[Eril-l] EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search

Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Fri Jun 6 08:40:52 PDT 2025 

Hello,

We recently switched to the new EBSCO UI and have found that the search
options cause significant issues w/ boolean and w/ keyword searching
(depending on which "search mode" you have selected as the default). This
week we spent time documenting what the different search settings do for
the same search (see attached ), and to build off what Anne mentions, my
guess is the lower results in ERIC is likely occurring because the "Bool",
"All", or "Smart" setting is selected for "Search Mode" in EBSCO
Configuration (in EBSCO experience). We've found "find any of my search
terms" is the only one that doesn't cause significant issues, but even this
option is not perfect. Note that for natural language we've found that it
brings up zero results for a really basic query (see page 5 of attached
PDF).

Section of EBSCO Experience/Configuration to change search settings:
[image: image.png]

Simon

On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> This is an interesting discussion, especially with the uncertainty around
> ERIC's status.
>
> I searched for k-12 students AND meditation  (no quotation marks) in
> Education Research Complete and initially got 0 results. I then toggled on
> the Natural language search and got 2,421 result. See screenshot below. I
> had a similar experience in ERIC on Ebsco.  Are you seeing this Natural
> language option in the EBSCO UI?
>
> Anne
>
> [image: image.png]
>
> Anne P. Hancock
> Head of Resource Management, McQuade Library
> Liaison for the Girard School of Business
> Merrimack College I 315 Turnpike St. I North Andover, MA 01845
> 978-837-5350 | hancockan at merrimack.edu
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 11:13 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
>> We noticed this some time ago (and with ProQuest's ERIC as well) and
>> never got a satisfactory response from either Ebsco or PQ. Would love to
>> know what you all learn.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of Electronic
>> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
>> Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 10:41 AM
>> To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
>> Subject: [Eril-l] EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search
>>
>> [This email originated from outside of UNCW]
>>
>> We are seeing this problem too.  Kris what's the EBSCO case number so I
>> can have EBSCO technical support add us to this case.
>>
>> One of our librarians just compared eric.ed.gov and EBSCO eric:
>>
>> I searched for k-12 students AND meditation  (no quotation marks)
>>
>> eric.ed.gov = 507
>> EBSCO eric = 34
>>
>> Thanks
>> Joyce
>>
>>
>> Joyce Kebert
>> Serials/Databases Librarian
>> Grove City College
>> Henry Buhl Library
>> 300 Campus Drive
>> Grove City, PA USA 16127
>> Phone 724-458-3821
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of
>> eril-l-request at lists.eril-l.org
>> Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2025 4:02 PM
>> To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
>> Subject: Eril-l Digest, Vol 127, Issue 3
>>
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>    1. Lunch with Sage at ALA
>>       (Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list)
>>    2. EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search results than
>>       expected? (Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list)
>>    3. Re: EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search results
>>       than expected? (Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2025 17:44:37 +0000
>> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
>>         <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Subject: [Eril-l] Lunch with Sage at ALA
>> Message-ID:
>>         <
>> mailman.448.1749145482.1076673.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Sage is hosting a small, informal lunch with librarians who support
>> social and behavioral science programs across campus (teaching, study,
>> research, etc.) during ALA on Saturday, June 28, from 12:30 PM, ET to 2 PM,
>> ET, at The Continental Mid-Town, 1801 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
>> 19103.
>> No preparation necessary; simply come ready to share your thoughts about
>> challenges you witness and face, tools you use, and what support you may
>> need. Spaces are limited, RSVP here:
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>> Thank you,
>> Yvette
>>
>> [cid:image001.png at 01DBD61E.FDA6C690]
>> Yvette D. Ruffin, APR (she/her)
>> Associate Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
>> +1 919-673-3340
>> http://www.sagepublications.com/<http://www.sagepublications.com/>
>>
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>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2025 16:47:59 +0000
>> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
>>         <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
>> To: "eril-l at lists.eril-l.org" <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Subject: [Eril-l] EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search
>>         results than expected?
>> Message-ID:
>>         <
>> mailman.449.1749150474.1076673.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Dear List,
>>
>> A colleague at my institution reports that the Education Source database
>> on EBSCOhost is retrieving far fewer results than expected.
>>
>> For example, a "Find all my search terms" search for [k-12 students AND
>> meditation] currently returns 47 results, when in the past the same search
>> has retrieved up to 20,000 results.
>>
>> Has anyone else noticed such a discrepancy?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> John Holm (he/him)
>> E-Resources & Discovery Librarian
>> University of St. Thomas Libraries | library.stthomas.edu<
>> https://library.stthomas.edu/>
>> john.holm at stthomas.edu<mailto:john.holm at stthomas.edu> | (651) 962-5009 |
>> OSF Library 155
>> Zoom: https://stthomas.zoom.us/my/johnholm
>>
>>
>>
>> [University of St. Thomas : All for the Common Good]<
>> https://www.stthomas.edu/e>
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>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2025 15:37:20 -0400
>> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
>>         <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
>> To: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
>>         <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Eril-l] EBSCO Education Source retrieving fewer search
>>         results than expected?
>> Message-ID:
>>         <
>> mailman.489.1749152265.1076674.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> Hi John-
>>
>> I saw this same situation when I ran a search I do each year in Sport
>> Discus.  It was also off by thousands.  I opened a case at Ebsco and they
>> are investigating it.
>>
>> Kris
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2025 at 3:11?PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
>> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>>
>> > Dear List,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > A colleague at my institution reports that the Education Source
>> > database on EBSCOhost is retrieving far fewer results than expected.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > For example, a ?Find all my search terms? search for [k-12 students
>> > AND meditation] currently returns 47 results, when in the past the
>> > same search has retrieved up to 20,000 results.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Has anyone else noticed such a discrepancy?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *John Holm* (he/him)
>> > E-Resources & Discovery Librarian
>> >
>> > University of St. Thomas Libraries | library.stthomas.edu
>> >
>> > john.holm at stthomas.edu | (651) 962-5009 | OSF Library 155
>> > Zoom:
>> > https://stth/
>> > omas.zoom.us%2Fmy%2Fjohnholm&data=05%7C02%7Ckebertjm%40gcc.edu%7Cfbbae
>> > bc9eb304d8fac7b08dda46c697a%7C8391896022184cd381fe302a8e771da9%7C0%7C0
>> > %7C638847507736638900%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUs
>> > IlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7
>> > C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ger9fHVVCsHvFNfA937yZRJRU23bwzIbWO76uSmdbmg%3D&reser
>> > ved=0
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > [image: University of St. Thomas : All for the Common Good]
>> > <https://www/
>> > .stthomas.edu%2Fe&data=05%7C02%7Ckebertjm%40gcc.edu%7Cfbbaebc9eb304d8f
>> > ac7b08dda46c697a%7C8391896022184cd381fe302a8e771da9%7C0%7C0%7C63884750
>> > 7736655996%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjA
>> > uMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C
>> > &sdata=x%2BckQte7wGEhzd%2Bz20YgPG2uebiysy7lnRO1lX4H73o%3D&reserved=0>
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Eril-l mailing list
>> > Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
>> > http://lists/
>> > .eril-l.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Feril-l-eril-l.org&data=05%7C02%7Ckebertjm
>> > %40gcc.edu%7Cfbbaebc9eb304d8fac7b08dda46c697a%7C8391896022184cd381fe30
>> > 2a8e771da9%7C0%7C0%7C638847507736672597%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbX
>> > B0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIs
>> > IldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vWKhxap0%2BNVxTxZrBC9zcWf8M%2FEInh
>> > M5BBoNh3CpkB8%3D&reserved=0
>> >
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