Database Searching: How to Find Journal Articles? START.

Database Searching: How to Find Journal

Articles?

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I. Understanding Online Databases

What are online databases?

Online databases are Web-based electronic indexes that enable you to locate and retrieve articles in magazines, journals and newspapers.

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Multidisciplinary (Comprehensive) vs. Subject Specific

Database coverage may be comprehensive e.g., Academic Search Premier , or on a particular subject, e.g., PsycINFO.

Full text vs. Citation only

A database may contain full text articles or only citations.

Types of Databases —

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II. Finding the Right Database(s) for Your Research Topic

What databases are available from the Library?

Which databases are comprehensive and may be the best place to start searching?

Which specialized database is appropriate for my subject-oriented research?

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What databases are available from the Library?

The library subscribes to a number of online databases which cover various subjects. Remote access allows you to search off campus.

Click By Title or By Subject or By Provider on the Library Homepage to get a database list with descriptions and access information.

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Which databases are comprehensive?

Academic Search Premier* &

Wilson OmniFile Full Text*

Why should you start with one of the above ? They cover nearly all subject areas or disciplines. They provide a large number of full-text journal articles. They let you limit your search to scholarly journals.

*You may locate the two databases on the database list By Title.

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Which specialized database is appropriate for my subject-oriented research?

You may select a specialized database from the list By Subject.

When you browse the list and select an online database, consider the following questions: Which database covers my research subject?  Can I get full text articles?   Can I limit the search to scholarly journal articles? What other sources are available ? 

For example:

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You are doing research on an educational topic:

First, choose the database list By Subject, then select Education. You will get a list as shown below from which you can select a database to start your search.

You may click (info.) besides the database title to read the description of the database.

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III. Locating & Retrieving Relevant Articles

Each database has its own search interface and capabilities. Many of the basic search concepts and features are similar:

Keyword searching Limiters Boolean operators

What are some common searching problems and solutions?

Where can you find more assistance for some of the library’s databases?

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Keyword Searching

Keyword searching is the easiest search method, but may be less precise.

Databases collect, sort and present information according to FIELDS (which are usually found in a dropdown menu), such as:

Author Title of article Subject Publication name

To make your search more specific, you may select one or more fields to do keyword search.

To expand your search, you may search for keyword(s) in All basic or Default fields.

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Limiters

Limiters are database functions that let you narrow your search results.

Database limiters may include: Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Publication year Full text Language, etc.

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Boolean Operator: AND

AND links words or phrases that must both appear in the same article.

If you what to focus your search results, use Boolean operator AND to connect additional word(s)

Example: computer and teaching -- finds both computer and teaching anywhere in the same article.

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Boolean Operator: OR

OR links synonyms, alternative forms of expression, acronyms, and so on.

If you want to expand your search, use Boolean operator OR to connect additional word(s).

Example: first grade or elementary school -- finds either first grade or elementary school in the same article.

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Common Searching Problems & Solutions (I)

1. Citation list is too long Narrow your search using additional terms

connected by AND; Limit your search by limiter functions; Try to find the official descriptor or subject

heading that matches your keyword(s) in the thesaurus or subject index provided by the database.

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Common Searching Problems & Solutions (II)

2. No citations Check the spelling of your search terms; Eliminate one or more of your search terms; Don’t fill in every empty text box or drop-down menu choice; Try to find the official descriptor or subject heading that

matches your topic; Make sure appropriate database is used; Call (201)200-3033 to ask a reference librarian for

assistance.

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For more on search techniques

Click for the instruction on searching Academic Search Premier of EBSCOHost.

Click for the instruction on Business

InfoSuite.

Click for the instruction on Lexis-Nexis

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Click to go back to the Tutorial:

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