This page contains information about the best databases to use for these assignments as well as tips on how to search the databases efficiently and effectively.
Accessing the Databases: Access the databases though the CCC Library's Articles: Research Databases page. You will need to use your student ID# and the same password you use for your Canvas to login.
If you brainstormed your topic in order to develop it, you probably have a lot of words and terms to describe your topic. What you type in the search box is important because it affects the search results and what we get. Some terms and words are better than others because they provide more relevant results for your topic. The way you search is also important. Your search options include searching by keyword or by subject term in the databases and the library catalog. The table below will help you understand the differences.
Keywords | Subject Terms |
---|---|
Natural language | A set vocabulary known to the databases |
Search will be broader - you'll get more results | Search will be narrower - you'll get fewer results |
Can retrieve more unrelated results | Results tend to be more relevant to the topic |
Boolean Operators are words that act as a sort of command for the databases and library catalog. They set the relationship between multiple search terms and either expand or narrow your search.
"AND" is the most commonly used Boolean Operator. You would use AND to combine search terms. It basically tells the database or catalog that you want to find results that contain both words or terms.
Example: mental health AND grief
"OR" is best used in situations where you are looking for results that mention either of the terms or words you're searching. Your search results will have articles that just mention the first term, articles that just mention the second term, and articles that mention both terms. This is best used when different words are used to describe the same thing like in the example provided.
Example: kids OR children
"NOT" is used when you are searching for one term but you don't want to see mentions of another term in your results. The best time to use this Boolean Operator is when you are searching for a broad topic, but don't want to see results with one of the narrower topics or when you are searching for a topic that can be associated with a broad range of topics that would not make sense in your search results. See the examples below.
Examples: mental illness NOT anxiety
Connecticut Yankee NOT civil war (in reference to the book A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain, which was not related to the American Civil War)
Peer-review (also referred to as "refereed" or "scholarly" articles) refers to articles that written for an academic/scholarly publication that focuses on a subject or topic, and is reviewed by "peers" or other scholars who are experts on that topic. As a result, peer-reviewed articles are considered information of the highest caliber, extremely reliable and credible.
No. That's why it's important to know how to search for these journals. Also, be aware that not all articles in peer-reviewed journals are peer reviewed. If the article looks like a book review or an editorial, it is not peer-reviewed, but they will still show up in your search results because they are from peer-reviewed journals. If you're looking at an article and you're not sure, talk to Mrs. Sanwo or a librarian.
Located on the left-hand sidebar on the Search Results page, you'll see an option to check a box that says "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals."
Advanced Search can be accessed by clicking on the "Advanced Search" link under the search box. Under "Search Options" and "Limit your Results," click the "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" checkbox.
To find peer-reviewed articles in Opposing Viewpoints, you have to go to Advanced Search, which is located to the left of the search box at the top of the page. Under "More Options," select the "Peer-Reviewed Journals" checkbox.
EBSCOhost is not a database - it's a database platform with multiple databases. You can save time searching in EBSCOhost by selecting multiple databases to search at the same time. Click on "Choose Databases" above the EBSCOhost search box and you'll get a list where you can select multiple databases.
Reading an article or a book for research is much different than your average, everyday reading. When you find articles that you think you might want to use for research, start off by evaluating them to see how those articles connect to your topic. When you're a busy student with a lot to go through, you can't spend all your time reading, especially since you may find that some don't fit your research. Here are some tips for reading for research quickly and effectively.
For this assignment, we're recommending the following databases as being the best places to find resources on your topics.