DA125 Hiatt

Databases are great for finding articles and sometimes ebooks. Databases search through many different journals and magazines, often related by field. For example, we have a number of medical databases that are a good starting point for dental research. Databases are much smaller than the library catalog, and often have specialized tools to help you search more efficiently.

Accessing articles in databases

Some articles you find in library databases will be available immediately as full-text. Other times you will need to request the items using InterLibrary Loan (ILL). ILL is a free service, but it can take a few days to get materials.

These databases are some of the ones that have content related to the Dental Assistant program and a good place to start. If you can't find what you need there is a more extensive list on Dental Assistant Subject Guide, or you can always talk to a librarian (reference@clackamas.edu).

Here's a tip for searching DOAJ:

Make sure you are in the articles search and put in your keywords. Once your results appear, use the Subject filter feature on the left by searching Dentistry in the "Search subjects" search box - you will be able to select a box to narrow your results to that field.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) lets you request copies of articles and book chapters from other libraries. Use ILL to request books not available through Summit. ILL is free.

Tip: Use your keyword(s)

Perform your initial search with the one keyword (or keyword phrase) that describes your most important topic idea.

• Why just one keyword?

• We recommend as you start your research, start big and broad! Use your first few searches to test out how much information is available on your topic.

  • If you get lots of search results, add in a keyword for the second most important idea. Adding more keywords means you'll get fewer and more relevant search results.
  • If you get zero or very few search results with your one keyword, you know you haven't found the right word to search with yet, you misspelled something, or there is not a lot available on your topic.

• Why no quotation marks around a phrase?

• The short answer is because of artificial intelligence (AI). 
  The long answer is because nearly all databases use AI in their search algorithms, and that algorithm includes looking for related keywords automatically. Quotation marks typically override this automatic related-words search.

  • When you are first starting your research, using built-in AI is effective if you are not sure how to best describe an idea, or of what keywords to use. AI will expand your search and retrieve more search results for you.
    • In this example, the database looks at gen alpha, interprets it, and searches for any or all of the following terms:
      • Gen A
      • Gen Alpha
      • Generation Alpha
      • Alpha Generation
  • As you get deeper into your research, use quotation marks when you have identified effective keywords about your topic or want to perform targeted and precise searches. Quotation marks tell search tools to find results containing keywords in the exact order as written, instead of searching for the words separately or substituting words.

Tip: Review your search results for better keywords

Skim article titles, abstracts, and subjects (highlighted with labels) listed in your search results.

  In this example, an additional (and maybe better) keyword is Generation Alpha.

• Why should I look for more keywords?

• To find the most relevant and useful results, you will want to perform multiple searches using different keywords.

  • This process is called "iterative searching." Good research is iterative, meaning it is a circular process where you repeat steps more than once and improve upon what you have done before. Changing up your keywords is part of this process. 

  • Different keywords bring back different kinds of results for different kinds of readers.

    • In this example topic, researchers use terms like Alpha Generation and Generation Alpha. Searching with these terms means you will find more scholarly information.
    • Staff writers and everyday people use terms like Gen A or Gen Alpha. Searching with these terms means you will find more popular information.

• Why focus on the title, abstract, or subjects?

• • Titles and abstracts contain concise keywords that describe the most important topic ideas within the article. Authors choose those keywords and, as experts about their topic, are reliable sources for knowing how to describe a concept or idea.
  • Subjects are keywords added by authors or information specialists to describe what the article is about. When you choose a subject, you're guaranteed to get articles that are primarily about that keyword.

Tip: Add additional keywords into the search box - be strategic!

Find more relevant information by adding in keywords that target specific aspects of your topic.

• Why the quotation marks around a phrase now? "generation alpha"

• For precision searching. Quotation marks restrict the database to finding results containing keywords in the exact order as written, which means the precise context you need is reflected in the search results.

