Types of Searches: Subject Search
A subject search retrieves records with the search terms in the designated subject field.
Subject headings are predetermined words or phrases that describe the content of the sources; sometimes call controlled vocabulary. The words or phrases can be developed in-house or by a larger professional organization. Two examples are the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Medical Subject Headings (MESH).
The advantage of using a subject search is that it focuses your search by conducting a search in only one field in the record. Once you have a good subject term, finding sources is very quick and easy. The disadvantage may be trying to identify a suitable term. If you are unfamiliar with a database's terminology, look for a link to a thesaurus or the option to "browse by" subject or descriptor.
Example: Differences between LCSH and natural language: |
||
| Popular terminology | Common spellings | Abbreviations |
'Solar energy' is the LCSH used to represent both solar power and solar energy. |
Inline skates, In line skates, or In-line skates have 'In-line skates' as the LCSH | 'AIDS (Disease)' is used rather than acquired immune
deficiency syndrome, but 'Unidentified Flying Objects' is used instead of UFOs. |