DATABASE NAVIGATION TIPS
HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH PROQUEST?Having trouble getting a page or link to load? Click on the uBlock icon in the menu bar, then click on the blue "power" button to disable the filter for this website.
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DOES THE DATABASE FIT MY RESEARCH PURPOSE? |
The content held within a database may be broad or it may be more specialized. It is important to understand the scope of each database to make your search effective.
Databases are typically either centralized around a specific discipline or can be multi-disciplinary. Some links can be found here. |
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HOW DO I KNOW I'M USING THE RIGHT TERMS FOR MY RESEARCH? |
Controlled vocabulary (CV) helps to ensure you are retrieving relevant and viable information using the authorized terminology for your search.
Check authority sources according to your research discipline here. |
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How do I narrow my SEARCH results?Boolean Language Example:
bread AND "peanut butter" AND jelly NOT jam |
Narrow your results by using filters. "Date range", "subject", "author", and "publication" filters can eliminate many extraneous results.
Wording your query correctly is important. Check each database for a "Help" tab that will explain what operators, fields, and special characters to use. This is called a BOOLEAN LANGUAGE. |
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