  • As you do more research, you'll notice that people use different language and offer up different perspectives on the same topic. Precise keyword searching helps you find these different perspectives.
  • Quotation marks restrict the database to finding results containing keywords in the exact order as written, which means the precise context you need is reflected in the search results.
    • Researchers largely do not use the term "Gen A" in their research papers and reports (yet). If you are looking for more scholarly information on this topic, you'll want to search with the exact phrase "Generation Alpha."
    • Everyday people do use the term "Gen A." Searching with the exact keyword "Gen A"  makes it more likely that you will find information written by and for a broad audience of everyone.

• Why the AND?

• For precision searching. AND commands the database to find search results containing keyword #1 AND keyword #2.

  • AND must be written in capital letters to function as a search command.
  • AND overrides* default search algorithms that look for only one (or more) keywords. (*Usually - there are exceptions.)
  • Examples:
    • "peanut butter" AND jelly
    • "peanut butter" AND honey AND banana

Tip: Use specialized tools to filter for better results

• Use Advanced Search.

• What is Advanced Search? "Advanced Search" is a searching interface available in most databases. It facilitates more strategic use of search terms, search tools, filters, and existing citations. Advanced searching lets you target more precise results, which is particularly useful in academic research.
  • Tips on using Advanced Search features (VSCU)
  • Using Gale article databases: Advanced Searching (Chemeketa CC)
  • EBSCO Advanced Search (EBSCO)

• I got zero results.

• We can change that! There are a couple reasons why you might get zero, or very few, results:

  • Misspellings. Verify that you spelled everything correctly.
  • Too many search terms. Erase unnecessary search terms, or try different search terms.
  • Full sentences. Some databases are unable to interpret questions and full sentences. Try one or two keywords in the search box instead of a full sentence.
  • Filters. Double-check that the database doesn't have restrictive filters on, like date limits or full text only.
  • New topic. Brand new topics and current events do not have much scholarly research available, because research takes time. Talk to a librarian about approaches to finding credible information about very-recent trends and topics.

• I got too many results.

• We can change that!

  Add in additional keywords that target specific aspects of your topic.

  Databases have built-in tools to help you filter through your search results to identify the best resources. Most database results pages offer the following tools:

  • Full Text. Filter results to articles with immediate full text.
  • Peer Reviewed. Filter results to items published in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Date. Filter to items published after a specified date.

  Talk to a librarian about using built-in tools to help make your research process easier and more efficient.

• For specialized database-specific tips, check out the following guides:

• • Academic Search Complete
  • CINAHL
  • PubMed

Use these three powerful little words - called Boolean operators - to create better searches.

What are Boolean operators?

Boolean operators are words that we use to link two or more keywords while searching. Linking your keywords with the words AND, OR, and NOT help to expand or narrow the results you get while searching.

AND

• AND tells the catalog or database you are searching in that you are requiring both terms to be in your results. Linking two keywords with the word AND ensures that all of your search results have keyword #1 AND keyword #2.
• Use this Boolean operator when you are comparing, contrasting, or otherwise relating two keywords!
• Example: "peanut butter"  AND jelly 
  • Will only show me results that contain both peanut butter AND jelly, because I want both of them.

OR

• OR tells the catalog or database you are searching in that you are okay with either keyword (or both keywords) appearing in your search results. Linking two keywords with the word OR ensure that all results with have either keyword #1 OR keyword #2 OR both.
• Use this operator to link synonyms (words that mean the same thing). 
• Example: jelly OR jam
  • Will return results that include jelly, jam, and jelly and jam. This is because these words are interchangeable and I'm okay with seeing results with either word.

NOT

• NOT  tells the catalog or database you are searching in that you only want results containing one keyword, but NOT the other. Linking two keywords with the word NOT will only return results containing keyword #1 but NOT keyword #2.
• Use this Boolean operator when you have noticed that searching for keyword #1 also returns results about keyword #2, but that is not what you are looking for.
• Example: jelly NOT grape
  • Will return results that contain jelly, but NOT results that contain grape, because I'm not looking for information on grape jelly.

CINAHL is one of the go-to databases for medical research. If you'd like more support using it, you can check out the information pages below. Don't forget you can always email the library for help (reference@clackamas.edu).