User:Nolaneclark/sandbox/Wiki Search Tips and Strategies

ResearchWiki provides three different methods to search for articles. This article explains each of the three methods. It also explains methods to expand your search options. We suggest that you try various methods in order to increase the likelihood of finding articles that can provide assistance.

Alternative Search Methods

 * Search by Country


 * This allows you to select a country from an alphabetical list and go directly to the home page for that country.


 * From the country home page, one can access home pages for political subdivisions of countries. For example, from the United States home page, one can go directly to the various state pages and from the state pages to the pages for each county.


 * Search by Keywords


 * This search methods operates similarly to the search engine for Wikipedia. The search engine looks for keywords found in the titles and text of the articles on the ResearchWiki.


 * For example, one can type in key words such as:
 * England
 * Iowa cemeteries
 * African American Research


 * Search by Topic


 * This allows you to search for articles that have been categorized by topic. This is similar to using a table of contents, divided into categories and subcategories.

Search by Country

 * How to use this search method


 * Click on the words "by country", which can be found both on the ResearchWiki home page and on the right side bar on each wiki article. The words "by country" are located near the search bar.  When you click on "by country," an alphabetical list of countries will appear.  From this list, one can go directly to the home page for that country.


 * Advantages of this search method:


 * Most articles on the ResearchWiki relate to specific political entities, such as a country, state, county or town. Searching "by country" leads you directly to articles relating to any particular country, and allows access to articles relating to political subdivisions of that country.


 * Limitations of this search method:


 * This search method cannot be used to access articles that are not related to a specific geographic area. For example, one cannot use this search method to find articles relating to finding aids or research methodology.


 * This search method does not allow access to geographic based articles that are not specific to a particular existing country. For example, this method will not lead to articles relating to former countries (for example, Austo-Hungarian Empire) or to larger geographic subdivisions (for example, Asia, Scandanavia, Polynesia or Middle East).

Search by Key Words

 * How to use this search method


 * In the search box, enter a key word or key words that relate to the desired topic. If you enter quotation marks around the key words, you will botain search results for the exact words. Otherwise, the search results will contain all articles that include all of the key words that you enter.


 * In terms of display priorities, the wiki search engine give higest rank to articles titles and then to the article contents. That is, article titles that contain the entered key words will appear in the search results above those articles that include the key words within the contents of the article.


 * Within the shaded box that precedes the actual search results, you can see a number indicating the number of results. The default setting is to show up to 20 articles. At the bottom of the "Search results" page, you can increase the number of results shown. At the bottom of the "Search results" page, you can also move to the next list of results or move to previous results.


 * Advantages of this search method


 * This is the most flexible of the three search methods.


 * Searching by keywords theoretically allows access to all wiki articles.


 * If you know the name of the article that you can seek, this search method allows you to find that article very quickly.


 * Limitations of this search method


 * The results obtained depend on the keywords selected.
 * If you use a single general word, you may obtain too many results; as a result, it may be time consuming to find articles relating to the topic that you see.


 * If you use too many words or words that are too specific, you may fail to find articles related to the subject matter that you seek but do not use all of the keywords that you entered.

Search by Topic

 * How to use this search method


 * Click on the words "by topic", which can be found on the ResearchWiki home page and also on the right side of each wiki article. The words "by topic" are loctated near the search bar.
 * When you click on the words "by topic," you retrieve a list of major topics. By selecting any of these major topics, you will obtain a list of categories and articles relating to that general topic. Within the various categories, you will also find subcategories that will lead to articles relating to that subcategory.


 * Advantages of this search method:


 * By using this search method, you can obtain an overview of various types of articles found in ResearchWiki. This will allow you identify various categories of articles that may be of interest, but of which of which you were not aware.


 * This search method will lead to groups of article related by subject, rather than merely to a specific article.


 * Limitations of this search method:


 * Some article on the wiki are not assigned categories or subcategories that fall within the major topics listed. Thus, this search method cannot be used to access all articles within the ResearchWiki.

Tools to expand your search

 * Identify other articles within the same category:


 * Persons who create wiki articles are instructed to place each article within one or more categories. These categories are located near the bottom of each article. For example, on the bottom of the home page for Virginia, one can find" "Categories:Virginia|States of the United States". By clicking on the word "Virginia", you will access the page "Category:Virginia". "Category:Virginia" lists: (1) subcategories within Category:Virginia and (2) articles directly categorized within Category:Virginia. Within these subcategories and articles, one should be able to locate all articles relating to Virginia.


 * Identify linked articles


 * Most articles are linked to other articles. These linked articles may provide information of value to your search. You find find linked articles through the tools within the purple-shaded area at the right portion or at the bottom of each wiki article. Click on the word "Toolbox". The expanded list includes the words "What links here". Clicking on the words "What links here" leads to a list of articles that are linked to that wiki article.


 * Search within other "namespaces"


 * The wiki contains various types of articles. Most are "content pages," containing information for researchers. Articles other than "content pages" include a prefix in the title, for example: "Help", "FamilySearch Wiki", "User", or "File."
 * One can expand a search beyond the "content pages" by clicking of tabs within the shaded box that appears of each Search results pages. For example, one can click on "Everything" and find all articles that meet the search specificiations, including "Sandbox" articles and "User" pages.