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Search Aid

This is to support search in SciVerse, Scopus, etc. and should be optional. When selected, each word in a query is checked against a thesaurus/dictionary for alternative terms. Alternative terms (synomyes) should be combined with OR in the query.

Value for Users

Problem is when I search Scopus or SciVerse with a given drug term or protein name, I need to be aware of what else a drug or protein is called (sme for genes, diseases, etc.). Not having to bother with this will save time and make search much more reliable. This feature would bring Scivers in line with Pubmed or EMBASE.

Application Users

Benefits everyone. Not having it, as an option, may hurt any user.


4 Comments

  1. nhutcherson Librarian
    October 4th, 2011

    I like the idea of having alternative terms automatically identified through a controlled vocabulary of some kind. I am not sure that making such a service an option is really needed. Why not just have the alternative terms identified and available for inclusion for the user when they search?

  2. ThomasGutjahr Other
    October 5th, 2011

    @nhutcherson yes, indeed, this is the approach taken by Pubmed and EMBASE (although in EMBASE you can control term expansion before submitting a search). Of course, why not make it default! The option to de-activate it could be part of an expert search or e.g. using “queryterm” to search for the exact term specified. Whatever is best – the original suggestion serves to eliminate the need for time-consuming searches for alternative terms (drug names, protein names, names of diseases, etc.)

  3. Jose Monteagudo Fortun Librarian
    October 12th, 2011

    Also this could be a very useful application, because sometimes there are doubts or ignorance of the names we have received for a term and to integrate a kind of dictionary of alternative terms such as that proposed would be very convenient to do in this searches services to answer questions about these cases that not only occur with medical terminology but also with other disciplines and a quick reference to the dictionary could help solve that problem by now.

  4. yusofharun Teacher
    October 27th, 2011

    Scivers in line with Pubmed or EMBASE? Who could ask for more? Hope this apps will materialize soon.

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