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For the list of databases included in provider groups, select a link from the sidebar.
ACS (American Chemical Society) Publications
Optimal Search Template: Basic and Advanced are on same screen; begin with "Basic."
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Truncation is the default. To avoid truncation, start word with a capital letter.
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature: Searching by journal title and/or date range: Use "Advanced" checkboxes.
America: History & Life, Historical Abstracts
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (above "Search" button)
Default Connector: AND Can't keyword phrase search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Use "Subject Terms" box.
Key Feature: Can use "Time Period" boxes to specify decades of interest.
CQ Researcher
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (below Quick Search box)
Default Connector: AND To phrase- search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Click "Topics Only" button.
Key Feature: Can select "Specific Report Sections" with checkboxes.
EBSCO Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (blue tab)
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n# e.g. dog n5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu "Subject Terms"
Key Feature: When searching multiple databases: There is a limiters box for each database chosen.
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "with all" box for ANDs. Use "at least one" box for ORs.
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Features:
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Occurrences drop-down menu: Select "in title of page."
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Domain: Can fill in ".edu" etc.
Google Book Search
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "with all" box for ANDs. Use "at least one" box for ORs.
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature: "Search in this book" input box (to right of page images).
Google Scholar
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "with all" box for ANDs. Use "at least one" box for ORs
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature:"@ my library" links provide quick full text or other paths to obtaining item.
back to topGoucher College Online Catalog (full version)
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (link is right of search box)
Default Connector: In keyword it's AND, but can phrase-search by using quotation marks
Possible Connectors: AND, OR e.g.(dog or cat) and AND NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: YES. In keyword, use within # e.g. dog within 5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Select "Subject" from drop-down menu
Key Feature: Can use "Material Type" drop-down menu to limit search to scores, videos, etc.
Infotrac: Expanded Academic ASAP
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (Click blue tab)
Default Connector: phrase search
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n# e.g. dog n5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu "Subject"
Key Feature: “Add a Row” button provides additional search boxes.
International Index to the Performing Arts
Optimal Search Template: "Search Articles" (in left column)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search, use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n.# e.g. dog n.5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. "Narrow Subject" recommended
Key Feature: “select from a list” buttons provide guidance on what terms will work.
JSTOR
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (Link is right above middle of search box)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv* Use question mark for internal, e.g. wom?n
Proximity Searching: "two words" ~# e.g. "dog cat"~5
Formal Subject Searching: no subject indexing
Key Feature: Note check- boxes for: field-searching, type of article, targeting journals.
back to topLexis-Nexis Databases
Optimal Search Template: Choose "Power Search" then the red "News" tab then "Terms and Connectors"
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Exclamation Point: e.g. motiv!
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Each result generates a list of terms below the full text.
Key Feature: Frequency Searching: e.g. atleast3 (dog!)
Printing: Use Lexis printer icon.
Literature Online (LION)
Optimal Search Template: Choose "Criticism & Reference" then "Criticism"
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: near.# e.g. dog near.5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Use "select from a list" at right of "Subject" box.
Key Feature: TEXTS" file offers searchable full-text of prose, poetry, drama.
back to topProject Muse
Optimal Search Template: Advanced search (Next to Basic Search)
Default Connector: AND To phrase- search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: No proximity except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: "Subject Headings"
Key Feature: Can check-box: "Include articles from JSTOR back issues."
back to topProQuest Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (Green tab at top)
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g.motiv*
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Only available if "Subject" appears in drop-down menu
Key Feature: "More Search Options": Drop-down menu for article types.
Science Direct
Optimal Search Template: Select "Search" button: Use "Advanced."
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: None, except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: No subject indexing
Key Features:
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Drop-down menu for "References" search
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Default search covers past 10 years
Sociological Abstracts
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: OR (between boxes)
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT (within boxes)
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: within # e.g. (dog) within 5 (cat)
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: "Descriptors"
Key Feature: Can click check-box for "Journal Articles Only"
WilsonWeb Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search put <phrase> between words.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: <near/#> e.g. dog<near/5> cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu "Subject(s)"
Key Feature: "Subject Area": To limit search to specialty journals in major discipline
WorldCat
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: AND Use drop-down to phrase-search.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv* (may cause error message)
Proximity Searching: w# e.g. (dog) within 5 (cat)
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: Note "Subject" and "Subject Phrase" options.
Key Feature: "Rank by:" (at template bottom):Can switch from "Number of Libraries" to "Date"
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