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 SEARCH FOR box. Use quotation marks around phrases.
  3. Click SEARCH.

Combining Terms

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

Example: cheese or dairy

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

Example: cheese and wisconsin

Truncating Terms

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

Example: biolog* (retrieves biology, biological, biologically)

Use ? to replace one character or none.

Example:m?cdonald (retrieves macdonald, mcdonald)

Proximity Searching

Use quotation marks "" around phrases.

Example: "stress management"

Use SAME to find terms within the same sentence or field regardless of the order in which they appear.

Example: organic same farming (retrieves organic farming, organic vegetable farming, farming using the organic method)

Combining Search Sets

Search sets may be combined.

  1. Click SEARCH HISTORY.
  2. Click in the box(es) to the right of desired search sets to combine.
  3. Click in the radio button to the left of AND or OR as desired.
  4. Click COMBINE.
  5. Click on the link in the results column next to desired search set to view records.

Author Searching

  1. Click AUTHOR FINDER under the second Search for: : search box.
  2. Type the last name and initial(s) of the author in the provided boxes.

    Example: leong s

  3. Click in the radio button to the left of desired author(s).
  4. Click FINISH NOW at the bottom of the screen.

Cited Reference Searching

A cited reference search gives a list of articles which cite the author/article entered in a bibliography. This is only available in the ISI Web of Science database.

Cited Reference Searching Video

  1. Click CITED REFERENCE SEARCH.
  2. Type the last name and initial(s) in the CITED AUTHOR box.

    Example: Andrews JH

  3. (Optional) Add words to the CITED WORK or CITED YEAR(s) box(es) as desired.
  4. Click SEARCH
  5. Click in the radio button to the left of desired citation from the CITED REFERENCE SEARCH results screen.
  6. Click FINISH SEARCH.

Journal Searching

To find a specific article:

  1. Type the full journal name in the SEARCH FOR box.

    Example: journal of avian biology

  2. Select PUBLICATION NAME from the dropdown menu to the right.
  3. Type the title of the article in the second SEARCH FOR box.
  4. Select TITLE from the drop down menu to the right.
  5. Click SEARCH.

To browse a specific journal

  1. Type the full journal name in the SEARCH FOR box.

    Example: journal of avian biology

  2. Select PUBLICATION NAME from the drop down menu to the right.
  3. (Optional) Type a year in an additional SEARCH FOR box and select YEAR PUBLISHEDfrom the drop down menu to the right.

  4. Click SEARCH.

Displaying Search Results

Records of the last search are automatically displayed in citation format.

  1. Use the SCROLL BAR to move through records on the page.
  2. Click TITLE for the full record.
  3. Click on the right or left arrows to move to the next or previous page of records.
  4. Click BACK TO RESULTS LIST to return to the list of citations.
  5. Click Find IT to find electronic or print copies of this item on campus.

Selecting Records

Up to 500 records may be marked at any one time.

  1. Click in the box to the left of the record to mark it for later printing, saving or emailing.
    (Optional) Click in the radio button to the left of ALL RECORDS ON THIS PAGE on the bottom of the screen to mark all records on one page.
  2. Click ADD TO MARKED LIST.

Saving Search Results

  1. Insert removable storage device. (i.e. flash drive, memory stick, 3 1/2" disk ...)
  2. Click MARKED LIST at the top of the screen.
  3. Click VIEW MARKED RECORDS.
  4. Click in the boxes to the left of desired fields for downloading at STEP 1.
  5. Select desired format from the drop down menu at STEP 2.
    FIELD TAGGED is recommended.
  6. Click SAVE TO FILE and follow directions on the screen.
  7. Type your disk drive and filename with the extension .txt in the FILE NAME box.

    Example: myfile.txt

  8. Select Text File from the SAVE AS TYPE pull down menu.
  9. Click SAVE.
  10. Click OK.

Exporting Search Results to RefWorks

See Moving Citations from ISI Web Databases into RefWorks

Emailing Search Results

Emailing Selected Records

  1. Click MARKED LIST at the top of the screen.
  2. Click VIEW MARKED RECORDS.
  3. Click in the boxes to the left of desired fields for emailing at STEP 1.
  4. Type complete email addresses in the E-MAIL RECORDS TO box.
    Click in the NOTES(OPTIONAL) box and enter message if desired.
    Select any other options as desired.
  5. Click E-MAIL.

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

  1. Click SEARCH.
  2. Click CLEAR.

Getting Help

Click HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

  1. Click LOG OUT on the right side of the screen.
  2. Click HOME at the top of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Databases Covered by this Guide

  • Biological Abstracts
  • Quarterly Index of African Periodical Literature
  • Web of Science:
    • Arts & Humanities Citation Index
    • Science Citation Index
    • Social Sciences Citation Index
  • Zoological Record