Searching articles in Searching articles in databases at URI Library databases at URI Library

Yuan LiYuan Li

Nov. 11, 2008Nov. 11, 2008

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

After completing this lesson, you will be able to After completing this lesson, you will be able to answer the following questions:answer the following questions:

Where do I look for articles on my topic?Where do I look for articles on my topic? What is an article databases?What is an article databases? Where can I find an article database?Where can I find an article database? How do I search an article database?How do I search an article database? How do I find the actual text of an article?How do I find the actual text of an article?

Where do I look for articles on my Where do I look for articles on my topic?topic?

You can find articles in article databases, such You can find articles in article databases, such as Eric, Ebsco Host, LexisNexis Academic, Pras Eric, Ebsco Host, LexisNexis Academic, ProQuest, etc..oQuest, etc..

What is an article databases?What is an article databases?

An article database allows you to search withiAn article database allows you to search within a group of journals for articles on a particulan a group of journals for articles on a particular topic.r topic.

In other words, when you search database, the In other words, when you search database, the results refer to articles published in journals (sresults refer to articles published in journals (scholar articles) and magazines (popular articlecholar articles) and magazines (popular articles). s).

Where can I find an article Where can I find an article database?database?

The URI Library subscribed more than 300 The URI Library subscribed more than 300 online databases.online databases.

You could access the complete list of You could access the complete list of databases by clicking “Reference Databases” databases by clicking “Reference Databases” on the Library Home Page. on the Library Home Page.

Practice Question 1Practice Question 1

Where could you find article databases?Where could you find article databases?

A. HELIN CatalogA. HELIN Catalog

B. Reference DatabasesB. Reference Databases

C. Internet ResourcesC. Internet Resources

Choose an appropriate article Choose an appropriate article databasedatabase

Click into the “Reference Databases”Click into the “Reference Databases” First page is a list of categories divided by First page is a list of categories divided by

subjectssubjects Choose the right subject for your topic.Choose the right subject for your topic.

OROR

Click “All Reference Databases by Title”, you Click “All Reference Databases by Title”, you will see the full list of reference databases.will see the full list of reference databases.

ExampleExample

You topic is “Postmodernism”You topic is “Postmodernism” Let’s choose “Arts and Humanities”Let’s choose “Arts and Humanities” When you click into “Arts and Humanities”, you will get an When you click into “Arts and Humanities”, you will get an

appropriate list of resources to choose from. appropriate list of resources to choose from. It is recommended to use the following databases for It is recommended to use the following databases for

“Advanced Rhetoric”“Advanced Rhetoric”

(1)(1) MLA International BibliographyMLA International Bibliography

(2)(2) Project MUSEProject MUSE

(3)(3) JSTORJSTOR

Practice Question 2Practice Question 2

When you are doing a search for articles, When you are doing a search for articles, please give the steps you will take. (Fill in the please give the steps you will take. (Fill in the step number, e.g. 1, 2, 3…)step number, e.g. 1, 2, 3…)

__ Find the subject of you topic__ Find the subject of you topic

__ Access “Reference Databases” from __ Access “Reference Databases” from

Library Home pageLibrary Home page

__ Choose the relevant databases to search__ Choose the relevant databases to search

How do I search an article database?How do I search an article database?

When you get into a database, you will see the When you get into a database, you will see the search boxes and search options. search boxes and search options.

Search strategiesSearch strategies Find articlesFind articles Evaluate articlesEvaluate articles

Search StrategiesSearch Strategies

This section will cover successful search This section will cover successful search strategies, includingstrategies, including

Identify key conceptIdentify key concept Combine key conceptCombine key concept Refine your searchRefine your search These strategies will work in most databases and These strategies will work in most databases and

search engines no matter how different they search engines no matter how different they may look from one anothermay look from one another

Strategy one: Indentify key conceptStrategy one: Indentify key concept

Let’s say your topic is “The positions of postmLet’s say your topic is “The positions of postmodernism and dramatism on technology”odernism and dramatism on technology”

Key concept will be “postmodernism”, “dramaKey concept will be “postmodernism”, “dramatism”, and “technology.”tism”, and “technology.”

Practice Question 3Practice Question 3

Find the key concept for the following topic:Find the key concept for the following topic:

““How does internet affect the library?”How does internet affect the library?”

