Accessing Article DatabasesTo access the article or research databases:
1. Go to the De Anza College library Web page at: http://www.deanza.edu/library
2. Select "Article Databases" for Academic Search Premier or Ebscohost, Infotrac, Proquest, Lexis Nexis Academic and Points of View
3. If you are searching from off campus, you'll be asked for a login, which is your De Anza College ID number.
4. Select the data base you want to use.
POINTS OF VIEW: Type
in two or more key words in the FIND box. Press the SEARCH button.
Alternatively, you can browse by the categories listed. Suggested
categories are: Internet, Media & Communications and People &
Society.
ACADEMIC SEARCH PREMIER: In the FIND box, type in two or more key words (not sentences) that will help you find articles about your topic. Then, in the CHOOSE DATABASES box, check Academic Search Premier and Communication & Mass Media Complete. Select the FULL TEXT box. Press the SEARCH button.
INFOTRAC: In the FIND box, type in two or more key words. To make your search quicker, you can deselect some of the options you don't think you'll need. Press the SEARCH button
PROQUEST: You can deselect some of the options you don't think you'll need. Press the CONTINUE button. Type in your key words in the BASIC SEARCH box. Check the FULL TEXT DOCUMENTS ONLY box. To limit your search for scholarly journals, check the SCHOLARLY JOURNALS box. Press SEARCH.
LEXIS NEXIS ACADEMIC: Type in two or more key words in the SEARCH TERMS box. Press the SEARCH button.
5. You will not always get good hits. If you are having problems:
- If your search gives you too many results, try adding more key words (violence, media, effects instead of violence, media, ) or try putting phrases in parentheses ("media violence" instead of media violence).
- If your search gives you too few results, reduce the number of key words or try using key words that are less specific (media instead of television)
- Experiment with synonyms (TV instead of television; effects instead of impact, films instead of movies, sexism media instead of gender issues)
- Use the "help" link that some of the databases provide.
- Use the "Ask a Librarian" link that Ebscohost and Academic Search Premier provide
- Use some of the databases' additional features (usually located in the margins) that allow you to narrow the results or browse categories.
- Try different databases -- each one will give you different results.
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