Used in the NURS 416 course

1. NURS 416: Suggested Databases
Roy Brown, MLIS, AHIP
Education and Research Librarian
Tompkins-McCaw Library, VCU
Libraries

2. Objectives:
By the end of this class you will :
• Be aware of the databases that will useful for NURS416
• Be aware of when to use controlled vocabulary and
keywords
• Understand that if you need help to let me know
(rebrown2@vcu.edu)

3. The Search Process Search Steps
2.
5. Evaluate the
Results
6. Good Results = Use the Data
• Bad = Start Over
3. Choose the appropriate
database(s) or resource for
your topic
4. Perform the
Search
1. Problem/ Construct
Question
Image: http://evidencebasedhealth.blogspot.com/
Formulate Your Search
Strategy
• Synonyms for Search Terms
• Subject Heading vs. Keyword
• Boolean Operators & Limits

4. Selecting the Right Resource
• Research Guides
▫ Nursing
▫ NURS 416 Course Guide
• Important Databases
• CINAHL Plus with Full Text
PubMed/MEDLINE : The primary
database of information in
biomedical and health sciences
fields.
• JSTOR
• ASSIA: Applied Social Sciences
Index and Abstracts: Coverage
includes: criminology, education,
ethnic studies, family, health,
housing, marriage, immigration,
industrial relations, national
politics, race relations, religion,
women's studies.
• Sociological Abstracts: Coverage
includes: culture and social
structure; social differentiation/
inequality, social psychology/group
interaction; social welfare.
• Dissertations and Theses Full Text
(Proquest)

5. Keyword
• Also called natural language searching
• Search for words or phrases found in
title, abstract, or other parts of articles
• Keyword searching used for
▫ New terminology
▫ Rare terms
▫ Other terms that have no related subject heading
▫ Spelling variations
• Truncation - Train*
▫ Trained, Trainer, Training, etc.
• Grouping Using “Guided Imagery”
▫ Use Quotation Marks
▫ Without Quotes – AND Terms Together
Perspective

6. All searched when searching by
keyword

7. Pepsi Coke
Pop
Soda Soda
Pop
Subject Headings/ Controlled
Vocabulary
• Controlled Vocabulary –
Thesaurus
▫ Help to return results that directly
apply to subject of the search
• Hierarchy – Tree Structure
▫ Broad –Specific
• Minor / Major Heading
▫ Major Heading - Focuses your search
results to returning articles that
specifically address the topic
 PubMed – have stars beside them
 CINAHL – Divided into Major
& Minor Headings
• Scope Note – Term Definition
Soft
Drink

8. May need to move backward in order to move
forward……

9. Searched when searching with Subject
Headings/ Controlled Vocabulary

10. Boolean Operators - AND
• Combines concepts
• Relationship
• Retrieves records that
contain BOTH terms
entered
Soda Pop Weight
Gain

11. Boolean Operators - OR
• Combines synonyms or
like concepts
• No Relationship
Necessary
• Retrieves records that
contain EITHER term
entered
Coke Pepsi

12. When Searching………..
Combining Terms Together
Group 1
Combine
Terms with OR
Group 2
Combine
Terms with OR
AND AND
Group 3
Combine
Terms with OR

13. Keep in Mind……
Break Your Search into Concepts –
Start Your Search Broad and Then Focus –
Be sure to come up with alternative or
related terms for your topic
Always search in at least two databases.

14. Keep in Mind……
Ways to Expand Your Results Ways to Focus Your Results
• Explode Your Terms
• Keyword Searching
• Look At Related or Citing
Articles
• Major Concept/Subject
• Subheadings
• Limits

15. JSTOR
• Click on Advanced
Search
• Keyword Search –
Remember to use
“” and that there
may be
synonyms for
what you are
looking for.
Keyword Search –
can search specific
sections of the
citation.
Limits

16. Sociological Abstracts & ASSIA: Applied
Social Sciences Index and Abstracts
Limits
Controlled
vocabulary.
Hierarch
structure, can
see it by clicking
on the term.
Be sure you are in
advanced search

17. Dissertations and Theses Full Text
Good place to go
when you want to
see if there is
anything that has
not been
published in
other channels.
Same layout out
as sociological
databases – one
difference are
orgnized with a
kind of controlled
vocabulary in
limits section Click here to get to lists of the terms that
may help to retrieve dissertations and thesis
that could be useful.

18. If You Need Help……..
• Get in touch with Me…..
Roy Brown, MLIS
Education and Research
Librarian
Tompkins-McCaw Library,
VCU Libraries
rebrown2@vcu.edu
Ph. 804-828-1592