- Click on a country to view its name and participant databases in the side menu.
- Click on a link from the side menu to visit a participant's website.
To perform a search from the WorldWideScience homepage, enter search terms in your language into the search box. Select one of the ten languages that you want your search results translated into and click the search button.
Figure 281968: WorldWideScience Basic Search Form
Illustration of the World Wide Science Search Form. A text field with placeholder "Search Term(s)" and a red button with the text "Search" inside appears above a set of radio buttons allowing the user to select their preferred language.
A list of results will display. These results are ranked by relevance, indicated by the stars next to the document title.
Figure 281970: WWS Stars for Relevance
This image shows that four out of five stars are filled in with the color red. Four out of five stars indicates a good relevance rating for a search result.
When your search results are complete, select the "Translate Results" button at the upper right of your search results to automatically translate your search results into your previously selected language.
Figure 281972: WWS Translate Results Button
This image is of a blue button with the text "Translate Results".
Precise search results can be obtained by utilizing WorldWideScience's Advanced Search feature. Click Advanced Search at the top of the WorldWideScience website or from the link on the homepage.
Figure 281973: WWS Full Search Form
This image shows the Advanced Search form. Inside a grey box are fields for "Full Record," "Title," "Author", and a "Date Range." A check box allows the user to limit results to those that have full-text documents available. Radio buttons allow the user to have results translated into up to ten languages. Below the grey box, nested lists with checkboxes allow the user to choose which databases are queried for results.
Search results can be refined on the Advanced Search by entering a search term for the full record, the title, or author. Results can also be limited by specifying a date range or a particular database.
- The Full Record field searches the bibliographic record and full text of the document (if available) for a specified search term.
- The Title field searches for document titles with the specified search term.
- The Author field searches for a specified author of a document. Using the last name of a single author will yield the best results.
- Selecting a Date Range will limit results to documents published between two specified years.
- WorldWideScience searches all available databases by default. To limit results to a single or multiple databases, remove the check from the All Categories option and place a check next to the desired database(s).
To translate search results into your preferred language from the Advanced Search form, enter search terms in your language into the advanced search fields, then select one of ten languages that you want your search results translated into, select databases and execute search.
When your search results are complete, select the "Translate Results" button at the upper right of your search results to automatically translate your search results in your previously selected language.
Figure 281972: WWS Translate Results Button
This image is of a blue button with the text "Translate Results".
Format tabs at the top of the search results page allow search results to be refined by format/type.
Figure 281974: WWS Format Tabs
This image shows the tabs that appear at the top of a page of search results. In this illustration, the tabs read: Papers, Multimedia, Data/Software, and Public Access. The tabs allow the user to view results by Format or Type.
Once a search has been performed and a list of results returned, desired articles can be selected and saved for later use, emailed, and printed.
- Click on the empty box next to a desired article to add it to the Folders list found just above the search results.
Note: The number next to the Folder icon will increase as more articles are added. - Click on the Folder icon to view the list of selected articles. Articles can be removed from this list by unchecking them.
- Click the Back to Result List button to return to the search results.
Figure 281935: FOLDER Icon illustration
The FOLDER icon is indicated by a red arrow.
Citations of selected articles can be viewed and downloaded into several reference management software packages.
- Click on the Folder icon to view the citations and choose the download format.
Figure 281905: WWS Reference Management Formats
Illustration showing the reference management software formats supported by WorldWideScience. From the top: "RIS format," "Mendeley," "Zotero," "ProQuest RefWorks," and "EndNote Web" are listed in the image.
A list of selected articles can be printed by clicking the Print icon.
Figure 281910: PRINT Icon
Illustration of function icons. The PRINTER button is enclosed in a red rectangle for illustrative purposes.
A list of selected articles can be emailed by clicking the Email icon.
Figure 281904: EMAIL icon
Illustration of icons that allow the user to manage references returned by a search. The EMAIL button, which depicts an envelope, is enclosed by a red rectangle for illustrative purposes.
- Enter an email address, name, and optional message in the spaces provided.
- Click the Send results button at the bottom of the window to email results.
- An email from results@worldwidescience.org will be delivered to the specified email address.
Search results can be sorted by rank or date. Results can also be limited to a desired source.
- Click on the arrow next to the Sort by option to display a drop-down menu.
- Select the desired sorting option.
- The Rank option sorts results by relevance (this is the default option).
- The Date option sorts results by the most recent publication date.
Figure 281878: WWS Limit to All Collections
Illustration showing what Collections to limit results from. Text reads, "Limit to:" and "All Collections".
- Click on the arrow next to the Limit to option to display a drop-down menu.
- Scroll through the list of sources and select the desired option.
- Results from only the specified source will be displayed.
The total number of search results found is shown in Search Summary box.
Figure 281877: WWS Search Summary
Illustration of Search Summary, indicating number of top results found.
WorldWideScience provides a summary of results that outlines the responsiveness of each separate source. Click on the link to view.
Figure 281862: WWS Sources Complete
Illustration of "sources complete" notice. Reads "101 of 101 sources complete."
- The green check indicates the search for that source completed successfully.
- A red X indicates the source was unresponsive.
- The number in the Results column indicates the number of results returned for WorldWideScience.
- The number in the Totals column indicates how many additional results are available from that source.
- Due to the number of sources that WorldWideScience searches, a maximum of 100 results per source is returned. Additional results from a particular source can be obtained by searching the source directly.
Figure 281981: WWS Green Check
Figure 281982: WWS red x
WorldWideScience allows for user-control over certain search options.
- Click User Preferences from the list of links located above the search results.
