{"id":59,"date":"2022-01-19T15:44:52","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T15:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/controlled-vocabularies\/"},"modified":"2023-02-28T23:42:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T23:42:19","slug":"controlled-vocabularies","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/controlled-vocabularies\/","title":{"raw":"Controlled Vocabularies","rendered":"Controlled Vocabularies"},"content":{"raw":"Controlled vocabularies<\/strong> are a standardized set of terms used to describe the content of a resource in a database. This is known as [pb_glossary id=\"156\"]indexing[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>. Using controlled vocabulary terms will usually generate fewer and more relevant results<\/strong>. However, you must know the exact term\/vocabulary to use. An example is provided below.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nArticles on cancer<\/strong> research can include terms like: tumour, cancer, or neoplasm. In Ovid MEDLINE, the controlled vocabulary for these terms is Neoplasms<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nBy searching for Neoplasms<\/strong> you should retrieve all the articles where the author(s) used the terms tumour, cancer, or neoplasm (as long as they have been properly indexed).\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

When to Use Controlled Vocabularies<\/h1>\r\nThe following are situations in which you would use controlled vocabularies:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. If your keyword searching is giving you too many or too few results<\/strong>, try using controlled vocabulary terms.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. If you are doing a comprehensive search (e.g., a systematic review), you should combine both keywords and controlled vocabulary terms to increase the number of resources retrieved.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    How to Use Controlled Vocabularies<\/h1>\r\nSearch strategies must be customized for each database for a number of reasons, one of which is that they use different controlled vocabularies. The tutorials in Table 2.3 below cover how to use controlled vocabularies in specific databases. Review these tutorials if you\u2019d like to learn more.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Table 2.3. Databases and Controlled Vocabulary Tutorials<\/caption>\r\n
    Database<\/strong><\/th>\r\nControlled Vocabulary<\/strong><\/th>\r\nTutorial<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed<\/td>\r\nMeSH<\/td>\r\nMeSH tutorial<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    APA PsycInfo<\/td>\r\nAPA Thesaurus<\/td>\r\nAPA PsycInfo Tutorial<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    EBSCO CINAHL<\/td>\r\nCINAHL Subject Headings<\/td>\r\nCINAHL Tutorial<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Ovid Embase<\/td>\r\nEmtree<\/td>\r\nEmbase Tutorial<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
    \r\n

    Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
    \r\n\r\nDatabases like GEOBASE or Social Sciences Abstracts do not automatically identify relevant controlled vocabularies. Instead, you need to search the database\u2019s thesaurus or browse their list of controlled terms. Consult the database\u2019s help page, or contact your library for assistance.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    How to Find More Controlled Vocabulary<\/h1>\r\nBelow are the steps to follow when finding more controlled vocabularies:\r\n
      \r\n \t
    1. Search for each keyword in a database separately. This will allow you to identify additional controlled vocabulary.<\/strong> For example, the database PubMed allows you to search for MeSH headings one at a time<\/a>.\r\n