1. Databases & Sources
LIBR 250, Section1
Winter 2013 / Terrones
Learning outcomes:
• Search article databases fluently.
• Distinguish between scholarly and popular
sources.
• Determine if the information discovered is
relevant.
• Modify the search strategy as necessary.
• Cite correctly articles from online databases.
• Export articles into RefWorks bibliographic
manager.

2. Databases: Information “warehouses” that contain
journal, magazine, newspaper articles, and other documents you can use for
your university research assignments. Accessible from campus and off-
campus!
Search Engines Vs. Databases … Which one should I use, when?
http://bastyr.libguides.com/content.php?pid=384087&sid=3148399
Bastyr University Library tutorial http://bastyr.libguides.com/content.php?pid=384087&sid=3148399
“Being an efficient searcher means knowing when to
use what tool. Most published research studies are
protected by copyright and are not available in full text
via the Web.” (Bastyr U. Library Tutorial, 2012)

3. Compare the Difference
Search Engines Library Databases
Contain news articles, current
info on many topics, open
authorship, & info that hasn't
been formally published. Much
of the access is free.
*Use for a quick reference, and
as a starting point for info
gathering.
Contain published scholarly
research, peer-reviewed
journal
articles, dissertations, conferen
ce proceedings, reference
articles. Full-text or Interlibrary
Loan access. Paid subscription
access.
*Use for college level research.

4. LMU Library,(2012) Why use the library? http://libguides.lmu.edu/content.php?pid=10084&sid=463217

5. Sources
Peer reviewed
articles, magazines, newspapers, websites, refe
rence sources… What’s the difference?

6. Scholarly vs. Popular
SCHOLARLY
Academic, in-depth peer-reviewed
articles, original research by
experts, bibliographies.
POPULAR
Current events, people stories, aimed for general
audience.

7. Sources
Reference
Background info, definitions, context, understanding concepts,
statistics
Newspaper & Magazine
articles
Current events, people stories, aimed for general audience,
captures history
Scholarly (peer-
reviewed) articles
Academic, scholarly, in-depth analysis, original research written
by experts in the field, peer-reviewed articles, bibliographies
Books & DVDs
Background, historical context, and in-depth information about
your topic, chapters on a topic

8. Searching Databases
Databases will look different but they contain
similar features:
Advanced search boxes
Save, Print, Email, Citing, Export to RefWorks
Limit by Peer-Reviewed.*
Click Find It! to get Full-Text articles.
Evaluate your hits! Do they “fit?”
Peer Reviewed: Professors often ask you to use scholarly (also called "peer-reviewed")
articles. Peer-reviewed means the articles are academic and have been refereed by a
group of experts in the field or discipline.

9. Search boxes
for keyword
combinations
(AND & OR)
Refining by
type of source.
Peer- reviewed
scholarly
articles.
Do we have the
article?

10. Article Availability
Do we have the
article?
PDF & HTML
Full Text

11. Article Availability
Sometimes your article may
be available in another
database where you can get it
in full-text.
When we do not have
immediate access, you
can request articles via
Interlibrary Loan.

12. Sample Article
ToolsJournal, Date, Volume, Pages
Title
Author(s)
Subject Terms
Do we have the
article?
Is there a summary of the article? (Tip: Look for the Abstract.) If yes, read
the abstract and determine if and how you can use the article.
Abstract

13. Evaluate Results
Examine the first page of results.
Do any articles “fit” or relate to your topic?
Identify keywords or concepts from these articles to
further narrow your search.
Try different searches and compare. Use the subject
headings to add to your search terms.
Think about your question. Does it need revision?

14. Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Name of
Journal, xx, xxx-xxx. Retrieved from http://www.journalhomepage.com OR
doi:10.xxxxxxxxxx
References
Koo, D. J., Chitwoode, D. D., & Sanchez, J. (2008). Violent victimization and the routine
activities/lifestyle of active drug users. Journal of Drug Issues, 38, 1105-1137.
Retrieved from http://www2.criminology.fsu.edu/~jdi/
Senior, B., & Swailes, S. (2007). Inside management teams: Developing a teamwork
survey instrument. British Journal of Management, 18, 138-153.
doi:10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00507.x
Citing Elements (4ws) Scholarly Articles from databases