Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Ask a Librarian

Searching

  1. Select database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
  2. Type a word or phrase in the FIND box.
    Note: The BASIC SEARCH option is recommended.
    (Optional) Click in the FULL TEXT box to limit your search to records with full text articles.
  3. Click on SEARCH.

Combining Terms

Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

Example: marijuana or cocaine

Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search.

Example: drugs and sports

Truncating Terms

Use * to replace one or more characters at the end of a search term.

Example: drug* (retrieves drug, drugs, druggist)

Use ? to replace one character within a search term

Example: wom?n (retrieves woman, women)

Proximity Searching

Use n# to find terms within a specified number (#) of words of each other regardless of the order.

Example: internet n3 policy (retrieves policy on Internet, Internet office policy)

Combining Search Sets

Not Available

Author Searching

  1. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.
  2. Click in the SELECT A FIELD box and select AUTHOR.
  3. Click in the FIND box and type the author's last name and first name or last name and first initial. It's best to try both methods.

    Example: vergano dan
    Example: vergano d

  4. Click on SEARCH.

Journal Searching

To find a specific article:

  1. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.
  2. Type article title or keywords in the FIND box.
  3. Type the journal title or part of the title in the PUBLICATION box.
    (Optional) Fill in PUBLISHED DATE FROM boxes to limit your search by publication month and year.
  4. Click on SEARCH.

To browse a specific journal:

  1. Click on PUBLICATIONS in the navigation bar beneath the search tabs.
  2. Type a journal title or part of a title in the BROWSE FOR box.
  3. Click in the circle next to desired searching option.
  4. Click on BROWSE.
  5. Click on the name of the desired journal.
  6. Click the desired publication year.
  7. Click on preferred volume and issue.

Displaying Search Results

  1. Use the SCROLL BAR to move through records on the page.
  2. Click on another page number or NEXT to display more records.
  3. Click on title of article or link to full-text (HTML, PDF, or LINKED) to display the article.
  4. If there is no full text link, click on FIND IT to locate the item electronically, on campus, or to request document delivery.

Selecting Records

  1. Click on the FOLDER ICON (ADD) to the right of the record to mark it for later printing, saving, exporting, or emailing.
  2. Click on FOLDER HAS ITEMS to view list of marked records.

Saving Search Results

  1. Click on SAVE.
    (Optional) Click the box next to desired choice under INCLUDE WHEN SAVING.
  2. Click on SAVE
  3. Insert a removable storage device (e.g. flash drive, memory stick, 3-1/2" disk ...).
  4. Click on FILE at the top of the window and select SAVE AS.
  5. Type the disk drive letter, the filename, and the extension in the FILE NAME box
  6. Example: a:myfile.txt
    Example: a:myfile.html

  7. Click on SAVE.

Exporting Search Results to RefWorks

See Moving Citations from EBSCOhost databases into RefWorks

Emailing Search Results

  1. Click on EMAIL.
  2. Type your email address in the email box.
    (Optional) Fill in the SUBJECT box.
    (Optional) Click the box next to desired choice under INCLUDE WHEN EMAILING.
  3. Click on SEND.
  4. Click on CONTINUE.

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

  • Click on NEW SEARCH, BASIC SEARCH, or ADVANCED SEARCH.

Getting Help

  • Click on HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

  • Click on LIBRARIES/UW-MADISON at the top right of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Databases Covered by this Guide

  • Academic Search Elite
  • Biomedical Reference Collection
  • Business Source Elite
  • CINAHL Plus with Full Text
  • Communication & Mass Media Complete
  • EBSCO Animals
  • ERIC
  • Film & Television Literature Index
  • Health Source: Consumer Edition
  • Health Source: Nursing Edition
  • Index Islamicus
  • Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
  • Mental Measurements Yearbook
  • PsycARTICLES
  • PsycINFO
  • SPORTDiscus


  • ... and other EBSCOhost databases