Strategy two: Combine key conceptsStrategy two: Combine key concepts

Use quotes around phrasesUse quotes around phrases Use “and” between conceptsUse “and” between concepts

Use quotes around phrasesUse quotes around phrases

If you use two words or phrase to represent onIf you use two words or phrase to represent one concept, you want to use quotes. Use quotes e concept, you want to use quotes. Use quotes on “information literacy” to ensure you find thon “information literacy” to ensure you find the results with the exact concept and eliminate ie results with the exact concept and eliminate irrelevant results only including the concept “inrrelevant results only including the concept “information” or “literacy” seperately formation” or “literacy” seperately

Practice Question 4Practice Question 4

For the following words, choose A if quotes are For the following words, choose A if quotes are needed, or B if quotes are not neededneeded, or B if quotes are not needed

__ Typhoon__ Typhoon

__ Mountain Washington __ Mountain Washington

Use “and” between conceptsUse “and” between concepts

Some databases will have an interface with Some databases will have an interface with numerous boxes. There is usually the visible numerous boxes. There is usually the visible “And” combining two concept.“And” combining two concept.

However, other databases assume nothing for However, other databases assume nothing for your results. You have to use “and” to your results. You have to use “and” to combine your two concepts in order to narrow combine your two concepts in order to narrow your results.your results.

Strategy three: Refine your searchStrategy three: Refine your search

Use synonymsUse synonyms Truncate key conceptsTruncate key concepts

Use synonymsUse synonyms

Why? Why?

Since different authors may use different Since different authors may use different words to describe the same topic, we want to words to describe the same topic, we want to think of many synonyms we can for key think of many synonyms we can for key concepts so that we don’t miss out anything.concepts so that we don’t miss out anything.

It might be necessary to refine your search It might be necessary to refine your search with synonyms, broad terms, and narrow terms with synonyms, broad terms, and narrow terms to find the information you need.to find the information you need.

Truncate key conceptsTruncate key concepts

You also want to indentify all the variant endinYou also want to indentify all the variant ending wordg word

A truncation symbol helps you find records thaA truncation symbol helps you find records that include variant endings of a word.t include variant endings of a word.

For example:For example:

advertis*advertis* advertise, advertisement, advertisi advertise, advertisement, advertising, advertisorng, advertisor

Practice Question 5Practice Question 5

Where would you truncate the word “postmordWhere would you truncate the word “postmordern” to make sure that you retrieve postmorderern” to make sure that you retrieve postmordernism, postmordernity, and postmoderning? (usnism, postmordernity, and postmoderning? (use * as the truncation symbol)e * as the truncation symbol)

How do I find the actual text of an How do I find the actual text of an article?article?

Apply your search strategies to find a list of Apply your search strategies to find a list of articles.articles.

You will notice that these articles are in You will notice that these articles are in reverse chronological order rather than ranked reverse chronological order rather than ranked by relevancy. by relevancy.

This means that the perfect article for our topic This means that the perfect article for our topic could be on page two, three or even five.  could be on page two, three or even five. 

If an article looks interesting, click on it and leIf an article looks interesting, click on it and learn more about it.arn more about it.

You will see all the information the database hYou will see all the information the database has about that article.as about that article.

The record gives us some basic information abThe record gives us some basic information about the article, such as title, author(s), source, sout the article, such as title, author(s), source, subject terms and ubject terms and abstract.abstract.

If you decide to read the whole article. SometiIf you decide to read the whole article. Sometimes you will find the links leading you directlmes you will find the links leading you directly to the full-text (PDF or HTML).y to the full-text (PDF or HTML).

When neither these links are present, click on When neither these links are present, click on “search for full-text” button. “search for full-text” button.

Doing so, you will launch the “searching for” Doing so, you will launch the “searching for” menu.menu.

Search for a full-text article in other databases.Search for a full-text article in other databases. Find a paper copy for the article in catalog.Find a paper copy for the article in catalog. Ask a librarian.Ask a librarian.

Practice Question 6Practice Question 6

How many possible resources could you refer How many possible resources could you refer to in order to find a full-text article?to in order to find a full-text article?

Hands-on ExercisesHands-on Exercises

Pick up your topic for your assignment.Pick up your topic for your assignment. Search three or more interesting articles for Search three or more interesting articles for

your topic.your topic. Please write down all your procedure when Please write down all your procedure when

you are searching articles, submit it. It’s your you are searching articles, submit it. It’s your ticket-out.ticket-out.