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