Research Databases

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• Research Databases

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Database

• Simple definition
• A collection of information in electronic form,
  organized for rapid computer searching.

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Database

• More comprehensive
• A large, regularly updated file of digitized
  information related to a specific subject or
  field
• Examples of information include bibliographic
  references, abstracts, full-text documents,
  directory entries, images, statistics

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Database

• Records have a uniform format
• Organized for ease and speed of search and
  retrieval
• Managed with the aid of database management
  system (DBMS) software

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Database Content

• Content is created by the database producer.
  Example
• ERIC Education Resources Information Center,
  United States Department of Education
• In some cases, content leased to vendor.
  ExampleEBSCO

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Database Vendor

• Provides electronic access to the data
• Facilitates Internet access to the database using
  proprietary software
• Subscriptions sold to businesses, libraries, and
  government agencies

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Periodical Databases

• General example - Ebsco
• A variety of disciplines
• Psychology, history, business
• Academic level varies
• Popular - Scholarly
• A variety of formats
• Journal articles, newspapers, magazines

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Periodical Databases

• Subject Specific - Psycinfo
• Comprehensive
• Special features e.g., thesaurus
• Content usually published through a professional
  organization or society

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Other Commercial Databases

• Free with advertisements
• IMDB Internet Movie Database
• http//www.imdb.com/
• World Flag Database
• http//www.flags.net/

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Other Databases

• Free
• Plants For A Future http//www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/D_
  search.html
• Mineralogy Database
• http//webmineral.com/
• Edgar Database
• http//www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

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Field Searching

• A specific area in a database record that a
  computer can be directed to search
• In bibliographic databases, author, title, and
  document type are examples of fields

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Field Searching

• Fields differ in other databases Depending on the
  function of the databases content
• Flags of the World
• Geographic Area
• Shapes
• Colors
• Emblems