Effective Database Use
Why would I use a database?
Netflix via gHacks
Using databases might seem difficult when you start but if you persevere you'll discover that they are treasure troves of information. In fact, choosing databases over Google is just like choosing Netflix over free to air TV. Here's why:
The good news is that nothing gets on a library database unless it is CRAAP - that's one job done for you!
Boolean Operators
Boolean Operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results. This should save time and effort by eliminating inappropriate hits that must be scanned before discarding.
Use AND in a search to:
- narrow your results
- tell the database that ALL search terms must be present in the resulting records
- example: cloning AND humans AND ethics
The purple triangle in the middle of the Venn diagram below represents the result set for this search. It is a small set using AND, the combination of all three search words.
Be aware: In many, but not all, databases, the AND is implied.
- For example, Google automatically puts an AND in between your search terms.
- Though all your search terms are included in the results, they may not be connected together in the way you want.
- For example, this search: college students test anxiety is translated to: college AND students AND test AND anxiety. The words may appear individually throughout the resulting records.
- You can search using phrases to make your results more specific.
- For example: "college students" AND "test anxiety". This way, the phrases show up in the results as you expect them to be.
Use OR in a search to:
- connect two or more similar concepts (synonyms)
- broaden your results, telling the database that ANY of your search terms can be present in the resulting records
- example: cloning OR genetics OR reproduction
- All three circles represent the result set for this search. It is a big set because any of those words are valid using the OR operator.
Use NOT in a search to:
- exclude words from your search
- narrow your search, telling the database to ignore concepts that may be implied by your search terms
- example: cloning NOT sheep
Databases follow commands you type in and return results based on those commands. Be aware of the logical order in which words are connected when using Boolean operators:
- Databases usually recognize AND as the primary operator, and will connect concepts with AND together first.
- If you use a combination of AND and OR operators in a search, enclose the words to be "ORed" together in parentheses.
Examples:
- ethics AND (cloning OR reproductive techniques)
- (ethic* OR moral*) AND (bioengineering OR cloning)
Adapted from - https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594
Which databases do we have?
EBSCOhost
EBSCO is a good starting point - it isn't quite as academic as JSTOR, so the articles are often slightly easier to read and will get you underway.
JSTOR
JSTOR is used by the vast majority of universities. The journals here are very to the subject matter, so if you're looking for depth, this is the place to come.