NRCBL: International Bioethics Organizations Search Tips

Library and Information Services, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University

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International Bioethics Organizations Database Search Tips

General Search Tips
Search Screen Tips

Basic Search
Advanced Search
Boolean Search

Using Your Search Results

General Search Tips

On the search screens:

You may use the "+" as a truncation/wild card symbol in the International Bioethics Organizations database. NOTE: Truncation does not work within quoted phrases or the subject phrases.
The "Reset" button may be used to clear the search screen options in preparation of submitting a new search request.
Can't find your organization in the International Bioethics Organizations database? Is the information out of date? Fill and submit the following form: Suggest/Update an Organization

While viewing your search results:

To modify a search, click on your browser's "Back" button to return to the search screen.
To return to the search screen from within a retrieval display, click on the magnifying glass icon
To return to the Search Databases on the Web page from within a retrieval display, click on the house icon

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Basic Search

The Basic Search screen is composed of one main search box and a few search limiters. The user can enter their search in the "Search String" box.

The first method of limiting the search is to use the drop-down list to the right of the "Search String" box. The user may select one of three options:

All of the words - This option will retrieve records that contain all of the words the user has entered in the "Search String" box. This option uses the Boolean operator "AND."
Any of these words - This option will retrieve records that contain any of the words the user has entered in the "Search String" box. This option uses the Boolean operator "OR."
Exact phrase only - This option will retrieve records that contain the exact phrase the user has entered in the "Search String" box. This option uses the Boolean operator "ADJ." (Note: placing quotes around a name (e.g. "American Medical Association") or a term (e.g. "HIV infection") is the same as selecting the "Exact phrase only" operator.)

The second method of limiting the search is to use the "In:" drop-down list immediately below the "Search String" box. The user may select one of the following options:

All fields - This option looks for the user's search string in all of the available fields in the International Bioethics Organizations database.
Organization/Institution - This option looks for the user's search string in the fields that contain information about the organization's name, e.g. organization acronym, English translation of the name, and institution at which the organization is based.
Organization Leaders - This option looks for the user's search string in the fields that contain information about the organization's leaders, e.g. director, president, and support staff.
State/Province - This option looks for the user's search string in the fields that contain information about the physical location of the organization, e.g. mailing address.
Country - This option looks for the user's search string in the fields that contain information about the physical location of the organization, e.g. mailing address.
Subject - This option looks for the user's search string in the fields that contain the subjects that our librarians have used to classify the organization. Click the NRCBL Classification Scheme to see the subject classification scheme our librarians created. Click the Browse Subject List to see the list of subjects that have been used to classify records in the International Bioethics Organizations database.

The third method of limiting the search is to specify how the user would like to handle records for organizations who are no longer in operation.

Exclude - This option removes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation from the user's search results.
Include - This option includes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation into the user's search results.
Only - This option retrieves only the records for the organizations who are no longer in operation in the user's search results.

The fourth method of limiting the search is to specify whether the user would like their search results to include only records for organizations who have Web sites. To include only organizations with Web sites, the user should click once in the checkbox. A checkmark will appear in the checkbox. To include all organiations, with or without Web sites, the checkbox should be empty.

Once the user has completed their search strategy, they should choose how many documents per page they wish to be displayed.

When finished, the user should click the "Submit Search" button. The International Bioethics Organizations database will process the request and display the search results.

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Advanced Search

The Advanced Search screen is composed of many search boxes and a few search limiters.

Fields Formats Searching

Organization/Institution Organization Name The full name of the organization; part of the name can be entered in quotes or the Exact Phrase operator can be selected.

Organization Name in English For organizations from non-English speaking countries, an attempt has been made to translate the name into English to provide additional access to the organization.

Organization's Acronym The organization's acronym may be used to search for the organization.

Institution The institution at which the organization is based.

Organization Leaders Enter organization leaders or support staff names in quotes in "lastname firstname" format and select "All of the Words" (e.g. "walters leroy" "juengst eric")

State/Province Enter the state or province in which the organization is physically located, e.g. mailing address. For the United States, the two-character postal abbreviation, as well as the state name spelled out, may be used.

Country(s) Select the country in which the organization is physically located, e.g. mailing address. To select more than one country, use the CTRL or CMD key and click on your choices.

Subject
1) Controlled vocabulary from the Subject List (Note: once the Subject List has been opened, it will remain open in the status line until it is closed.)

Click on Browse Subject List and click on the phrase to paste it into the query box. More than one term can be entered in the box at a time and the retrieval will contain cites with either of the terms

2) NRCBL classification scheme numbers One or more of the classification scheme numbers can be entered in the query box.

