Argues that the selection of a database is a significant factor in the success and cost effectiveness of an online search, and provides guidelines for determining whether the content of a database is relevant for a particular search and whether the database is accessible, affordable, and suitable for the search. (LAE)

Discusses three approaches to thesaurus and indexing/retrieval language maintenance for combined databases: reindexing, merging, and initial standardization. Two thesauri for a combined database are evaluated in terms of their compatibility, and indexing practices are compared. Tables and figures help illustrate aspects of the comparison. (SW)

Describes the organization of the descriptors used in the ERIC database to indicate age, educational, and student levels, and suggests appropriate search strategies for the retrieval of information on specific age groups. (CLB)

Describes and compares the nine online databases that index the Washington Post. Points of comparison include materials that are excluded from the database, citations to excluded materials, citation formats, search vocabularies and strategies, full-text searching, cross-file searching, and search costs. (5 references) (CLB)

Describes a study that compared the coverage of the nursing profession, subject heading specificity, and ease of retrieval of the MEDLINE and Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL) online databases. The strengths and weaknesses of each database are discussed and hints for searching on both databases are provided. (four references) (CLB)

The first article describes SPORT, a database providing international coverage of athletics and physical education, and compares it to other online services in terms of coverage, thesauri, possible search strategies, and actual usage. The second article reviews available online information on sports medicine. (CLB)

Search terms and user aids are noted in review of databases covering historical material in the hard and social sciences--U.S. Political Science Documents, ERIC, Language and Language Behavior Abstracts, POPLINE and Population Bibliography, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, Child Abuse and Neglect, GEOREF, International Pharmaceuticals Abstracts,…

Discusses databases available for online searching in the humanities fields and describes searches that investigated scatter (i.e., the spread of subject terms across the databases), overlap among online files in terms of retrieved records, and the comparative effectiveness of natural language versus controlled vocabulary for information…

Two subject profiles (social welfare direct practice and management) were used to search 13 social science databases in order to examine extent of online coverage of social welfare literature. Journal coverage data for 20 titles were obtained and most recent citations were retrieved to compare currency of indexing (5 references). (EJS)

Assesses the major databases for retrieval of mental health information (PSYCINFO, MEDLINE, NIMH) on the basis of journal coverage, controlled vocabulary, abstracts, and performance in actual searches. Thirteen references, database information (producer, availability/cost, coverage, updates/currency), comparison of journal coverage by selected…

Compares Wilson's database tape and the IAC "Expanded Academic Index" as explored by librarians in the State University System of Florida. Features addressed include journal coverage; abstracts and full text; subject headings, including consistency versus precision and controlled vocabularies; search software; disk storage requirements;…