Using Article Databases to Find Articles

Articles are often the best resources for research because they

• are current
• cover very specific subjects
• can be scholarly or popular
• are copyrighted and are generally not found for free on the Internet

What Is an Article Database?

Article databases are used to find articles published in magazines, journals or newspapers. They contain article references and full text articles on specific topics. Article databases are also known as periodical indexes, abstracts, databases or full text databases.

Article references are also known as sources, citations or bibliographic citations. Article references tell you where the article was originally published. They include the

• title of the article
• author
• title of the magazine, journal or newspaper where the article is located
• date of publication
• page numbers
• sometimes an abstract or summary of the article

There are many article databases, abstracts and periodical indexes from which to choose. Each database or index covers a specific group of magazines, journals and/or newspapers. For example Art Full Text provides article references to magazine and journal articles about art and art history. Other article databases such as the CQ Researcher and Ebsco's Academic Search Premier are general and cover many subjects. Use the article database listings on your library's home page to select a database on your topic.

TIP: Think ahead. If you need scholarly articles, select a database that covers scholarly journals. Save time by asking librarians to suggest the best databases for your research topic.

Article Database Vendors and Database Titles

There is a distinction between a database and a database vendor. A vendor is a commercial company that provides access to several databases for a fee. EBSCOhost, for example, provides libraries with access to a long list of databases but is not a database itself. Other prominent database vendors or providers include ProQuest, Gale and WilsonWeb."

What Are Full Text Databases?

Full text databases provide links to the complete article online. Full text article databases are very useful and can save students time. Even in a full text database, there will be some article references that do NOT have links to the complete article.

How To Access Article Databases

On campus: Most article databases are readily available from the library's Web site.

Off campus: Article databases purchased by your library are ONLY available off campus through a home or remote access service to students, faculty and staff of your academic institution. This usually requires a password. Carefully follow the instructions on your library's home page and call reference librarians with ANY questions.

Utah residents: The Pioneer databases are available to all citizens of Utah. Ask at your local academic, school or public library for details or look for information on home access to databases within the Pioneer site.

How To Search in Article Databases

• Clearly define your research topic
• Select the best article database for your research
• Identify keywords that describe your topic
• Use appropriate search techniques including
• creating search statements
• using controlled vocabulary

 

SAMPLE SEARCH SCREEN IN ACADEMIC SEARCH PREMIER

TIP: Use the database HELP screens

• To prepare to search:
  • See and review "Help" option in upper left of screen when using this database for the first time. Every database will offer Help screens
  • Also review and use "Search Options" and "Search Tips" in Academic Search Premier
  • Ask a librarian for help as needed
• After searching:

  • Review the results and select the best articles
  • If you don't find what you need, refine your search statement and keep searching
  • Ask a librarian for help as needed

SAMPLE SEARCH RESULTS SCREEN IN ACADEMIC SEARCH PREMIER

• Print, save or email the references or full text articles as needed
• Use the reference to find a copy of the article

Finding Articles in Your Library

When you are using an article database that does NOT provide the full text of the article:

1. Determine if the journal is available electronically at your library
2. Search the library catalog to find out if the library owns the print copy of the magazine or journal
1. Write down the call number (or go to the online location URL) for the magazine or journal needed
2. Use the call number to go to the shelf to find the journal
3. Find the specific issue (from volume, date and page) needed
4. Read the article in the library or take the volume to the copy center to photocopy the article.
   • In some libraries you may be able to check out the volume with the article you need.

TIP: Most libraries arrange magazines and journals by call number. Some libraries arrange them alphabetically by title. Ask for help at the reference desk if you can't find the article you are looking for.

• Usually newer articles (less than 6 months old) will be found in the current periodicals area of the library.
• Libraries collect journal issues and bind them together in a hard cover to protect them.
• If it is an older issue that has been hard bound it may be housed in a different area and you can use the call number to find it on the shelf.
• Many journals are now electronic or available via full text. The links or URL's to these journals may be provided in the library catalog.

Remember: If the articles you need are not available, either in full text, or in your library's collection, please order the articles you need from Interlibrary Loan.

Exercises:

1. Go to Pioneer: Utah's Online Library. Select an article database and use your keywords to locate articles about your research topic. (If you aren't in Utah, use the public library home page to locate article databases).

2. Go to your library's home page and locate the article databases. Below is a list of academic libraries in Utah, but you can use any library for this exercise.

• Find the article databases available in your library
• Remember to use the home or remote access service if you are off campus
• Select an article database that is appropriate for your subject
  • Ask a librarian for help if needed
• Choose at least two keywords
• Using your keywords, create an appropriate search statement using your tems and Boolean logic and/or truncation or proximity
• Enter your keyword(s) into the database search box
• Find full text articles and/or article references to articles on your topic
• Print, save or email articles or references
• Your next step will be to carefully evaluate the information found

Continue - Using Library Catalogs   |   Back to Module 3