- The Session Preferences window appears.
Figure 281983: WWS Wrench icon
Illustration of the function icons with the WRENCH icon indicated by a red arrow.
Figure 281986: WWS User Preferences
Illustration of the User Preferences form that appears when the wrench icon is clicked. The user may choose:
Results per page, how to sort results, if clicking a link opens the linked page in a new browser tab or a new browser window, whether to include duplicate results, whether to include unranked results.
- The Results per page option allows users to decide how many results appear on each page, from 10 to 100. Click the arrow to display a drop-down menu and select the desired number of results to display.
- Users can also choose whether or not to display duplicate and/or unranked results.
- Click Save to apply new settings and return to the search results.
WorldWideScience provides informative side bar options including Topics / Clusters and a Visualization of search results.
- Users may choose to Refine the search results by Topics, Authors, Publications, Country, Languages, Document Type, Source, and Document Format.
- Select the desired term to narrow the search, or click on "More" to see additional options in that category.
The Visual tab displays a circular graph of topics and the number of documents for those topics in the search results. Clicking on a topic in the graph will refine results by that topic.
Figure 281987: Default Title for Image - 281987
Illustration shows a circular graph of topics, with the number of results in each topic and subtopic.
Alerts make recurring searches easier by automating the search and sending you the results on a regular basis. To receive alerts on topic(s) of interest, create a free Alerts account, specify your alert parameters, and check your email.
- After a list of results is returned, click Alerts or Sign In at the top of the page.
Figure 281988: WWS ALERT button
Illustration of of the "ALERT" button.
- Click Register at the login page.
Figure 281989: WWS WorldWideScience Alerts Login form
WorldWideScience Alerts Login form
- Supply your user name, email address, email preference and format, and supply and confirm your password.
- Click the Create Account button.
- You will receive an email from results@worldwidescience.org requesting account confirmation. Click on the link provided to activate your account.
Note: You cannot begin using alerts until your account has been activated.
- Click the Create button on the top left panel of the Alert homepage.
- Alert Name: Select a memorable name for your alert.
- Description: Clarify your alert for your future reference.
- Alert Email Format: You can choose either HTML or TEXT email format.
- Alert Frequency: Choose how often to receive your Alert results.
- Enter your search terms into any or all of the available fields.
- Select All Sources or the individual sources you want to search.
- Save Alert.
- Click the Create an alert from this search link on the search results page.
- The information entered into the advanced search page will automatically populate the fields on the alert creation page.
- Alert parameters can be edited.
- If you have not created an Alerts account, WorldWideScience will remember your search information while you create and verify your new account.
In addition to simple search terms, WorldWideScience can conduct searches using multiple search terms, Boolean operators, exact phrases, parentheses, and wildcards.
Note: Searches are not case-sensitive. A search for SCIENCE, Science, or science will return the same results.
Example: science technology
WorldWideScience recognizes the operators AND, OR, and NOT
- Example: A search for science AND technology will return results on both science and technology.
- Example: A search for science OR technology will return results on either science or technology.
- Example: A search for science NOT technology will return results on science but not technology.
Phrases contained in double quotations (" ") will be searched as an exact phrase.
Example: A search for "nuclear energy" will return only those results where energy immediately follows the term nuclear.
Using parentheses allows control over the order in which Boolean expressions are evaluated.
Example: A search for nuclear ((energy consumption) OR waste) will return results for either nuclear energy consumption or nuclear waste.
Example: A search for ((black holes) or (dark matter)) AND gravitation will search for either black and holes and gravitation or dark and matter and gravitation.
Wildcards (* and ?) allow a search term to act as a "root" for words with different forms.
Example: A search for part* will return results that include the terms part, particle, participate, etc.
Example: A search for part? will return results with only one additional character: parts, party, etc.
Databases and portals from over 70 countries are currently searchable through the WorldWideScience.org global science gateway. Many of these sources offer access to the full text documents referenced in their bibliographic records. Detailed information regarding full text access is available from the source websites. These sources are listed on the Advanced Search page. Links to these sources can also be found in the search results. Additional information regarding full text access is provided below.
Sources with full text may be indicated in several ways. Some sources have "Full Text Available" displayed in their search results citations. The search results can also be refined to display only the results with full text by selecting "All Full Text" from the Topics cluster on the left. Scroll to the "Document Format" option and select "All Full Text."
Additionally, the results from some sources provide icons for linking to the full text. To view an electronic full text document, click on the full text icon (example, PDF icon). If there is no full text icon, go to the bibliographic record by clicking on the title for further information.
Many of the sources searched by WorldWideScience.org provide free access to the full text.
A few of the WorldWideScience.org sources require that users be registered, or have specific domains, to access their full text collections. Users should refer to the source's bibliographic records or websites for terms of access.
Some of the WorldWideScience.org sources provide search results from commercial publishers. If the full text is a copyrighted journal article, book, etc., it may be available for purchase from the publisher's website. Alternatively, many institutions, universities, and corporations maintain journal subscriptions for their library patrons. Detailed information regarding access should be available from the source website or via the publisher's website.
Open Access journals are defined as journals that use a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access to full text documents. Users may obtain access to full text articles from Open Access journals for free.
Some of the WorldWideScience.org sources provide access to their full text documents through interlibrary loan programs where users can borrow books or receive photocopies or files that are owned by another library. The source websites will provide detailed information regarding the process.
Lastly, there are WorldWideScience.org sources that are bibliographic-only databases. Bibliographic records from these sources will not offer full text access. It may be possible, however, to locate the full text item through another library or through a document delivery service.