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Research Quick Start : Finding Articles

Use this guide as a starting point for researching.

Finding Articles in Databases

Finding Articles in Databases Step by Step

1. Use the A to Z Database button. https://library.madonna.edu/az.php 

 

2. Choose the subject that matches your topic. Several of the databases are  interdisciplinary databases like Academic Search Complete and ProQuest Central, which covers all subjects. You can find some of these listed under Featured Databases on the right hand side of the page. 

 

3. Choose one of the databases and use the Advanced Search box in the database to type in your keywords. One keyword or phrase goes in each box. Connect your keywords using AND, OR, NOT. 

 

 

4. If you need peer-reviewed,  full text or a certain time range , look for an option to limit to those sources in the database. 

5. If you do not see a full text button next to an article/resource you would like to use or if Madonna University Library does not own the article/resources, you can request the item from another library through Interlibrary Loan.

6.  Explore resources in your subject area! Guides are for specific subjects and contain a wealth of useful information. Visit our  Resource Guides

7. Chat with Library experts if you have additional questions about research, library resources, or library services! Chat with a Librarian button is on the library's homepage on the right hand side. 

 

Tips for Database Searching

TIP 1: Add "quotation marks" around phrases. This tells the database to search the entire phrase instead of each word individually. 

TIP 2: Use the Advanced Search option.  Using the "Advanced Search" option in any database allows you to put each keyword into its own search box and gives you options to limit your search by date, source type, full text, peer-reviewed and more. 

TIP 3: Connect your keywords using AND, OR, NOT (you can put these connecting words between your keywords in the search box or as drop downs in the advanced search option) 

  • AND = Connect different concepts with the word AND.  This tells the database you want both concepts to appear in search results. 

  • OR = Connects variations (different words could be used for the same thing, example climate change OR global warming) This tells the database you only need at least ONE of those concepts to appear in search results. 

  • NOT = will exclude results that use that term

Tip 4: Most databases will have subject terms that are linked to your topic. Subject terms will give you more relevant and accurate results. Subject terms are often hyperlinked to the article record. Most times you will see "Subjects" listed underneath the article. Click on those terms to get more search results. Using more terms to describe your research question will give you better and more precise results! 

Tip 5 : After you start searching, add any additional keywords that you come across in your  search results. 

 

How to Read a Scholarly Article