What sources should you use to complete your research paper? Where should you find those sources, and how do you find them? This page will teach you about the best sources to use for your assignment, Boolean searching and useful database searching tips.
The search box on the library home page, Spartan Search, looks through all library databases. The A to Z Database link gives you a list of each of those databases and resources, including certain highly credible resources from around the web. The list can be sorted by subject area or material type.
Many of the library's databases are subject-based, and searching one allows you to use advanced search options specific to the discipline. For example, CINAHL (a nursing database) can limit results to articles written by a nurse.
Spartan Search Box:
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Subject Specific Databases:
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EBSCO is one database vendor that you will use often during your time at AU. The library also has access to other database vendors like ProQuest and JSTOR. Use the vendor drop down list on the A-Z Database to view these options.
Improve your search results with Boolean Operators. The three Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT can be found under advanced search or typed directly into a search box. Placing a Boolean Operator between your keywords will allow you to narrow or expand your search.
AND narrows your results. For example, if you are researching the use of music therapy in pain management use AND to find articles that combine your two keywords. Pain Management AND Music Therapy |
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OR broadens your results. Suppose you are still choosing a topic. You are interested in pain management as well as music therapy. You would like to see articles on either, even if they do not overlap. Pain Management OR Music Therapy |
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NOT eliminates a specific term from your results. If you are interested in alternative treatments for pain management, but are not interested in articles on music therapy, you can use NOT to eliminate those results. Pain Management NOT Music Therapy |
Check out our tutorials page to view tutorials and videos about find resources in the library's databases.
Business Source Complete covers business, management, finance, accounting, international business, and economics topics from academic journals, magazines, and trade publications dating back to 1886. Also included are current company, industry and region reports.
Subjects: accounting, actuarial science, business administration, MBA, finance, marketing,
organizational management, professional selling, servant leadership, strategic communication
Content: journals, financial data, books, case studies, investment research reports, industry reports,
market research reports, country reports, company profiles, SWOT analyses.
Publication dates: 1922 - present