful because the search query is looking for "baby boomers" anywhere in the abstract or other fields of the records, not just the subject field in the records.
	Searching Baby Boom Generation in a Subject Search box ensures retrieval of those records that have a major focus on baby boomers; however, searching Baby Boomers in a Subject Search will retrieve 0 records because the subject term is Baby Boom Generation.

Subject:	surveys; tests
	AND
Subject:	successful aging; psychological well being
	This search retrieves all records describing documents focusing on surveys or tests that also focus in some way on successful aging or psychological well-being.

Subject:	advance directives
	OR
Subject:	do not resuscitate orders
	OR
Subject:	living wills
	This search retrieves all records describing documents with a focus on advance directives or do-not-resuscitate orders or living wills. A document only has to have a major focus on one of these three concepts to be included.

Subject:	personal guides; consumer guides
	AND
Subject:	retirement planning; money management
	NOT
Subject:	professional guides
	This search retrieves records describing retirement planning and money management guides with a personal or consumer focus and leaves out guides written for professional retirement planners.

Subject:	assisted living; nursing homes
	AND
Subject:	directory
	This search retrieves records describing directories of assisted living or nursing home facilities. Directories typically contain names, addresses, telephone numbers, and descriptions of facilities.

Subject:	older workers
	AND
Subject:	productivity; job performance; performance standards
	This search retrieves records describing books or articles that address productivity or job performance or performance standards and also focus on older workers.

Subject:	older computer users
	AND
Subject:	teaching techniques; learning
	This search retrieves records describing documents that deal with teaching techniques or learning issues and also focus on older computer users.
	Note on "older": Older Workers and Older Computer Users are two subjects that include "older" to help distinguish them from documents that focus on the population in general or on adults under the age of 50. Subjects with "older" in them are searched in the Subject Search, but in the Basic and Advanced Searches on other search screens, the word "older" is a STOP word--that is, the search engine ignores it because it is such a common word in the online catalog records. In general, there are relatively few subjects that include the word "older," because AgeLine already has as its focus the population aged 50 and older.

Subject:	North Carolina
	This search retrieves records describing documents with a specific focus on North Carolina. Research conducted in North Carolina does not typically have the subject term "North Carolina" added, unless the location is of particular relevance. If you would like to retrieve all references to North Carolina (or any other state), search the name of the state in the Basic or Advanced Search boxes.

Subject:	statistical data
	AND
Subject:	women
	This search retrieves all records describing documents that contain a significant amount of statistical information and that also have a focus on women.

Subject:	long distance caregivers
	This search retrieves records describing books or articles on caregivers who live a long distance from those for whom they provide care.

Note: Subjects do not include punctuation or hyphens. Browse and paste from the Subject index to ensure accuracy.

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