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1.
Understanding databases
Database is a standardized collection of
electronic information that can be accessed and
retrieved by computer.
Databases provide documents as an abstract or a
full text. Documents can be articles, reports,
images or maps.
Databases cover many academic disciplines, e.g.:
subject coverage of:
+ Academic Search Premier of
EBSCO:
History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology,
Literature etc.
+ Business Source Premier of
EBSCO: Economics, Marketing, Accounting.
+
Blackwell Synergy: Agriculture,
Economics, Computing, Math, Health Science etc.
2.
Searching databases
Users can choose Basic Search or Advanced Search
in a database.
Using Basic Search when searching information
about a single or general subject.
E.g.: Searching “Greenhouse Effect(s)” or “Global
Warming”
Using Advanced Search when searching complex
topics that contain multiple subjects/concepts.
E.g.: Effect(s) of smoking on pregnant women
Steps for searching:
+ Developing a search
strategy
+ Implementing the search
+ Viewing and selecting
results
a) Developing a search strategy
- Analyzing the topic: identifying the main
concepts/subjects of the topic.
EFFECT(S) of SMOKING on PREGNANT women
--->
3 main concepts
- Finding synonyms for the concepts if they have.
|
Effect(s)
Impact
Influence |
Smoking
Tobacco
Cigarettes |
Pregnant women
Unborn child |
Identifying the relations between the concepts,
using Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT to such
concepts appropriately.
|
 |
OR retrieves all records that contain a or b,
or both terms.
AND retrieves all records that contain both a
and b.
NOT eliminates b. |
|
Effect(s)
OR
Impact
OR
Influence |
AND |
Smoking
OR
Tobacco
OR
Cigarettes |
AND |
Pregnant women
OR
Unborn child
|
Truncation symbol * or wildcard ? can be used to
retrieve more results, e.g.: typing exam* to
finding the words exam, exams, examinations, or
ne?t to find neat, nest, or next.
b) Implementing the search
- Identifying the databases that can provide
information needed.
E.g.: searching in
EBSCO
- Typing the concepts in search boxes, connecting
them by the operators.
- Using alternative terms if you want to retrieve
more hits, or if no result is retrieved at the
first search.
- Trying the search in different databases.
- Limiting the results by checking Full Text, or
Scholarly Peer-reviewed Journal.
c) Viewing and selecting results
- Select PDF/HTML Full Text to download full text
- Select Citation/References to view reference
information.
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