By Ed Jessup MLS

Using Databases for Research

Provided through the homepage of the NYIT Library: http://www.nyit.edu/library

Can also be found through the homepage of public libraries like the New York Public Library: http://nypl.org/

Why Use Databases for Research?

Publications often devoted to specific subjects

Access to more dependable informationAccess to many resources at one timeMore efficient to search throughEntries often created by expertsProduces higher quality results

•Research databases preferred by instructors•Take caution using the World Wide Web

•Never use Wikipedia for research

How Research Databases Function

Different from commercial databases such as;

Yahoo!, Google & MSNResearch databases

extract actual articles from actual

publications.

Subject headings

Databases classify or index articles by

subject headings

When choosing subjects to search a little effort goes a long way

•Database searches can be as easy or as complex as you want them to be

•advanced search features•Many databases are similar but are

never completely alike•Different databases have unique features

Use “Connectors” or Boolean Operators

Connectors link your subject terms or ideas together

Only Three connectors can be used:

Connectors are used to:Bring together subjects

Expand searchesLimit searches

Exclude subjects

Using “AND”

Green buildings New York City New York

Using “OR”

Sierra Leone AND guerilla forces

terrorism

Using “NOT”

solar energy AND renewable energy

sources wind turbines

•Finding the right term:subject or topic search feature

Is it “Third world country”

or “Developing Nation”?

Start off BasicPractice Advance

Do basic search firstKeep searches simpleUse AND, OR & NOT

to connect termsPlan subject terms

with thought

Practice with advancedsearch features

Use the help feature and other features

Use the subject search or index to find preferred terms

Pay close attention to results

http://www.nyit.edu/library