1. What is a database?

A database is a collection of information which has been systematically organized so that you can retrieve it easily. Ways in which information is organized include:

• Alphabetical order e.g. by author or by name of organization
  
• Subject categories
  
• Index by keyword
  

Commonly used databases include a telephone book, a mail order catalog, and an encyclopedia.
Electronic library databases include:

• Online library catalogs
  
• Article indexes (e.g. Expanded Academic ASAP and PsycINFO)
  
• NYT - New York Times Index
  

Electronic or computer databases allow you to quickly retrieve information from a single database, an advantage over print databases which require you to examine individual monthly, quarterly, or annual issues.

2. How do I search a database?

All databases are composed of records, which describe individual items. Records contain specific fields, such as title, author, journal title, publisher, abstract, subject, etc.

Keyword searching:

Most databases allow you to do keyword searching. This allows you to simultaneously search multiple fields of a record. Keyword searching is usually the default search in an electronic database

Tips:

Use the most unique and specific terms for your topic
Do not use common stopwords such as: the, an, on, this, etc.
Subject heading / descriptor searching:

Some databases use controlled vocabulary terms or subject headings to index each record. Subject headings are assigned to classify the subject matter of an item. A subject heading / descriptor search, searches only that field of a record. Therefore, it is quite specific, which should assist you in retrieving pertinent information for your topic. Some databases list the subject heading or descriptors in an online thesaurus.

3. How do I select search terms?

Begin by choosing a topic. Choose something of interest to you that also fits your professor’s guidelines. Consider what aspect of this topic interests you and then:

State your topic as a research question or statement.
Example: Do terminally ill people have the right to die?

Identify the most important words or key words in your topic.
Example: terminally ill and right to die

Identify synonyms or equivalent words that could be used.
Example: assisted suicide or mercy killing or euthanasia for right to die

Use the most unique keywords and synonyms in your search statement
Example: right to die and terminally ill

Type these words as your search

If you find that you are retrieving too much material, then your topic is too broad. Try narrowing the focus of your topic by adding:

A specific aspect of your topic
Examples: legal, medical, moral, religious

A time period
Examples: 1980’s, last 30 years

A geographic area
Examples: Michigan, Netherlands

Age or gender
Examples: elderly, women

Tip: The Boolean operator AND is the default between words in all databases. Example: euthanasia elderly is searched as if you had typed elderly and euthanasia.

If you find that you are retrieving an insufficient amount of material then your topic is too specific. Try expanding your search using:

Synonyms or equivalent words
Examples: (right to die or assisted suicide)

More general terminology
Example: medical ethics

A broader geographic area
Example: United States

Tip: Use the Boolean operator OR between concepts to expand your search. Place parentheses at the beginning and end of the statement. Example: (right to die or assisted suicide)

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6. What do I do if I get zero results?

Try again. Experienced searchers never give up. They know that it often takes several tries to find the information they want.

Tips:

Check your spelling and retype any search that fails.
Try your search in several databases.
Try a different search strategy by using different keywords or different subject terms. Combine your terms in different ways.
Check your strategy and search terms with a librarian or another searcher.

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