Support : Publications : Chronolog Archives : Nov/Dec 2002

Use Treatment Terms in ABI/INFORM® to Pinpoint Answers

The ProQuest Vocabulary has a number of wonderful descriptors that are classified as treatment terms. Descriptors such as GUIDELINES, SUCCESS, CASE STUDIES, and ADVANTAGES can be used in ABI/INFORM (File 15/IINFO) to identify the treatment of the article. The term GUIDELINES is a favorite among researchers because it leads to articles that discuss instructions or improvement.

Likewise the terms ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES can be used in a search to find articles discussing the pros and cons of an issue. For those searching for business strategies that have proved productive, use the terms SUCCESS or EFFECTIVENESS with a subject descriptor. For those looking to learn from others' mistakes or to find a weak spot in the competitor, use the terms PROBLEMS or FAILURE.

These treatment terms can be used with virtually any subject matter to create a formula for a successful search and are yet another reason to consult the ProQuest vocabulary before constructing a search. The treatment terms allow researchers to go beyond the basic "Who," "What," "When," questions and arrive at the "How" and "Why" answers. Consult the sidebar for more treatment terms.

Sample Search

To search for case studies about intranets using Treatment Terms,

Dialog: s intranet?/ti and case studies
DataStar: intranet$1.ti. and case studies.de

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