The user can enter their search in the "Search String" box.

The first method of limiting the search is to use the drop-down lists to the right of each of the aforementioned search boxes. The user may select one of three options:

All of the words - This option will retrieve records that contain all of the words the user has entered in the search box. This option uses the Boolean operator "AND."
Any of these words - This option will retrieve records that contain any of the words the user has entered in the search box. This option uses the Boolean operator "OR."
Exact phrase only - This option will retrieve records that contain the exact phrase the user has entered in the search box. This option uses the Boolean operator "ADJ." (Note: placing quotes around a name (e.g. "American Medical Association") or a term (e.g. "HIV infection") is the same as selecting the "Exact phrase only" operator.)

The second method of limiting the search is to specify how the user would like to handle records for organizations who are no longer in operation.

Exclude - This option removes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation from the user's search results.
Include - This option includes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation into the user's search results.
Only - This option retrieves only the records for the organizations who are no longer in operation in the user's search results.

The third method of limiting the search is to specify whether the user would like their search results to include only records for organizations who have Web sites. To include only organizations with Web sites, the user should click once in the checkbox. A checkmark will appear in the checkbox. To include all organiations, with or without Web sites, the checkbox should be empty.

Once the user has completed their search strategy, they should choose how many documents per page they wish to be displayed.

When finished, the user should click the "Submit Search" button. The International Bioethics Organizations database will process the request and display the search results.

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Boolean Search

The Boolean Search screen is composed of one main search box and a few search limiters. The user can enter their search in the "Search Query " box.

The first method of limiting the search is to specify how the user would like to handle records for organizations who are no longer in operation.

Exclude - This option removes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation from the user's search results.
Include - This option includes the records for all of the organizations who are no longer in operation into the user's search results.
Only - This option retrieves only the records for the organizations who are no longer in operation in the user's search results.

The second method of limiting the search is to specify whether the user would like their search results to include only records for organizations who have Web sites. To include only organizations with Web sites, the user should click once in the checkbox. A checkmark will appear in the checkbox. To include all organiations, with or without Web sites, the checkbox should be empty.

Click the NRCBL Classification Scheme to see the subject classification scheme our librarians created.

Click the Browse Subject List to see the list of subjects that have been used to classify records in the International Bioethics Organizations database.
Database fields should be enclosed by square brackets "[]" when included in the search query. See the sample search below.

Sample search: (council or committee) and 15.1[cl]

Fields available for searching include:

Field Code	Field Name	Field Code	Field Name
ORST	Organization/Institution	PUR	Statement of Purpose
STPR	State/Province	LIB	Library or Bibliographic Facilities or Services Offered
COU	Country	EDU	Education programs offered or sponsored
DSTF	Organization Leaders	PUB	Publications produced on a regular basis
CL	Subject Classification Number	EML	E-mail Address
AKA	Previous or Alternate Name	WWW	Organization website URL

Once the user has completed their search strategy, they should choose how many documents per page they wish to be displayed.

When finished, the user should click the "Submit Search" button. The International Bioethics Organizations database will process the request and display the search results.

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Using Your Search Results

Viewing Your Search Results

Your search results will contain the organization's name and contact information, including e-mail address and Web site, when available. The subject classification applied by our librarians and the date on which the data was last verified will appear following the contact information. If the organization's record includes information on the purpose or mission of the organization, the organization's name will appear as a hyperlink. If you click on the organization's name, a more detailed record for the organization will be retrieved.

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Printing Your Search Results

To print your search results, use your browser's Print function.

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Saving Your Search Results

You can check the citations you wish to save within each display page and save them to your local computer by clicking on the "Save Checked" button. To save all citations within the display page, click on the "Save All" button. NOTE: Citations must be saved before going to the next page of results. For large retrieval results, set the display to the maximum number of cites (200). Retrieval results larger than 200 can be saved/printed 200 citations at a time.

Once you have clicked either the "Save Checked" or "Save All" buttons, a file download dialog will appear. Complete the following five steps:

Click the "Save" button.
From the "Save in" drop-down list, choose the folder in which you wish to save your search results, e.g. C:\My Documents.
In the "File name" box, type a file name that means something to you, e.g. "genetic organizations with web sites.htm"
NOTE: You must add the ".htm" to the end of your file name. This will help your computer know which program it should use to open the file, e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox, or another HTML viewing program.
In the "Save as type" box, select the "All Files" option.
Finally, click the "Save" button.

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