Re: [IUG] Weird behavior with advanced keyword searching

["Margaret Peloquin" <peloquin at austincc dot edu>]

I don't think this is weird at all.  The advanced search boxes are trying to
construct the search correctly. They are meant to construct the searches for
you.  They work best by having one search term in each box. So, if you wanted
to do the search right, you'd need another search box line. Or, you'd need to
use the general keyword search box and enter
(survey* or question*) and (social or cultur*) and research methodology

In this strategy "research methodology" is searched as a phrase.  You could
limit it to the subject index but that would probably not be necessary.

However, as you learned, you can force the boxes to work for you by properly
enclosing your terms in parens.  I think everything is working the way it is
designed to do.


Doris Munson <dmunson at mail dot ewu dot edu> said:

> Hello,
> 
> A reference librarian brought the following strange behavior to my 
> attention with advanced keyword searching:
> 
> The following search retrieves over 32,000 records:
> Any Field:  survey* or question* AND
> Any Field:  social or cultur* AND
> Subject: research methodology
> 
> If I change the search so the first two lines are enclosed in 
> parentheses, the search behaves correctly and I only get 14 records back:
> Any Field:  (survey* or question*) AND
> Any Field:  (social or cultur*) AND
> Subject: research methodology
> 
> I tried the above with Washington State University and got the similar 
> results.  However, the first search worked correctly on the University 
> of Oregon's catalog. 
> 
> Please give it a try and see what happens.  If you try the first search 
> and get similar results to mine, try clicking on the "Modify Search" 
> button -- the system came back with survey* or question* and social and 
> cultur*.
> 
> Regards,
> Doris
> 
> -- 
> Doris Munson
> Systems/Reference Librarian
> Eastern Washington University Libraries
> 100 LIB  816 F Street
> Cheney, WA 99004-2453
> (509)359-6395  fax (509) 6456
> dmunson at mail dot ewu dot edu
> 
> 
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-- 
=== Margaret Peloquin, Head Librarian Eastview  ===
=== Austin Community College, Austin, Texas     ===
=== (512)223-5117  Fax: (512)223-5111           ===
=== http://library.austincc.edu                 ===