Unit 2: Using the Online Research Databases

Library Research & Information LiteracyPart 2: Using the Online Research Databases

This unit is designed to:

• Introduce you to the diverse array of research databases available at Palomar College Library.

• Understand how the databases are organized

• Choose a database appropriate for your personal research needs

• Help you get acquainted with three of the general use databases

Ready, set, go!

Using the Online Research Databases

Whether you are doing research for a class assignment or personal knowledge, articles from magazines, journals and newspapers can be valuable sources of information. To find these articles in the Palomar College Library, start at the library’s home page:

http://www.palomar.edu/library Click on either of these links: Databases/Articles or Articles . From off campus, you can log onto all the databases listed in this guide using your student ID number and eServices password.

Either link takes you to the Online Research Databases. They are arranged by type of resource (General, Reference, News) and by area of study (Science & Technology, Behavioural Science, etc).Each one has a link to see its description and open the databases.

When you start your research – think first!

• Where will you find information on your topic?

• Will there be definitions and background information in reference sources like encyclopedias and dictionaries?

• Have newspapers published information on this topic?

• Will it come from a specialized area of study like the behavioral sciences - psychology or sociology, for instance? From the field of science? Somewhere else?

• Is this a topic that’s more general in nature?

Recommended databases for general and multicultural topics:

• Opposing Viewpoints• CQ Researcher • Academic Search Premier• ProQuest Newspapers• Ethnic Newswatch

Let’s start with a very popular research database: Opposing Viewpoints

Opposing Viewpoints is a good resource for controversial issues. It contains pro and con essays on a variety of “hot topics” like gun control, abortion, same-sex marriage and many others.

There are two ways to search Opposing Viewpoints. The first is a “keyword search.” As shown below, just type your topic into the search box and then click on Search.

The results will be categorized into groups:

•Viewpoints•News•Academic Journals•Reference•Magazines•Websites

To expand a section, click on View All. To read a particular article, click on the title underlined in blue.

If you haven’t chosen a topic yet, browse for ideas through topics that have been widely covered. To do this, click on Browse Issues.

From the drop-down menu, choose a general category or View All.

The topics that displaywill range alphabeticallyfrom Abortion to Zero Tolerance Policies.

Next, let’s look at CQ Researcher

Every week, CQ Researcher publishes a lengthy report on a topic of contemporary interest.

Type your topic into the “quick search” box, then GO.

Your “search results” will include any reports specifically about your topic.

Click on the blue report title to read its contents.

Reports are organized into segments:

• Introduction

• Overview

• Background

• Etc.

• Etc.

• Etc.

Read the entire report, or go directly to a segment.

Next (and last in this lesson):

Academic Search Premier

Academic Search Premier is a good place to start no matter what your subject is. It is an EBSCO database. The Palomar College Library subscribes to many EBSCO databases. They all work the same.

Like Opposing Viewpoints and CQ Researcher, start by typing your topic into the box. You may also wish to focus your search by selecting options from the list under “Limit your results.”

• Check the Full Text box to insure that each of your search results will be linked to the whole article (not just some basic information about the article).

• Check the Scholarly Journal box if your professor requires you to use “scholarly sources.”

• Type the name of a publication to find only articles published that particular one.

• Limit by date if you are required to find material within a certain time range.

The results are a list of articles published on your topic. Click the blue title of the article for a more detailed record.

Read the Abstract for a quick summary of the article. Click the Full Text link to read the whole article.

As you begin to explore these three databases and others, you will discover features that allow you to:

• Refine and focus your search

• Organize your results

• Print and email your results

• Create citations for the sources you decide to use.

The more you use the databases, the more skillful you’ll become!

RECAP

Use the online research databases to find articles in: •Magazines•Newspapers•Academic (scholarly) journals

Practice using these general-use databases:•Opposing Viewpoints•CQ Researcher•Academic Search Premier

NOW YOU DO IT! Please proceed to Test #2.