Natural language searching vs searching techniques in EBSCO databases

AI- Assisted Search – natural language searching in EBSCO databases 

EBSCO Databases  

If you use our Library search engine LibrarySearch to search for books, journal articles and other resources, you may be familiar with EBSCO – the EBSCO platform hosts a variety of databases that you can search together or individually. 

Some of our popular EBSCO databases include:  

  • CINAHL Ultimate 
  • APA PsycInfo 
  • CAB Abstracts with Full Text  
  • ERIC  
  • MEDLINE 
  • SPORTDiscus with Full Text 

These are heavily used by our Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Life sciences, sports sciences and education students, among others. 

You can find a list of all 17 EBSCO databases that we provide access to here: A-Z Databases. 

 

We want to introduce a feature of EBSCO databases that lets you search using natural language, e.g. like Google – this is an AI-assisted search, that EBSCO is calling , ahem, AI assisted search! 

 

What is AI-Assisted Search 

EBSCO describes this feature as follows :  

“AI-Assisted Search enables users to search in everyday natural language, making research more intuitive while quickly connecting them to relevant content.” 

This provides a natural language search experience where you can type an entire question rather than using keywords. 

AI translates the query that you type into the search box into a Boolean style search, which provides you with a relevant results list.  

How do I use it? 

Start in LibrarySearch and navigate to your chosen EBSCO database

Choose ‘E’ for EBSCO and choose 1 or more EBSCO databases

Choose Search options and ‘AI Assisted search’.

Now carry out your search using natural language – just type in your full question.

Click ‘Show refined query’ and this shows you how your search has been broken down and transformed into a Boolean Search.

You can choose AI assisted and traditional search methods in the same session, for example of you want to edit the query.

It also provides ‘Suggested search queries’, creating 3 possible follow up questions or directions of travel for the researcher.

You can opt to turn AI assisted search on and off on the Basic Search and Results pages.

When on the Advanced search screen, a user can find AI-assisted search listed as a Search mode, under the Search options tab (Search options > Search modes).

Where can I learn more?

Dawn Adams, Subject Librarian for School of Health and Social Care will run an online training session on October 29th 13.00 – 13.30 on using AI assisted search – book via LibCal – Use AI-assisted search in Ebsco databases – Home – Edinburgh Napier University

Everyone welcome regardless of Subject discipline!

How is EBSCO handling ethical concerns related to the use of AI?

Please see EBSCO Information Services Defines Guiding Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (11 March, 2024) as well as EBSCO’s AI Tenets.

“EBSCO is committed to responsible and ethical use of AI in our research experiences. To learn more about how AI is used to support AI-assisted searching, visit: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transparency Fact Sheet – AI-Assisted search”

More resources:

By Judy Wheeler