Library Research Skills An Introduction

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Library Research SkillsAn Introduction

• A Drexel University Libraries Tutorial

Part Three Database Searching
Designed byAnita ChiodoEmily Missner
DevaneyAnn Keith KennedyAlison Lewis
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The Right Tool for the Job

• NEED
• books
• articles

USE this tool catalog periodical indexes and
databases
NEED books articles
This is generally true. However, a number of
other resources (e-books, videos, reference
books, etc.) can be found in the library catalog.
Also, many indexes and databases contain
citations for books, technical reports,
government documents or other materials.
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Whats in the databases?

• Most provide citations

Vastag, Brian. (2004) Does video game violence
sow aggression? studies probe effects of virtual
violence on children. JAMA, The Journal of the
American Medical Association 291, 15, 1822-24.
Many have abstracts
The Yale Journal of Criticism, Spring 2002 v15 i1
p59(39) The memories of "The Dead". (The Theater
of Irish Cinema)(Critical Essay) Kevin Whelan.
Abstract James Joyce's short story "The Dead"
can be read as a cultural history of how the
Great Irish Famine affected Dublin, Ireland.
Significant historical events shaping this story
include cultural nationalism, battles at Boyne
and Aughrim, policies of the Duke of Wellington,
and provincialism.
Some actually have full text articles
The whole article online and ready to read.
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Whats in the databases?

• They are searchable by
• Keywords
• Author
• Title
• Other entry points
• Can cover a wide variety of topics (like Expanded
  Academic) or focus on one subject area or
  discipline (Ceramic Abstracts/World Ceramics
  Abstracts)

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How do I choose a database?

• Databases by subject
• Databases by title
• Subject guides

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Click here to find subject guides
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The subject guides are created by librarians to
help you find the best research resources to use
for each topic.
There are guides on a variety of different topics.
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BEFORE you start to search
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• Make sure your topic is focused. Can you state
  your main idea in one sentence or question?
• See the Getting Started on Research tutorial if
  you need help with this first step
• http//www.library.drexel.edu/research/tutorials/
  research/research.html
• Pull out words from your sentence that express
  the main ideas or key concepts youre working
  with

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Dude! What if my car crashed into a moose?
The Research Queston

• Key Concepts
• Car
• Crash
• Moose

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BEFORE you start to search
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• Once you have your key concepts, start to
  brainstorm for each of your key concepts, try
  to come up with other words that
• Mean the same thing OR
• Mean something similar

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Group terms according to concept

• MOOSE
• Moose
• Alces alces

• CRASH
• Crash
• Collision
• Wreck
• Accident

• CAR
• Car
• Automobile
• Vehicle
• Truck

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BEFORE you start to search
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• Once you have brainstormed additional terms for
  each of your key concepts, you need to build a
  search strategy by linking these terms together

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Introducing important words
OR
AND
Stay tuned to learn how AND and OR can change the
way you search!
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Moose AND/OR Cars
AND

• means both words or concepts must be present
• means either word or concept is present

OR
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AND
OR
Moose
Cars
Moose AND Cars
Moose
Cars
OR broadens your search and produces more results
AND narrows your search and focuses your results
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• CAR
• Car
• Automobile
• Vehicle
• Truck

• CRASH
• Crash
• Collision
• Wreck
• Accident

• MOOSE
• Moose
• Alces alces

AND
AND
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
Heres how to enter this search into a database
(car OR automobile OR vehicle) AND (crash OR
collision OR accident) AND moose
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Library Research SkillsAn Introduction

• A Drexel University Libraries Tutorial

This concludes Part Three Database
Searching Visit Part Four to learn about Finding
Full-Text!