Reference Intern Training -- EBSCO

EBSCOhost Basics

This module will show you how to use one of Good Library's most frequently used resources for scholarly information - EBSCOhost.

As you go through this tutorial, use the arrows below to navigate to the next section of the tutorial. Words in bold indicate actions you must complete on the various interactive library webpages seen to the right.

Throughout the tutorial you will also see several embedded quizzes. Be sure to complete these to the best of your ability. A final grade will be sent upon tutorial completion.

So let's get started!

Accessing EBSCOhost Databases

Before you actually begin using the interactive EBSCOhost database to the right, I want to mention how you would get to it from Good Library's homepage.

You will want to locate EBSCO from either the Popular Databases top left link dropdown or from the Popular Links listing in the middle of the library homepage.

Choosing Relevant EBSCOhost Databases

You may still be unsure of which database options to choose. EBSCOhost helps by including a database description that can be found by hovering your cursor over the yellow note icon to the right of the database name.

Choosing Relevant EBSCOhost Databases

Place a check in the box next to:

• Academic Search Premier
• Communication & Mass Media Complete
• ERIC.

Click the OK button to continue.

It's now time to search!

NOTE: Since this is an example tutorial, Communication & Mass Media Complete and ERIC may not work for your topic. Take the time to read some of the descriptions in order to find the best database that will fit your research needs.

Searching EBSCOhost Databases

Once your databases have been chosen, it's time to search. You could start by adding your search terms to the single box provided, but I prefer the Advanced Search view.

Click Advanced Search found below the single search box.

Searching EBSCOhost Databases

This multi-box advanced search view allows you to string more than one keyword or phrase together using Boolean Operators.

Huh? Boolean Operators?

Don't worry, that's just a fancy name for combining keywords and synonyms (those "like" terms) using OR, AND, and NOT.

Just remember...

• OR broadens your search to more results
  Example: Facebook OR social networks
• AND narrows your search to fewer results
  Example: Facebook AND academic success
• NOT excludes words in your search
  Example: social networks NOT twitter

Searching EBSCOhost Databases

Now that you better understand Boolean Operators, you can begin searching with this 3-step formula:

STEP 1: Determine Your Keywords

When determining your keywords, think of the main hub of your topic and pull out the important words only.

For instance, if you're looking for the correlation between Facebook use among students when studying, the main keywords would be:

• Facebook
• students
• studying

These could be combined within the advanced search boxes (but don't do this just yet...).

Searching EBSCOhost Databases

STEP 2: Determine Relevant Synonyms

It's important to also think of synonyms, or "like" terms, that can be used with the words you've extracted from your topic. These synonyms can be combined using the "OR" Boolean Operator

Possible synonyms, or "like" terms, might look like this:

Facebook: social networks
Studying: academic success

Note: It's OK to use short phrases like "social networks", but keep them simple.

Searching EBSCOhost Databases

STEP 3: Combine Keywords with Boolean Operators

In the interactive database, enter the terms into the advanced search boxes that you see below, making sure to separate them with the correct Boolean Operator:

"social networks" (AND)
"academic performance" (OR) studying

Be sure to include the quotation marks for searching phrases (these aren't needed when you have one word)

In the end, your boxes should look like this:

Click Search and then click the arrow below to continue to the next portion of this guide.

Filtering Search Results

You now see a list of results, but before going further, we need to take a look at some of the narrowing filters that are available. To do so, look to the Refine Results section found on the left-hand side of the database page. Below are explanations for two of these filters:

FULL TEXT: This option will allow you to read the full article.
When searching in the future, play around with keeping full text checked vs. un-checked to see how your results change.

SCHOLARLY (PEER-REVIEWED) JOURNALS: Peer-reviewed articles are written and reviewed by experts in the field you are researching. Many professors will require at least one peer-reviewed article for research papers.

Place checks next to:

• Full Text
• Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals

Search Results

Locate and click the article title:
Impact of Cognitive Absorption on Facebook on Students' Achievement

Once clicked, the article now appears on screen for you to read in full text. From here, there are just a few more things to consider...

Search Results

When doing research, it's good to start by reading the the abstract (the article's summary) or the introduction.

Keep in mind this is just a starting point to help you determine if the article is a keeper - you'd still need to read the full article when including it in your paper.

If you want to use and save the article, there are a few tools available to help you.

Keep going in this tutorial to find out where these tools are located.

Search Results

Take a look on the right side of your database page for helpful saving tools such as:

• E-mail
• Print

The image below shows you where these are located. Notice there's also a Cite tool that provides you with a starting point citation that could be copied and pasted into your paper/project.

...Seriously? The full citation?

Yep! But double check it - there are sometimes errors that need to be fixed. When fixing the errors, you'll need to rely on the detailed record. Locate and click the Detailed Record link at the top left of your window.

Search Results

Within this Detailed Record page, you will find all the pieces of your citation that you'll need for citing your work properly. Cross reference the following information with what you saw in the citation tool to make sure your citation is correct:

• author names
• the source which includes:
  --the Journal (in blue)
  --date of article publication
  --volume and issue numbers
  --page range
• and the article's title

Search Results

You should still be in the detailed record area. If you REALLY like the article you have here so much so that you wish you could find other articles like it... pay attention to the Subject Terms listed on this page. You can add those terms to future searches you might do.

And that's how an EBSCO database search works! This tutorial scratches the research surface, but has hopefully given you a good starting point.

Certificate

Please enter your name and email address to retrieve a copy of your completed quiz.

You can enter multiple email addresses separated by commas. If you are doing this for a class, you may need to enter your instructor's email address also.

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