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# Advanced Search Techniques for Human Genetics Research
Advanced Searching refers to the use of special search operators and bibliographic tools in electronic databases and catalogs. These techniques are useful when you need to use more than one search term or are searching for materials related to highly complex and multifaceted topics. <br>
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In this tutorial, we'll explore how to use advanced search techniques for better searching in Human Genetics Research.
[[Next|Using Search Strategies]]
# How to use Search Strategies
These strategies employ search operators or specified symbols to define the type of actions you would like the database's search engine to perform. Click through the tabs to learn what each operator does.
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[[Next|Pop Quiz]]
Jump to page: {dropdown menu for:'chosenPassage', choices:["","Start","Introduction","Using Search Strategies","Pop Quiz","Answers","Controlled Vocabularies & Subject Headings","PubMed Exercise", "More PubMed","That's it!"]}
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# Pop Quiz
**Instructions:** Use the dropdown menus to match the operator with their intended function. You'll be able to move on once you've correctly identified them all!
<div class="quiz">
1. {dropdown menu for: 'choice1', choices: ["","OR", "*", "NOT", "AND"]} requires both terms to be in each item returned.
2. {dropdown menu for: 'choice2', choices: ["","*", "OR", "AND", "NOT"]} requires either term (or both) will be in the material returned.
3. {dropdown menu for: 'choice3', choices: ["","AND", "OR", "NOT", "*"]} excludes any records containing the term after the operator from the results.
4. {dropdown menu for: 'choice4', choices: ["","NOT", "AND", "*", "OR"]} requires a term and variant spellings of that term to be in materials returned.
[[Check Answers|Answers]]
[IF choice1 === "AND" && choice2 === "OR" && choice3 === "NOT" && choice4 === "*"]
## You got it!
[[Continue|Controlled Vocabularies & Subject Headings]] </div>
[else]
# Uh oh!
It looks like you missed a few. [[Review the operators again|Using Search Strategies]] and take another shot.
{back link, label: 'Try Again'}
# Controlled Vocabularies & Medical Subject Headings
Controlled vocabularies are a set of predetermined terms that describe specific concepts to enhance the findability of citations. Using controlled vocabulary terms allows you to locate citations no matter what term(s) an author does or does not use, and helps account for spelling variations and acronyms.
### The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
MeSH is a controlled and hierarchically-organized vocabulary created by the National Library of Medicine. It is used for indexing, cataloging, and searching of biomedical and health-related information. MeSH includes the subject headings in MEDLINE, PubMed, and other NLM databases.
[[Next|PubMed Exercise]]
# PubMed subject search: How it works
If you want to be as comprehensive as possible, you should ideally search with **both controlled vocabulary and keywords**. Learn how you can put these two techniques together to maxmimize the power of your search by completing the exercise below in another window. When you are finished, return to this page to continue.
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<a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/oet/ed/pubmed/quicktours/topic_how_it_works/index.html" target="_blank"> PubMed Excercise </a>
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[[Want more PubMed practice?|More Pubmed]] | [[Finish tutorial|That's it!]]# Want more PubMed practice?
Try out this excercise:
### Part A:
In one search, find references about the relationships between circadian rhythms and either cortisol or melatonin in humans. Check that all of your biomedical search terms map to MeSH.
### Part B:
Find references about heart surgery. Notice how the term is mapped using the Search Details box on your results screen. Using History on the Advanced Search screen, combine this search with the previous search to find references about heart surgery, circadian rhythms and cortisol or melatonin in humans.
### Results:
When you have finished this exercise, compare your results with <div class="btn btn-8">
<a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/090_050.html" target="_blank"> Suggested Answer </a>
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[[Next|That's it!]]
# That's it!
You've completed the basic training for advanced search techniques in Human Genetics. You should be familiar with what you need to get started using the library's databases and resources.
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If you have any questions or need research help, {link to: 'https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/library/research/', label: 'ask a librarian!'}