Database Tutorial: Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

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Database TutorialWorldwide Political Science
Abstracts

• Karam Godfrey
• LIBR 530
• March 9, 2007

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Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

• This is a CSA Database, all of which have the
  same interface
• It might be familiar to many users
• This tutorial is for new users not familiar with
  searching a CSA Database

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Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

• The Worldwide Political Science Abstracts is
  automatically chosen when entering from UBC
  Library
• You can choose other databases as well, but we
  will focus on the WPSA

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Searching

• You can enter search terms words or phrases
• There are three rows of search boxes in which to
  enter your terms

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Searching
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Searching

• You can use the drop-down boxes to limit your
  searches by the field codes, like keywords,
  title, author and so on
• Or you can simply search anywhere (the default
  search)

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Searching

• You can use Boolean operators (AND, OR) in your
  search
• You can use parts of words (truncation) with the
  wildcard symbol

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Searching

• You can limit your search to certain date range
• You can also limit by Latest Update, Journal
  Articles Only, or English Only

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Results

• You can limit the number of results displayed per
  page

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Results

• You can limit results by certain formats
• Short format is the default and easiest

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Results

• Results are organized by type on the labeled tabs
• You can see all results, or by journals,
  peer-reviewed journals, books, chapters/essays

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Results

• Results can be sorted by relevance or by most
  recent

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Results

• The short format results include the title,
  author, journal name, as well as descriptors
  (like subject headings) and a link to full text
  if available

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Full text or UBC eLink hereDescriptors here
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You can mark records to save them
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And then save, print or email them to yourself
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This is the save, print, email screen
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Results

• You can also produce a bibliography using Quick
  Bib or export the results to RefWorks

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Conclusion

• If you need more help, there are search tips and
  help page links
• When you click either one, a new screen opens
  with helpful information

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Click on Help Support
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Or click on search tips
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Conclusion

• The best way to get to know a database is to use
  it
• Practice and enjoy!