• An Introduction to Searching Electronic Databases
  • Home
  • What do you want?
  • Points to keep in mind
  • Example search
  • Concept map
  • Select a database
  • Combine terms
  • Tools
  • Display results
  • Relevancy ranking
  • Modify results
  • Print / save results
  • Use the results
  • Summary
  • Rules & responsibilities
  • Further reading
  
  Return to:
  • UW Indexes & Databases
  • UW Library

2. Selecting a Database

When choosing which database to search, consider:

• Where is the material most likely to be published?
• Which index or database covers those journals or conferences?
• The choice of a subject specific database can be like adding another, implied, column to your concept map.
• The library catalogue is not an index to journal articles but is used after the search to see if we have the journal in our Library.
• You may need to search two or more databases.
• You may need to transfer your search to print indexes if you are looking for older material.

Databases are available in a number of ways: on the Web, on CD-ROM, or on the Library network. Some are available only on certain workstations within the Library. This means that you follow different paths to each database. A good starting point to find which databases we have and where they are is the journal indexes web page. As you look through the list of databases you will find that some names are not readily indicative of their subject coverage. Check out the "More Info" pages. The librarian at the Information Desk can help you decide which database has the most appropriate subject coverage and can tell you how to get started.

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