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    general information

    • What is a database?
      it is an electronic index of: magazines, newspapers, multimedia, books, +

    • A database can be searched by:
      keyword
      subject
      author
      title
      and be limited by year(s)

      and over 25 other criteria !!!

    • What is a truncation?
      it is a symbol [ * (Shift / 8) ] you can combine singular and plural in one search!

      Example:
          Soil = 14,000 mag citations, also references
          Soils = 2,600 mag citations
          Soil* = 17,500 mag references

          NOT always
          Pen = 13,000 mag citations
          Pens = 3,800 mag references
          Pen* = too many citations - therefore not listed

    database

    • General Reference Center Gold

      > this is a general interest database that
         integrates a variety of sources - magazines, newspapers, multimedia, books, etc.
      > you can find articles on current events, the arts and sciences, hobbies, and much more
      > date range: 1980 - 2009

    basic search

    • Keyword vs. Subject Search:

      Keyword:
      Adoption = 15,800 citations
      [ a keyword could apply to anything and to people ]

      Subject:
      Adoption = 1,250 references
      [ the subject here applies only to people and animals ]
      [ a subject narrows the search ]

      Result:
      > it looks that a subject search brings better results!

    • Author search:
      Kayla Webley

    • Title search:
      Thailand: Orphaned Elephants

    advanced search - using boolean operators

    • What is a Boolean Operator?
      > used if you need to combine two or more terms in one search

    • Search Topic: The Effect of Television on Children
      Keywords are:   effect     television     children

      < Advanced Search >

      Type:
      effect
      television
      children

      Result:
      101 articles in magazines
      33 articles in academic journals
      34 newspaper articles
      Total = 168 references [ these are       too many ]

      limited by year
      < between > January 2001 and December 2009

      Result:
      19 articles in magazine
      9 articles in academic journals
      31 articles in citations in news items
      Total = 59 articles

    • Illustrating:     AND     OR     NOT     WILDCARD     NESTING
      Research 101 - University of Washington

    database access

        General Reference Center Gold :

        • For residents in Michigan | Virginia | Wisconsin
          [then locate your State]

                                                for the demo click   here

    Wolfhard Touchard, M. L. S. Retired Reference & Database Librarian
    Andrews University - November 2009