Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Ask a Librarian

« Return to List of Quick Guides

Searching

  1. Select database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
  2. Type a word or phrase in the search box(es).
    (Optional) Change the SELECT A FIELD drop-down menu.
  3. Click 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)

Use w# to find terms within a specified number (#) in the order in which you entered them.

Example: internet w3 policy (retrieves Internet office policy)

Combining Search Sets

Search sets may be combined.

  1. Click SEARCH HISTORY/ALERTS.
  2. Click ADD TO SEARCH boxes by desired search terms.
    (Optional) Change COMBINE SEARCH BOXES WITH AND box.
  3. Click ADD.
  4. Click SEARCH.

Author Searching

  1. Click in the SELECT A FIELD box and select AU AUTHOR.
  2. Click in the 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: thomson james
    Example: thomson j
    Example: thomson james OR thomson j

  3. Click SEARCH.

Journal Searching

To find a specific article:

  1. Click ADVANCED SEARCH.
  2. Type article title or keywords in the search 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 SEARCH.

To browse a specific journal:

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

Displaying Search Results

  1. Move through records on the page.
  2. Click on another page number or NEXT to display more records.
  3. Click title of the article to view abstract.
  4. Click HTML FULL TEXT or PDF FULL TEXT to display the full text of the article.
  5. If there is no full text link, click FIND IT to find electronic or print copies of this item on campus or to request a copy via Library Express.

Selecting Records

  1. Click the PREVIEW ICON next to the title.
  2. Click ADD TO FOLDER to mark it for later printing, saving, exporting, or emailing.
  3. Click FOLDER HAS ITEMS to view list of marked records.

Saving Search Results

  1. Insert removable storage device (i.e. flash drive, memory stick, 3 1/2" disk, ...)
  2. Under FOLDER HAS ITEMS, click GO TO FOLDER VIEW.
  3. Click box by desired items or SELECT/DESELECT ALL.
  4. Click SAVE AS FILE icon.
    (Optional) Click the box next to desired choice under INCLUDE WHEN SAVING.
  5. Use the browser Save function.
  6. Type the disk drive letter, the filename, and the extension in the FILE NAME box

    7. Example: a:homeless.txt
    Example: a:homeless.html

  7. Click SAVE.

Exporting Search Results to RefWorks

See Moving Citations from EBSCOhost databases into RefWorks

Emailing Search Results

  1. Under FOLDER HAS ITEMS, click GO TO FOLDER VIEW.
  2. Click box by desired items or SELECT/DESELECT ALL.
  3. Click EMAIL icon.
  4. 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 SENDING.
    (Optional) Click circle by desired format.
  5. Click SEND.
  6. Click CONTINUE.

Setting Up RSS Feeds & Alerts

RSS & Alerts Guides: EBSCOhost

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

  • Click ADVANCED SEARCH.

Getting Help

  • Click HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

  • Click 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
  • America: History and Life
  • American Bibliography of Slavic & Eastern European Studies (ABSEES)
  • ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials
  • Biomedical Reference Collection
  • Business Source Elite
  • Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (CPLI)
  • CINAHL Plus with Full Text
  • Communication & Mass Media Complete
  • Corporate ResourceNet
  • EBSCO Animals
  • ERIC-Educational Resources Information Center
  • Film & Television Literature Index (FTLI)
  • GreenFILE
  • Health Source: Consumer Edition
  • Health Source: Nursing Edition
  • Historical Abstracts
  • Humanities International Index
  • Index Islamicus
  • Index to Jewish Periodicals
  • International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance
  • Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
  • MasterFILE Premier
  • McClatchy-Tribune Collection
  • Mental Measurements Yearbook
  • New Testament Abstracts
  • Old Testament Abstracts
  • Pre-CINAHL
  • Professional Development Collection
  • PsycARTICLES
  • PsycINFO (Psychological Abstracts)
  • Regional Business News
  • SocINDEX with Full Text
  • SPORTDiscus


    • ... and other EBSCOhost databases