Navigating an Online Database Using ProQuest and EBSCO

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Navigating an Online Database Using ProQuest
and EBSCO
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What is an Online Database?

• An online database is a set of resources
  (newspaper and magazine articles, maps, pictures,
  etc.) that have been selected and cataloged in a
  search program.
• The company who selects and catalogs these
  resources sells subscriptions to the database to
  libraries and other institutions.

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Why use an online database?

• The information in an online database is current.
  
• The resources in an online database are reliable
  and authenticated since they have been
  pre-evaluated and published.
• Online databases provide high level search
  functions.

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Access to online databases

• An online database is accessed by a user name and
  password.
• The online databases at FCHS can be accessed from
  home as well as from school.

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Login and passwords

• Access on school computers
• You MAY or MAY NOT have to supply a login and
  password on school computers.
• Access from home
• You will be required to supply a login and a
  password at home. This information is on the
  Research Database Home Access slips.
• These slips are available in the Media Center.
• PUT THIS SLIP BY YOUR COMPUTER AT HOME.

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Basic elements and features

• List of collection/publications
• Search options/methods
• Date range
• Abstract/citation vs full text
• E-mail function
• Print function

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List of Collection/Publications

• Databases will list publications in their
  collection
• Newspapers
• Periodicals / Journals
• Government Publications
• Pamphlets
• Pictures
• Etc.

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Search Options/Methods

• Basic
• Advanced
• Topic Search Pre-selected topics and
  corresponding articles

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Date range

• The search function allows you to specify a
  particular month and year range. This allows you
  to narrow your search and obtain more accurate
  hits.

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Abstract/Citation vs. Full Text

• Some results will only have an abstract (summary
  of the article) and citation or bibliographic
  information (title, author, publication date,
  etc).
• Most results will have the full text of the
  article as well as the abstract/citation.

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E-Mail and Print

• E-mail function allows you to e-mail the article
  to whatever e-mail account you want.
• Print function formats the document without the
  elements that can interfere with printing. This
  allows you to easily print the article.

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SEARCHING

• 1. Make a list of Keywords and Synonyms for your
  research topic
• 2. Use Boolean operators to narrow your search
  and to more accurately specify your intent.

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Boolean Operators

• AND Use the word AND between keywords if you
  want to be sure you get results that have both
  of the words in the text.
• NOT Use the word NOT if you want to exclude
  word(s) from the results.
• Ex if you want to search for information about
  the Saturn rocket but not the car or the planet,
  you might search
• saturn and rocket not planet not car

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Boolean Operators

• Use quotation marks ( ) around phrases or
  literal terms. This will group words together and
  yield results that exactly match what you typed
  in.
• Ex if you want information on the book Of Mice
  and Men but not information about computer mice
  and men, you would put the title in quotes
• Of Mice and Men

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Boolean Operators

• Use an asterisk () if you want results with all
  of the forms of the original word
• Ex America will bring up all results with
  all of the forms of America Americas, American,
  etc.

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SUMMARY - online databases

• Online Databases contain documented and reviewed
  material
• Bibliographic information easy to find to cite
  the source
• Databases are purchased, so they are password
  protected
• Password sheets are available for students and
  staff for home use

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Getting connected

• To access the online databases
• Go to the following web page which is the FCHS
  Media Center Online Databases
• http//schoolweb.psdschools.org/fchs/
• media/fchsresguide.htm
• Access from FCHS Home Page
• Media Center (bottom of page)
• Online Databases

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