Effective Searching Using Databases

What are your research habits?

Consider this…

You’re given an ISU that requires you to conduct research and provide a minimum of

three references in a works cited list/bibliography.

What do you do?

Does this sound like you?

… procrastinate until you only have two days left to do the assignment, then hop onto the nearest computer and type your topic into a general search engine, use the first few results (one of which is Wikipedia) just because they ‘look okay’, mindlessly regurgitate the information you find, forget to record your source information/record it inaccurately/make it up (figure it’s a safe bet that your teacher won’t check), and then hand in your assignment …

What are GOOD research habits?1. Carefully examine the question/topic. Underline

key words. Make sure you understand precisely what is being asked of you. Find a focus. Think of synonyms. Brainstorm.

2. Decide what type of information is required. Primary sources (first person accounts such as interviews/transcripts/etc.)? Secondary sources?

Let’s digress for a minute …

Academic/Scholarly JournalsScholarly Journals are journals which are respected for the research and information they provide about the topic they

cover. They are written by and for people who have experience in a discipline or field. The research is peer

reviewed or refereed, meaning that it is reviewed by other researchers who are knowledgeable about the topic of the

article. They usually have a more serious look than most popular magazines and contain graphs and charts but do not

usually have many pictures. Scholarly journals cite their sources using footnotes or bibliographies.

- Taken from Penn State Great Valley Library

Back To GOOD research habits…

3. Decide where to begin your search. Will you use Google scholar? Do you have access to databases?

4. Keep track of your sources as you go!!! DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!!! (Beware of turnitin…)

5. Organize, consolidate, synthesize and draw conclusions.

READY, SET, GO!!!

WHERE SHOULD I BEGIN MY SEARCH?

WHAT is a Database?“A Database is an electronic catalogue …”

– A collection of information– Information is selected and added to a specific

database depending on the field/discipline/subject area of the database

– When you perform a search using a database, the results are displayed as a list of citations. Citations provide information about publications (books, journals, articles, etc.) matching your query. Most databases will give you the option of searching full-text publications only so when you click on the citation, you have access to the information you need.

BASED ON THIS INFORMATION…

What are some advantages of using a database over a search engine like Yahoo or Google?

1. Unreliable Sources are filtered out increase in research efficiency and accuracy Source information is visible and organized

2. More Information!!! (i.e. the invisible web – content that requires special access)

Access to full text publications

3. Can search by publication type and date (i.e. journals, books, manuscripts, etc.)

Access to Journals!!!

4. Much, much more!

WHO Uses Databases?Students, researchers, workers within a

specific field/discipline …

ANYONE that needs to access credible information on a regular basis.

WHERE & WHEN?

Where? Online – most databases require payment for subscription

When? Any time

HOW??? Accessing Databases…***Access JSTOR*** (www.jstor.org)

Username: stmarycaPassword: romufura

Go to www.picnet.org• Scroll over “online” and then “resources”• Click on “research”• Click on “Newspapers, Magazines and

Journals”• Select a database

Databases @picnet.org:

Canadian Points of View Reference Centre Electric Library General OneFile CPIQ MasterFile Premier

EFFECTIVE DATABASE SEARCHING: BOOLEAN OPERATORS

For effective database searching, it is important that you express your topic in a logical way that the computer will understand.

While computer databases may differ in how they look and operate, most databases use the same commands for expressing the relationship between search terms.

There are 3 main Boolean search operators: AND, OR & NOT.

AND

AND is used between keywords with different meanings. 

AND will narrow a search.

Search Statement: drug abuse and teenagers

OROR is used between keywords that are

similar or related in meaning (e.g., synonyms).

OR will broaden a search.Search Statement: crime or theft

NOTNOT is used to eliminate concepts from a search. For

example, if you wanted to find information about depression and health, a simple keyword search for "depression" would retrieve many results. Some results would deal with mental depression and others might deal with such things as economic depression. To eliminate these unnecessary results, you can use the Boolean operator NOT.Search Statement: depression not economic

Lesson Summary:

1. Think critically about your information sources.

2. Become familiar with research databases and make it a habit to use them.

THE END