Plain language searches do not work in Expanded Academic ASAP and may not work in other periodical databases because periodical databases

Are these your choices for this Penn-Foster exam question?

A. require only subject-related searches.
B. use only keyword searches.
C. aren't programmed to understand plain language searches.
D. recognize only synonyms.

What is your answer?

are designed to search for articles using specific keywords and subject terms. Plain language searches, which involve using everyday language without specific terms or phrases, may not yield accurate or relevant results in these databases.

The reason for this is that periodical databases use controlled vocabularies and indexing systems to organize and retrieve articles. These systems require the use of specific terms and subject headings to ensure precision and consistency in search results.

When conducting a search in Expanded Academic ASAP or other periodical databases, it is recommended to use keywords and phrases that are likely to appear in the articles related to your research topic. You can try to brainstorm and come up with relevant keywords or consult subject-specific dictionaries, encyclopedias, or other reference materials to identify appropriate terminology.

Additionally, using Boolean operators like "AND," "OR," and "NOT" can help refine your search and narrow down the results. These operators allow you to combine or exclude specific keywords to focus your search on more relevant information.

It's important to keep in mind that different databases may have different search functionalities and options. Familiarize yourself with the specific features of the database you are using to optimize your search results.

use advanced search algorithms that require specific syntax to retrieve accurate results. Plain language searches, where you use regular phrases or sentences, are not effective in these databases because they are designed to search for individual keywords or specific combinations of terms.

To ensure a successful search in Expanded Academic ASAP or similar periodical databases, you should follow these steps:

1. Identify keywords: Start by identifying the main keywords or key concepts related to your research question or topic. These are the essential terms that describe what you are looking for.

2. Combine keywords: Think about the relationship between your keywords and how they connect to the topic. Use logical operators such as "AND," "OR," or "NOT" to combine keywords effectively and narrow down or expand your search.

3. Use truncation or wildcard symbols: If you want to search for variations of a specific word, use truncation or wildcard symbols. For example, the symbol "*" can be used to search for different word endings like "educat*" to retrieve results for "education," "educational," or "educator."

4. Utilize Boolean operators: Boolean operators, such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT," help refine your search. Use "AND" to combine different keywords or concepts, "OR" to search for alternatives or synonyms, and "NOT" to exclude specific terms.

5. Use quotation marks: To search for an exact phrase or to retrieve results where multiple keywords appear together in a specific order, enclose them in quotation marks. For example, searching for "climate change" will only retrieve results where the phrase "climate change" appears verbatim.

6. Limit your search: Depending on your needs, you may want to limit your search by date, publication type, or subject categories. These options are usually available in advanced search options or filters within the database.

By following these steps and using appropriate syntax, you will be able to conduct effective searches in periodical databases like Expanded Academic ASAP and retrieve more accurate and relevant results.

Lazy, lazy. There's not even a question here!