The document provides an overview of the ProQuest research database, including how to access and search it. Key points include that ProQuest covers many subject areas and contains various content like magazine and journal articles. It describes how to perform basic and advanced searches, including using search fields, keywords, Boolean operators, and limiting by date or subject. The document also explains how to narrow search results, find articles by author, and email or cite result articles.

1. ProQuest
Database
Overview
ProQuest is a research database covering social
issues, business, health, science, economics,
current events and more.

2. • Click on FIND ARTICLES IN DATABASES on the left hand side of the page.
• To access ProQuest from on-campus, from ONLINE DATABASES page click on
ProQuest under the DATABASES or POPULAR DATABASES tab.
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3. To access online databases from off-campus,
please log-in through AccessRio.
July 22, 2012 ProQuest Database Overview3
Select from the databases list “Proquest”

4. Use AND, OR, NOT
Use AND to narrow down a topic. Use OR to broaden a topic. Use NOT to eliminate a information not wanted.
To search for a phrase use quotation marks (""). Example “ The Great Depression”
Use the * character instead of spelling the entire word. Example farm* = farm, farming, farms, farmed
etc.
More search tips

5. Searching in ProQuest: Basic Search
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ProQuest Database Overview5
Type keywords in the Basic Search Box
Connect search terms together using the word “AND”
Example search: presidential elections AND Obama

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Searching in ProQuest: Advanced Search
Type in one key concept per line in the search boxes.
Limit the date range.

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Searching in ProQuest: Advanced Search
Select a source type such a
magazine or journal article.
Select a document type to
choose the type of publication.

8. ProQuest has
“modules” that only
contain articles on a
specific subject area.
Selecting a subject area is
one way to narrow down
and focus your search.
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ProQuest Database Overview8
Searching in ProQuest: subject areas
Click “List View” to see all the subject areas.

9. Choosing a specific database.
• Select
databases from
the list.
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Click databases

10. Looking for a specific publication, such as The NY Times.
• Select
“publications” at the
top of the screen.
• Type in “New York
Times”
• Select “New York
Times” from the list.
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11. Searching by Author's Name
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Author’s Name
AUTHOR or AU can also be used

12. Finding Scholarly Journal Articles
• Scholarly Journals have
in-depth articles written
on a specific subject and
usually contain research.
• Click the “Peer reviewed”
box to find only scholarly
journals.
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ProQuest Database Overview12

13. Narrowing Search results using “Narrow results by”
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Click on a source type.
Select a subject.
Select a location.
Modify the Date
Click “update” to see the modified
results.

14. Emailing an article to read later.
• Click on the Email Icon.
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15. Click on “Cite” to generate a citation.
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