How to use online databases for research purposes?

UIC library

Part I: Route to the taskDefinitions Catalogue: a complete list of things, usually

arranged systematically. For example:

Part I: Route to the task

Definitions Index: an alphabetical listing of names and

topics along with page numbers where they are discussed.

Online database: A searchable, electronic collection of either full text documents or citations and abstracts. For example:

Part I: Route to the task

Definitions Abstract: an abbreviated summary of a

research article, review, or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject or discipline, and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper’s purpose. For example:

Part I: Route to the task

Definitions Citation: information identifying a

publication. Details usually include author, title, date of publication, journal title (if applicable), volume and page numbers. Also sometimes called References. For example:

Lee, Philip R, Marcus Conant, Albert R Jonsen, Steve Heilig. “Participation in Torture and Interrogation: An Inexcusable Breach of Medical Ethics”. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics. New York: Spring 2006. Vol. 15, Iss. 2; p. 202

Part I: Route to the task

Definitions Full text: The entire content of an item, such

as an article, book, or encyclopedia, available in electronic format.

Periodical: a publication that appears at fixed intervals, such as newspapers, magazines or journals.

Part I: Route to the task

What online databases are available to us? ProQuest databases: a cluster of databases

(20) covering all subject areas. Ebscohost databases: a cluster of databases

(14) covering all subject areas. CSA databases: a cluster of databases (15)

covering different subject areas. Emerald Fulltext: more than 150 journal titles

in the fields of management and information science.

Part I: Route to the task

How to get to the database? Go to UIC website at: <http:uic.edu.hk/en> Click on the Library tab Click on the HKBU Library link Click on the Indexes & Databases (A-Z) tab

(There are different ways which help you get to the database you want to use.)

Part I: Route to the task

How to login an HKBU’s online database Your name: e henian (last name first, and

then given name) Your barcode: uic-06######## Your PIN (password): set up by yourself and

can be up to any 30 alpha-numeric characters in length

Part II. The task itself

Research topic: Is the war in Iraq ethical?

Database: Academic Search Premier (one of EBSCOhost datatbases)

Why choosing Academic Search Premier? world’s largest academic multi-disciplinary

database full text for nearly 4,500 journals including more than 3,600 peer-reviewed titles

Part II. The task itself

Understanding the interface of the database Search help: how to use the database Three sections

Different tabs: functions and purposes Search box: search terms Refine search: more targeted results

Reminder: different databases have different features; when confused, check with the search help

Part II. The task itself

Search steps: analyzing the research topic or question – Is the war in Iraq ethical?

Major concepts or keywords: war, Iraq, ethical

Synonyms: war - armed conflict, ethical – moral

Boolean operators: (war OR armed conflict) AND (ethical OR moral)

Part II. The task itself

Truncation symbols: ethic* for ethics, ethical, ethically; moral* for moral, morality, morale

Other symbols: double quotation mark “###”, parenthesis (###), etc

Concept (and)

Synonyms (or)

war ethical iraq

armed conflict moral

Part II. The task itself

Basic Search: simply put in search terms with right Boolean operators, truncation and other symbols, e.g. iraq and (war or armed conflict) and (ethic* or moral*)

Advanced Search: more guided, e.g. field search by determiners, such as AU for author, TI for title and SU for subject

Part III. Hands-on practice

Reserch topics

What are the causes of global warming?

Reform of Chinese banks since 1997

The End